I couldn't wait to vote when I turned 21.

[Johonny]

38. But of course there are non-partisan offices and ballot measures nearly every election

so the "I don't like either candidate" line really never captures anything. People don't vote and election dialogue is controlled by who is a likely voter. If you don't like what the candidates are talking about it is almost always because they are all targeting the narrow band of middle class undecided swing voters. Why do they target them? Because they look at the statistics on who exactly votes. The more money you have the more likely you vote, do you own a home, what is your age, education, income... they know who votes and target those people. I you want candidates that address your issues then you need your demographic to become a likely voter. Not just likely every 4 years, likely every damn year. Heck twice a year in primaries.

Even if you hate the candidates there's nearly always something or someone to vote for. I voted to lower prison sentences on drug offenses. No candidates involved in that. Just pure politics. Things like bond measures, propositions, judges, sheriffs,... on nearly ballot.