Why Do So Few Vote In US?

[gratuitous]

10. There are many reasons

Since the Shelby County decision by the Supreme Court, I think the biggest impediment to citizens voting has been a concerted effort by Republicans to make it as difficult as possible for some citizens to vote. As one court mentioned, reviewing Republican fuckery, their work in disenfranchising citizens proceeded with an almost "surgical precision."

If hostile citizens do manage to get on the voter rolls, Republicans leave it to their 501(c)(4) "educational" non-profit organizations to scare hell out them with ads and billboards reciting the maximum fines and jail terms for voter fraud. People who can barely make ends meet get frightened by the prospect of a $5,000 fine or a year in jail (Am I 100% sure I'm eligible to vote?), and don't show up.

Low voter participation doesn't happen by accident, and the citizens who are discouraged from registering to vote or cast a ballot are targeted quite specifically.