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Retrograde

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40. Presidential elections haven't been the big deal here for some time

Thu Feb 23, 2017, 03:22 PM

Feb 2017

I'm in California: it's generally given that we'll vote for the Democratic candidate for president. Candidates rarely bother to campaign here. But we have higher than average voter turnout because IMO the state and local races are often hotly contested. I think a lot of this is because there's a good chance the voters have actually met the person they're voting for (or against): to judge by yard signs the big contest was for state assembly.

My county - the heart of Silicon Valley, diverse and affluent - had an 83% turnout last November (that's of registered voters), over half of them mail-in votes. We make it easy to vote, and provide some nice websites at both the county and state level that appeal to the geeky side of the population.

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Why Do So Few Vote In US? [View all] eniwetok Feb 2017 OP

From a quick survey around the office... Zoonart Feb 2017 #1

Yep my mother is like that TNLib Feb 2017 #14

Yep. GoCubsGo Feb 2017 #21

I know someone like this too. I didn't realize there were so many. nt chowder66 Feb 2017 #23

That's why our county now uses the DVM as well. CrispyQ Feb 2017 #27

PA picks registered drivers now Freddie Feb 2017 #39

Yes, the jury system definitely needs to look elsewhere for bodies Warpy Feb 2017 #56

We're too rich and too content. randome Feb 2017 #2

FYI, lower-income Americans are considerably less likely to vote than higher-income Americans. YoungDemCA Feb 2017 #20

They might have the hardest time voting on a Tuesday. alarimer Feb 2017 #45

+1,... and the KGOP knows this uponit7771 Feb 2017 #51

+1, this is the science in human behavior !!! Its been relatively peaceful for the last 30-40 yrs uponit7771 Feb 2017 #50

This country has always made it hard to vote. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2017 #3

sure... not here in MA... but we do have a long history of voter suppression... but eniwetok Feb 2017 #9

agreed gopiscrap Feb 2017 #34

Election day should be a paid holiday, with proof that you did actually vote! putitinD Feb 2017 #29

No. Not a paid holiday. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2017 #47

Here in Michigan, schools are all closed on election day, because they are all polling places. putitinD Feb 2017 #48

I have often voted in schools that stay open for the election. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2017 #54

They don't like the adults that just walk in the door around the students, no way of screening putitinD Feb 2017 #55

There are registered pedophiles everywhere. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2017 #57

the school where I vote has one main entrance, then a very open floor plan, and the gym is putitinD Feb 2017 #59

That's unfortunate. PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2017 #60

The system discourages voting. Americans have been taught to value working/money above citizenship. haele Feb 2017 #4

yup gopiscrap Feb 2017 #35

As a former election judge, I don't think it's as low as announced Yupster Feb 2017 #5

fair point! unblock Feb 2017 #8

an election judge? eniwetok Feb 2017 #15

But there are a ton of non-registered people who don't vote. Ace Rothstein Feb 2017 #19

You were looking at the rolls of registered voters bigbrother05 Feb 2017 #37

so many reason.... unblock Feb 2017 #6

There are many reasons gratuitous Feb 2017 #10

I'm sure there are more extensive academic reviews of the issue and you're right to talk BeckyDem Feb 2017 #7

Electoral college has convinced people their vote doesn't count. Initech Feb 2017 #11

EC is part of a larger system of voting weighting... eniwetok Feb 2017 #16

Presidential elections haven't been the big deal here for some time Retrograde Feb 2017 #40

Yeah I'm in Orange County. Initech Feb 2017 #44

We just had State School Superintendent election Tuesday jodymarie aimee Feb 2017 #12

If you don't care who wins, why vote? yallerdawg Feb 2017 #13

I'm reminded of class consciousness eniwetok Feb 2017 #22

IMO it's for a combination of two reasons GliderGuider Feb 2017 #17

Not casting a vote is casting a vote for Phoenix61 Feb 2017 #25

Of course it is. GliderGuider Feb 2017 #26

Lucky you Phoenix61 Feb 2017 #30

I agree. GliderGuider Feb 2017 #43

if Trump votes are your standard... eniwetok Feb 2017 #32

many people just don't care Kimchijeon Feb 2017 #18

Great question, I have no answers, curious as to what others think. Yo_Mama Feb 2017 #24

People have bought the myth that their vote Phoenix61 Feb 2017 #28

your post glosses over the obvious defect in US system... eniwetok Feb 2017 #36

I don't think it glosses over anything Phoenix61 Feb 2017 #38

thanks for a perfect example of defeatism... eniwetok Feb 2017 #52

Because when elections are free and easily accessible, Democrats win. JTFrog Feb 2017 #31

ignorance, laziness gopiscrap Feb 2017 #33

I think one of the bigger factors is ymetca Feb 2017 #41

why do other nations have rates into the 70-80%? eniwetok Feb 2017 #49

Gerrymandering is one factor. moondust Feb 2017 #42

Imo many do not think it does any good. truebluegreen Feb 2017 #46

The EC discourages people Calculating Feb 2017 #53

Obviously can't speak for everybody Proud Liberal Dem Feb 2017 #58

I was a nose holder... eniwetok Feb 2017 #61