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In reply to the discussion: Why Do So Few Vote In US? [View all]eniwetok
(1,629 posts)49. why do other nations have rates into the 70-80%?
"I think one of the bigger factors is that our system is representative, rather than direct."
Our electoral/political system has many disincentives to voting. Winner take all elections toss out up to 49.9% of the vote... more with the so-called spoiler effect. We can have imposed on the nation presidents who were REJECTED by the People. In the Senate states with a minority of the US population can veto the House AND the Senate has special powers over nominations.
A representative government CAN have decent turn out if it eliminates the defects our system has.
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FYI, lower-income Americans are considerably less likely to vote than higher-income Americans.
YoungDemCA
Feb 2017
#20
+1, this is the science in human behavior !!! Its been relatively peaceful for the last 30-40 yrs
uponit7771
Feb 2017
#50
sure... not here in MA... but we do have a long history of voter suppression... but
eniwetok
Feb 2017
#9
Here in Michigan, schools are all closed on election day, because they are all polling places.
putitinD
Feb 2017
#48
They don't like the adults that just walk in the door around the students, no way of screening
putitinD
Feb 2017
#55
the school where I vote has one main entrance, then a very open floor plan, and the gym is
putitinD
Feb 2017
#59
The system discourages voting. Americans have been taught to value working/money above citizenship.
haele
Feb 2017
#4