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Why voting is important to a democratic society in the united states
Whats the importance of voting
Importance Of Voting In A Democracy
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Voting is one of the most important rights and responsibilities a citizen has. Throughout American history, people have fought to gain the right to vote. These people understood that voting gives citizens the power to influence the decisions of their leaders. This is a priceless power. However, many people are not exercising their right to vote. Today, more and more voters are staying home and staying silent on Election Day. In 2012, 76 percent of Minnesota residents who were able to vote participated in the presidential election. While this is a fair number of voters, the disappointing fact is that Minnesota had the best voter turnout in the entire country! Unfortunately, only five or six voters out of every ten showed up at the polls in many other states. Clearly, many citizens are choosing not to vote. Now, some may forget to vote. Others may be unable to vote due to sickness or other emergencies. But many people simply do not bother. They may feel they are too busy to participate, or, worse, that their vote "doesn't count." Some people actually believe that individual votes do ...
Thus, inactivity in voting threatens the very legitimacy of our government. In the recent November 7, 2013 midterm election, a few counties reported a mere 4% of eligible voters actually participated, in some cases, in voting for a policy referendum that would affect how millions of dollars would be spent in the coming years.... ... middle of paper ... ...
The Chartist movement (a working class political movement) in 1840 believed “People had no one else but themselves to blame for the actions of their politicians” (Nash). What Mr. Nash and the chartist movement believe couldn’t be more on the spot. This country has gotten to the point where people find it hard to walk down their street to the elementary school where the voting polls are, and take a few minutes to cast a vote. A vote that millions of people around the world wish they were able to have them selves. With all the political suffrage that goes on through the world and people forced to love a leader, these no-shows should be thankful to live in a democracy. A place where elections aren’t rigged and the people are truly heard. This is why the topic of voting turnout needs to be raised. Also it’s very annoying to hear people complaining about our President when they did not even vote. It’s a very bad habit to not vote, and it needs to change with the younger citizens of this country. Helping younger people see the importance of voting needs to start with technological and educational ideas while expanding all the way to social event ideas. Only then will America’s ability to find answers to voting turnout increase.
According to a study done by Nonprofit Vote only “an estimated 58.7% of eligible voters turned out to vote” ("Voter Turnout" ) in 2012’s presidential election, which is below the 62% that was achieved in 2008. (Ginsberg 306). According to the United States Census Bureau in 2012 71.2 percent of Americans reported that they were registered to vote, but only 61.8 reported that they actually did so. ("Voting and Registration"). While each source didn’t report the exact same statistics in America these percentages are considered highs in political participation. Even worse, in midterm elections voter turnout is normally closer to 33% and even lower for any local elections. (Ginsberg 306). While we may consider any of those statistics good for America, looking at world democracies we are trailing far behind, in many “European countries and other western democracies [the] national voter turnout is usually between 70 to 90 percent.”(Ginsberg 306). The question is then asked why don’t American’s vote, which is then an...
“Just Vote.” That phrase has been tossed around for years but what if people don’t want to vote? The United States of America is a democracy but many people do not vote. Since World War II, no presidential election has ever involved 65% or more of registered voters. Have you ever thought about the people that don’t vote and why they don’t vote? Here are three reasons why Americans should not be required to vote: Sometimes people can be irresponsible, government should not force us to vote if we truly don’t want to, and we need to respect people’s wishes.
In America, political candidates go against one another in a process known as an election in which citizens vote for the next person who "best" fits the position. In addition, there are various amounts of debates on whether a citizen should be compelled to vote. Although some argue if citizens should be required by law to vote, there are exceeding an amount of disadvantages.
I believe that the single most important societal problem currently is voting right restrictions. November is quickly coming upon us, so does the right to cast our votes for whoever we believe to be the best candidate for the oval office. However, new voting right restrictions will make the voting process harder for certain groups. These laws will affect of upwards to millions of potential voters this coming election. We all have the right to vote. The government also has the right for certain groups to make that ballet harder to cast. The reason that voting right restriction is so important is because it stops numerous people from voting, a specific group of people were targeted, and the reason the law was made is wrong.
In order to completely understand how far society has come and the amount of work that still must be done, in regards to being able to exercise our voting rights, we must first understand some of the voting barriers that minorities had to face in the past. It was not until 1870 that the 15th amendment was passed, declaring it unconstitutional for an individual to be denied the right to vote based on their color, race or previous condition of servitude. However, the 15th amendment only applied to male individuals, it did not guarantee the right for women to vote. Instead female voters had to wait an additional fifty years until they were granted the privilege to vote. In 1920, the 19th amendment was finally passed, stating that regardless of gender every American citizen had the right to vote.
Voter turnout has been declining in the United States throughout history through the potential voters’ personal choice not to vote and ineligibility. According to research a large percentage of individuals are not voting because political parties fail to appeal to the voters and this leads to the voting population losing interest in the campaign, while others postpone registering and by the time they realize their delay the election is upon them.
How many times have you found yourself complaining about the government? It isn’t hard to, as the government never generates decisions that everyone agrees with, but what have you done about it? Well, if the answer is nothing, you aren’t alone. Only about 37% of eligible American citizens voted in the important 2014 election (McDonald). Fixing the issue of low voter turnout won’t be a one-step process, but it has the potential to transform American politics forever. American citizens should be required to vote in all general elections to greatly increase voter turnout in order to increase the influence of democracy and improve American politics.
8% of college students said they forgot to vote, and over 12% of those not in college said they forgot to vote or send in a ballot. For students in college, 12% versus 19% of those not in college said that the reason they did not vote is because they were not interested or felt their vote did not count. Another reason for not voting was being too busy or stating that voting conflicted with work for 35% of college students and 30% of those not in colleges. Lastly, “other reasons” to not vote was listed as the number one category for those not in college at 33% and 21% for those in college. With every survey taken, there are limitations.
Have you ever been persuaded into voting? Well, you should have your own say on where your opinion goes. Voting is a right that every citizen in America over the age of 18 can do. Many people have become aware of the fact that the number of voters had reached its all time low. But as the newest voting season comes closer, we should still have a voice and the freedom to decide what we do. Which is, take a step against making America a compulsory voting country, because it proves unnecessary and there are other alternatives than mandatory voting.
“ I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery Thomas Jefferson 1787.” That is why the civil war took place. Voting is your right because you put your opinion out into the world for everybody to see it. Now everyone can vote in subjects such as politics, gun rights, sporting, and assault.
The election process depends on voter turnout and participation, in order to fully exercise their right, U.S. citizens need to register to vote and vote during elections. According to Fine & Levin-Waldman (2016), registering to vote has proven to be a significant barrier for some groups and nonvoting tends to be more concentrated among lower-income groups. According to The Harvard Law Review Association (2006), a functioning democracy should make every effort to encourage broad participation. There are many factors on why there is low voter turnout and participation, one main factor is socioeconomic status, and access and means to register and vote. According to The Harvard Law Review Association (2006) those factors include, individuals who cannot comply with the documentation criteria such as those who do not receive utility bills, immigrant workers paid in cash, others that face significant difficulties in obtaining birth certificates or other documentation from states of prior residence and homeless individuals without traditional street addresses face additional obstacles to registering and voting.
According to the constitution “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” The constitution clearly states that all citizens have the freedom of choice. Therefore, allowing them to choose according to their desires and beliefs. People have been debating whether the United States should have the compulsory voting system or not .There are variety of reasons on each side of the argument. However, I believe that compulsory voting should not be allowed because voters will not have freedom of choice, punishments can be very harsh for several people, and the irresponsible voters will make uneducated decisions while voting.
The action of voting is such important role in how our country is going to be developed, especially effects on the economy, foreign relationships, society, etc. People are becoming much involved in politics, which is extraordinary because it means that the people are understanding how important their vote is and how it brings change to the issues that truly bother them. Many citizens don’t vote because they are either lazy or too busy, they either have jobs, classes, families, or other responsibilities take care of, but voting is a responsibility that should be attended. Voting could be the thing to prevent awful political leader’s to be put in office who are not focusing on what’s truly important, which is the people, which means that