In your opinion what are the reasons for low voter turnout in the United States?
346171
Apathetic perspectives with a wide range of reasoning. Most common feeling voting does not count and the system "ruling class" does what they want and nobodies willing to organize to stop/change this dominate control! Producing the powerless apathy!
880524
Just over 70% in my county. Not like it used to be.\n\nAbout 30 years ago I came home from work, had supper and went to the polls. They greeted me very warmly because I was the only voter unaccounted for. After I cast my ballot, they closed up with 100% turnout.\n\nWhen I hear of low turnouts, it saddens me almost as much as knowing how uninformed those few are.\n\nPerhaps we need an IQ test for voter registration, and if you miss two consecutive elections, you are disenfranchised. Sounds fair to me.
1155110
Americans don't really seem to care and believe that their one vote won't matter but if you think about it that is what about half the population thinks. A thing you might want to think of too is if we get accurate results when we vote???
697264
Interesting question.\nWe know from statistics that voter turnout is heavily influenced by the weather.\nAnd we know that God controls the weather. \n\nSpeaking to Pontius Pilate, Jesus said, \nJohn 19:11  "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above:"
164909
Plenty is done for the people, including those  who do not vote. Even if an election result does not go the way I voted, I know that I had the opportunity to make my opinion known to those whom with I disagree. \nIt takes quite a bit of effort for anything to be placed on a ballot, people must support a candidate or issue and take proper steps to complete the process. If things that matter to you need voter approval, get out and volunteer with a group that supports your views, getting involved will give you a greater satisfaction with the political process. Your effort does matter and you can make a difference in your community,  good luck.
1127991
I would suggest its boils down to apathy,detachment, failed expectation, or a combination of two or more of the three.\n\nApathy- Many people just don't care enough or find the issues the president may be involved in during his/her administration to be important enough for them to cast a vote,they would rather let the chips fall where they may.\n\nDetachment-Many people may feel so detached from politics in general or from the executive branch of government that they may feel separated or apart from any actual decision making processes that directly or indirectly affect them.\n\nFailed expectations-Many people have either encountered or have been influenced by others who allegedly encountered experiences where the Head of government at any level including national have failed to come through on their promises,or moved in some direction antithetical to the ones they indicated they would on given issues.Its a common interpretation that all politicians are liars and of course the president is at the top of the list.Many people do not subscribe to the notion that any single vote can make the difference.\n\nIt is my supposition that people in general have no idea what most of the actual issues are, or the positions the candidates have taken on them.It is my opinion that modern Americans have become jaded and self involved and detached from the concept of nationalism,except when it adversely effects their position or ideology.It is also my opinion that most people don't think their vote makes a difference, and there knowledge of our constitutionally created system of free democratic due process is limited at best.\n\nI agree with you,I do vote,I cherish the right to do so,and my expectations are high,I still believe that one vote can make the difference especially when the number of votes are declining.I guess you wanted non voters to answer this question but I just couldn't help myself, I hope it generates some reaction or response from non voters,at least we know they gave the subject on moment of thought,and that's probably more than they have in a long time.
443298
I think that some young people do not want to vote because they find voting being meaningless but yet, they are the ones who complain a lot about the government. I believe that if you do not vote, DO NOT Complain on what is happening where you live.
812824
If people don't vote, they need to accept everyone else's decisions becuase that is why you have the right to vote.  You each have to exercise that right or you don't have anyone to blame but yourself.
1050982
There are several reasons.  First, most people are simply not smart enough to know who the canidates are, or what they stand for, so they stay home.  Many no longer feel a connection to the canidates as they feel special interests now control everything.  Many also feel that their vote does not count.  But the real reason is just plain laziness of the American voter, who will stand in line for hours for concert tickets, show tickets or sporting events, but if there are 3 people waiting to vote, the line is simply too long.
963652
Voter surveys on election Day 2006 indicated that the number one reason most voters chose a Democratic candidate was their unhappiness with the war in Iraq. In essence, they voted to give the other guys a chance after five years of what many voters viewed as failed foreign policies, though there is no indication that the voters wanted any particular policy, only for something to make the situation in Iraq better for the United States. While Iraq was the primary reason for voters' unhappiness with the Bush Administration, they were also unhappy with the increasingly unfair returns of the national economy, the overwhelming sense of corruption generated by the Republican-controlled Congress since 1994 and the federal government's poor response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, an issue with particular potency among black voters. Hispanic voters were also driven to abandon the GOP because of conservatives' hardline on immigration. In 2004, President Bush had taken almost 40% of the Hispanic vote, but in the 2006 midterms the Republicans took only 20%, a major falloff that hurt them, especially in the West. Overall, the voters simply wanted change, and the Democrats played the old political trick of offering up no concrete policies to the electorate so that they could be everything to everyone--an empty vessel for people to pour their desires for change into.
560468
it's when a vast majority of people do not vote.
919344
I don't think statistics can provide a truly accurate answer for actual number of eligible voters.  During the presidential election, the democrats had thousands registered to vote that were actually resting in peace in our cemeteries across the U.S.  Although most of these votes are weeded out..........it makes you wonder how many get counted.
24220
Not only not enough horsepower (which I agree with), but also because the U.S. has a two-party system ingrained in it's politics.  It's been basically a two-party system since the revolution.
406113
A lack of decent candidates. If there were a decent, honest candidate running for office, more people would be energized and excited to vote. We've had pretty poor people to choose from the last 2 election cycles and the voter turnout has declined in both.
71587
LOL.  Well obviously the answer is 'yes', the 'people have spoken' or so to speak.  We had our chance for our voices to be heard (it's called Election Day, it pre-marked on most calendars), and we failed to do so.  It's sad how politics, especially Bush, have become such a polarizing factor in America, when fewer people voted in the last election preportionately than ever.  You would think with all these strong opinions, people would have been clogging the polls. So, in a nutshell 'let your voice be heard'?  Obviously most people don't care about that any more.
663036
I think the biggest reason for this is they don't see it as having a major effect on their lives.  Most of the issues (major issues) don't pertain to them a whole lot.  \n\nNow WE know that these are the fundamental building blocks for things that WILL be important to them (us) later, however with the pressures of work, school (for some), and just life in general it is easy to become complacent and fall into the trap.\n\nI know and feel a personal sense of responsibility (and pride) in voting, however some (not all) just don't care.  That's the saddest part of all...
331036
On the wrong track for many reasons.  Politicians have become amoral, Americans have become complacent, people love to complain but do nothing,  a bit more than half the population votes, there is not equal representation, and I could go on for hours.  You get the point.