Voting is a political liberty of many law-abiding citizens of the United States of America. In terms of voter turnout and voting behaviors, there are two rival schools of thought. This research will examine what factors cause youth voting to be lower than that of older voters. The first school of thought, which can be referred to as conventional wisdom argues that persons under the age of thirty are least likely of all age groups to vote because they feel indifferent in regards to political practices. This causes them to turn out in drastically lower numbers than any other group. The second school of thought suggests that youth voters are not necessarily uninterested with the political systems, but instead they are misrepresented. I believe that America’s youth is slightly disconnected from the political world, but not for reason they are solely responsible for. Considering that there have been elections in which young voters turnout in record numbers, the notion that suggests that youth voters’ misrepresentation in politics causes their low voter turnout appears to be more convincing.
Conventional wisdom contends that young people do not vote because they are naturally disengaged. This idea causes many to presume that political campaigns have no influence over youth voter turnout. In 2000, Robert Putnam blamed young people for the decline in voting, political interests, and campaign activities. He argued that, “youth are uninterested, irresponsible, and unwilling to fulfill their civic responsibilities (Putnam, 2000). Kevin Mattson (2003), unlike Putnam, does not place blame solely on America’s youth for the decline in political practices. However, he does criticize the level at which youth engage in civil activities. ...
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...adults compared to older adults were less likely to respond that voting was extremely important for good citizenship (133). He concludes that it is too late for the generation of young adults that do not feel voting is an important civic responsibility, however, that it is not too late to convince them that politics matter by showing them that they are giving their opportunity to make important decisions that may impact their lives to others who have different ideas. One may agree with Wattenberg’s idea that habits follow people throughout their lives instead of changing as they cycle in life. His personal accounts are an impactful way to illustrate the importance of building a sense of duty at a young age and carrying that responsibility throughout one’s life.
Many political analysts argue that engagement is an important characteristic of democracy, yet the younger generation is indifferent towards politics. They’re more interested in the latest iPhone technology than in campaigning or voting. In The Good Citizen: How a Younger Generation Is Reshaping American Politics, author Russell J. Dalton counters this with the idea that Gen X’ers are still engaged, just in a different way.
"Miller light and bud light…either way you end up with a mighty weak beer!" This is how Jim Hightower (a Texan populist speaker) described the choices that the U.S. electorate had in the 2000 elections. This insinuates that there is a clear lack of distinction between the parties. Along with numerous others, this is one of the reasons why the turnout is so low in the U.S. elections. In trying to explain the low figures at the U.S. elections, analysts have called American voters apathetic to indifferent to downright lazy. I disagree that the 50% (in recent elections) of voters that fail to turnout to vote are lazy and that they have just reason not too. I will also show that the problem lies within the system itself in that the institutional arrangements, electoral and governmental, do not create an environment that is conducive to mass participation. I will address these main issues and several others that have an effect on voter participation. In doing so I will compare America to other established democracies.
Piven, Frances Fox and Richard A. Cloward. Why Americans Don't Vote. New York: Pantheon, 1989.
Samples, John. "Three Myths about Voter Turnout." Political Analysis. N.p., 14 Sept. 2004. Web. 2 Dec. 2013. .
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