Apathy, Inconvenience & Voting

Of course, with the indices of the problem well in mind, solutions are quick to fol low-pitched. Many suggestive plans have surfaced in recent years that would make take a simpler, much well-off, and ultimately more inclusive process for the electorate. Weekend balloting and the altering of voting booth locations to accommodate voters are 2 reforms that have been considered (Grofman, 1999). More drastic measures that have been explored on express chain armor levels include teleph atomic number 53 voting, electronic b wholeoting, early voting, absentee voting and mail balloting (Smith, 1994). Whether or not these new ideas will succeed requires close examination; we must be wary to use metamorphoses that are desired by the people and that maintain lofty voter security.

It is clear that low voter turnout is perceive as a problem. However, it is perhaps the more compelling to stand up labeling our poor voter numbers as problematic. By all means, voting must be made as convenient as possible for the public, and this may involve some changes in the voting system. After all, institutions must advance to keep dance step with the times. However, voter apathy is an issue that transcends mere convenience. Politicians have understandably become more unsavory to the public, and many voters feel touch to choose between the lesser of two evils come election time. Perhaps it is the act of not voting that is the totally mechanism the average American citizen has to communicate his displeasure to the g

Perhaps the most compelling argument for the far-flung implementation of such programs is that they have found success in the states that have utilized them. In Oregon, for example, the 1995-96 vote-by-mail special election enticed 66 percent of registered voters to cast ballots (VBM, 1999). At the time, Texas was holding a comparable election in the standard go-to-the-polls format; only 21 percent of registered voters showed up to vote (VBM, 1999). Clearly then, these innovations are normal with the public. And these new methods of voting have been safe. Oregon's Secretary of State Phil Keisling has noteworthy that "During the 15 years that Oregon has held mail elections, only one case of fraud has been prosecuted"(VBM, 1999).

The Project Vote Smart go off illustrates some disturbing points. Namely, that a disenchantment in the voting population is common among all age groups, though most prominently in the youngest set (PVS, 1999). Those polled indicated that they do not assumption politicians or the government, nor do they believe that the news media does a truly good and trustworthy job reporting on issues of semipolitical importance (PVS, 1999). These are the voters that will be deciding the peck of the nation for decades to come, and they are not inspired to vote no matter how convenient it is. Thus, we must ask the question: Is our low voter turnout truly the problem?

However, there are some concerns regarding the vote-by-mail and/or early-voting system. Critics point to the alienation inherent in any remote voting program. Traditional voting at the polls has always been a time for people to meet and stimulate political energies (VBM, 1999). Further, in both of the aforementioned systems the baron to vote early could subvert the best intentions of a voter. It is fancy by critics that voters will make their choices before the election deadlines, only to find new information after the fact that could change their vote. The voter, then, wou
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