Book Review of Why Americans Still Don't Vote

There are three main thoughts to why individuals do not vote. There are two thoughts derived from political science that suggest differing factors within the political atmosphere to be reasons for individuals lack of voting. The other viewpoint is a sociological viewpoint that suggests the individuals who do not vote do not have the same access to resources as others thus they do not receive a proper education.

One of the political science thoughts suggests there to be a lack of voter turnout because of the decreasing competition between the two parties. Even though the parties are often at the throats of one another, the two parties have fairly similar beliefs on certain issues. Once the parties began to have more similar viewpoints, it provided fewer viewpoints for the average individual to be able to vote on. This causes individuals to feel as if there isn’t a candidate who represents them.

The other thought that is derived from political science suggests that it is the law requirements and ballot form that cause there to be declines in voting. The authors suggest that the laws for how to register to vote, when the last days to register to vote before elections, and the way the ballot is set up as causes of declines in voting. There was research performed that suggested the way a ballot was organized would make it more or less likely for individuals to vote straight ticket or split ticket. There were states that had ballots in which all the voter had to do was check one box to vote straight ticket for the specific party.

The sociological perspective on why individuals don’t vote is rooted in the social structure, mainly that they do not receive the same access to resources such as education. This results in individuals not developing an interest in politics and can cause them to feel as if voting doesn’t matter one way or the other. With the lack of education, it makes it more difficult for these individuals to go through information about candidates and decide which one would better represent them. If they received a poor education, they may not understand forms that need to be filled out, or how to meet proper time restraints on when to register.