Natalie Lewis

Professor A

PSC 101

5 April 2019

Question: If americans cherish the right to vote, why do so many neglect to exercise this right?

Discuss the institutional barriers, such as ID laws and electoral rules as well as individual factors.

If the right to vote is so special then why don’t American Citizens exercise it? This is a

great question, that I wonder myself. Which happens to have a very logical explanation.

The benefits or goals of elections is to elect a candidate/leader in our democracy.

However, citizens can enjoy these benefits without contributing their vote, this is called

freeriding. The purpose of voting allows candidates and leaders to hear the opinions of the

people, but why vote when the only purpose is to influence leaders. Also with the idea that one

vote won’t make an impact and counts for very little, keeps people from wasting their time going

to the polls.

The institutional context, for example variations in registration laws affect voter turnout.

Before the election in 2012 many states made it a requirement to show a form of identification in

order to vote. This raised the cost of participation for the poor and minority groups who are also

less likely to obtain a valid driver’s license or other form of ID. These minority groups also tend

to vote for democrats which conveniently all but one of the states that made this requirement are

lead by the republican party. Another institutional barrier is the electoral system and the fact that
it sets rules in place for how results of elections are determined. People argue that their candidate

could win the popular vote but still lose because they didn’t gain the majority of the electoral

college. The reality that their vote is irrelevant turns people away from voting.

A person’s individual factors can play a role in their voter turn out as well. Race, age and

education have the biggest influence on them voting or not. African americans and hispanics as

well as people who live in southern states/states that border the south are less likely to vote.

Where as people whose roots are stronger in their community I.E. residents, church members,

homeowners and people with jobs are more likely to not only vote but to engage in politics and

to feel confident about their vote. The explanation for these results is simple. Voting and

participating in politics can be cost effective but produce benefits. Therefore, those who make

more money tend to be the ones who show up at the polls.

We are fortunate that we live in a country where there is freedom and we get the

opportunity to vote for our leaders. There are people elsewhere that don’t get these liberties and

freedoms like we do. American citizens should make more of an effort to contribute to politics

but more importantly exercise their right to vote. It may seem that one vote won’t make a

difference but if everybody feels that way then the same people with the same beliefs will

continue to rule our country.