The Problem With Voter Apathy

By Kai Heslop (’19), Staff Writer

Voter apathy refers to the lack of interest that some eligible voters express towards exercising their right to vote, or towards the outcome of an election in general. This is a theme that has become increasingly present in U.S. politics, with the U.S. lagging behind other western democracies by a notable margin in terms of voter turnout. Why is this the case? Why is it that voters are not going out to the polls and casting their vote? Whether voter apathy is driven by the mindset that one’s single ballot will not make a difference in the election outcome, or sheer laziness is a question that political scientists have grappled with. Although the U.S. touts democratic ideals, many voters do not believe that their voice matters, especially if they reside in and vote in a state that historically swings to the left or to the right. Voter turnout in mid-term elections has been even lower than voter turnout during presidential elections, ranging from 36-47 percent over the course of the past 50 years.

This is a problem that disproportionately affects youth, specifically racial minorities. Ironically, politicians have been known to pander for the youth vote, a theme characteristic of this year’s election cycle in particular. The Clinton campaign altered the approach taken in the 2008 Democratic nominee election, and went to great lengths to emphasize all that Hillary Clinton has done for the youth over the course of her career, showcasing her ‘tireless’ work towards organizations that benefit children. In this sense, Hillary Clinton and her campaign team shifted their efforts to primarily appeal to demographics such as families, mothers, and youth themselves. Showing that the youth are valued in this manner was strategic and purposefully done with the end goal of getting their votes. Republican nominee Donald Trump, on the other hand, has not enjoyed the support of the youth to the same extent that Hillary Clinton has. This same trend is true for Clinton and Trump’s respective support of minority voters, which some argue will lower rates of voter apathy for this election cycle.

In the 2008 election, voter apathy experienced lower rates, which political scientists attribute to the fact that this race was compelling in that the result broke ingrained historical precedents. The 2008 presidential race resulted in the first African American president in history being elected, and since this year’s election cycle could result in the first female president in history being elected, so some speculate that voter apathy will play less of a role. Hopefully this speculation comes to fruition, which can and will happen if young people and minorities in particular make a point of exercising their right to vote and allowing their voice, no matter how small, to be heard on the political stage.