Voting and Elections Assignment

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School

Houston Community College *

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Course

2305

Subject

Political Science

Date

Dec 6, 2023

Type

docx

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Uploaded by SuperHumanHornet1425

Angel Casiano Professor Teas GOVT 2305 11 March 2023 Voting and Elections Assignment Since the 1800s, voter turnout has been a crucial factor affecting the outcome of various elections. Drew Desilver, an expert in the field of politics, defines turnout as the “ratio of votes cast to eligible voters”. However, compulsory voting is a controversial issue, as it may undermine the freedom of choice guaranteed by democracy. According to Sonam Tobgay, a publisher, “a key argument against compulsory voting is its inconsistency with democratic principles”. According to estimates, Harris County, Texas has a total of 2,431,457 registered voters, out of which only 1,656,686 voters participated in the election. This means that approximately 68.14% of registered voters voted. In comparison to the county's voter turnout rate, my neighborhood had a turnout rate of 56.49%, which is one of the lowest compared to other neighborhoods and precincts. However, it is surprising to note that most of the neighborhoods and precincts have turnout rates as high as 70's and 80's. Furthermore, within my locality, there were a combined number of 524 Republican votes and 912 Democratic votes, and this is positively correlated with the county's voting trend. I noticed that Harris County has a greater inclination towards the Democratic party than the Republican. Although the total number of votes in my neighborhood is relatively low compared to the county's total, the number of

individual votes who selected a party within my neighborhood could impact the outcome due to its proportional significance. I hold the view that it is important to increase the amount of people who vote in society. However, it is my belief that it would be beneficial for communities if voters were to cast their votes based on a logical and thoughtful ideology, rather than being compelled to do so. This way, the election results would reflect the preferences of informed and reasonable voters, rather than being influenced by voters who are merely fulfilling their obligation to cast a vote. Contrary to common misconceptions, an increase in voter turnout would lead to a more informed society. This would result from greater engagement in politics and a heightened awareness of the issues at hand, as citizens take an active role in deciding the future path of their nation. To achieve higher voter turnout rates, it is crucial for the younger generation to play a more active role in elections, rather than relying solely on adults for political influence. The youth of today's world could contribute a fresh perspective on politics that might be advantageous to their generation for the future rather than people who have unwavering choices based on what they have always voted for or just keep things as they have been up to now. This would result in an increase in voter turnout. Most people who often choose to miss voting can participate when all they have to do is grab a computer or phone and cast the vote of their choice without having to show up in person and wait in large lines, which is another approach to raise voter turnout.

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