Voters In America

Americans are fortunate enough to have the right to vote, so we should take opportunity to be heard. “...many Americans do not vote” (Doc BE). Some Americans do not take the chance to vote. For example, “Since World War II, no presidential election has ever involved 65% or more of registered voters!” (Doc BE). Voting is important because, “People express their consent or disapproval in many different ways” (Doc BE).

Now a days people run to media for answers on current events and expect information to be accurate, but yet do the people know that almost all media news reports are bias. Often times people run to news channels that give out information they want to hear based off the media’s beliefs. The media has always been bias, but it wasn’t until certain events occurred that opened society’s eyes. There are six powerhouse news sources that all have their own type of bias which points out their own perspective on current events. When it comes to current events, different media platforms represent the story from different perspectives. Viewers want their views to be validated rather than challenged and don’t give ideas of what people should do. Although

After seeing many problems in the U.S. democracy, the major issue would be the amount non-voters in the U.S. This is an issue that is gradually affecting the political process in the U.S. especially in the present election right now. The reason that non-voters are a concern would be because citizens are not contributing to their political engagement, which causes votes to only come from one specific area. There are various types of ways to address the amount political engagement for individuals. For example, government officials can “eliminate voting barriers, boost registration, and improve unions”(McElwee, 2014). One way to improve the issue of non-voters would be to make voting simple and allow people to vote online because we are a country

News organizations that report on stories in a fair, balanced and ethical manner are essential to the functionality of this nation. A citizen’s ability to make well-informed decisions hinges on a news organization’s ability to relay the most accurate information regarding the state of the nation, the changing condition of communities, and adjustments in the government. Journalism is no longer a one-sided conversation. Journalism is an interactive process that allows for readers and viewers to create a dialogue with journalists by utilizing mediums such as social networking sites and comment sections. Audiences have a say in what stories get reported and how news stories are presented to the masses. When news organizations fail to cover all

A liberal is a person that believes that the government should provide equality for all, while a conservative is a person that believes in limited government and that the government should provide the necessary freedom for people to pursue their own goals. Over time, it has been argued, mostly by conservatives, that there is a liberal bias in the media. Liberals have combated this idea with the belief that conservative media is devoted to making efforts to invoke fear and division in the general public. Though liberals make a fine counter-argument, it is easier to observe that the media is liberal-biased. The liberal versus conservative debate can be compared to facts versus values. Another reason for bias within the media is that a significant percentage of minorities, or smaller groups within the population that are often thought to be poorer, politically identify themselves as liberals. To make these minorities feel like the government is on their side as well as everyone else’s, the media must accommodate the needs of these minorities. Because of this, the media becomes liberal-biased.

Voting has not always been as easy as it is today. It is interesting to examine how far America has progressed in its process of allowing different types of people to be able to vote. Voting was once aimed at a particular group of people, which were white males that owned their own property. Today, most people over the age of eighteen can vote, except for the mentally incompetent or people who have been convicted of major felonies in some states. The decline of voter participation has always been a debate in the public arena. According to McDonald and Popkin, it is “the most important, most familiar, most analyzed, and most conjectured trend in recent American political history (2001, 963)” The question is, how important is voter

Verba and his co-authors examine the import of participation, both voting and non-voting, in our American society. According to their argument, the typical citizen activist “tend[s] to be drawn disproportionately from more advantaged groups–to be well-educated and well-heeled and to be White and male” (Verba et al., 1995: 231). Indeed, Verba et al. explore participation along both gender and racial lines and concludes that both women and minorities are comparatively less active than men, especially white men, who stand peerless both in terms of affiliation with a political organization, contributing to a campaign, contacting their Representatives, and more direct forms of participation like voting.

The voter turnout rates can lead to a multitude of things like education and more accurate votes to the simple feel of completing a civic duty. The endgame of voter turnouts is the education of voters involved (Document F) as well as the accuracy of the vote being unquestionable (Document E). This increased voter turnout can lead to the connection of people through gathering, regardless of age (Document B). “...Civic virtue; it’s sentimentality,”(Document G). The previous quote shows that civic virtue can go a long way from not only yourself emotionally, but others too. Higher voter turnout rates cannot only improve a multitude of things in our country, but also can give our nation a legitimate name.

As I walked into the Crowne Plaza on the Ventura promenade on November 2, 2010, I was preparing to vote. I walked into the polling room, gave my name and identification, and was handed a voting sheet just as I had every other time I went to vote. I think this was the first time that I really contemplated about how lucky I was to live in a time where my voice has meaning. So many of my friends ask me “why do you vote, it doesn’t matter” and to me it is this kind of attitude that we need to as a society reflect on and regroup our thoughts on this issue. We forget that their was once a time that woman were not only not allowed to vote, but looked down upon for thinking that they had the right to do so.

Over the last few decades, we have seen a shift in voter participation, and involvement in the election arena rather it be national, state, and or local levels. According to Time Magazine, 2014 mid-terms voter turnout was at a 72 year low. At only 36.4% of U.S, eligible voters voted in 2014 mid-terms, down from 40.9% that voted in 2010 mid-terms. Analyst views the decline as the “millennial generation” coming into effect, which clearly indicates the age group (18-33) seems to have a significantly lower turnout rate compare to the older age groups. With less participation in state and local elections, we now face decisions such as elections in South Carolina being cancelled if the incumbent as no challenge, according to Cindi Scoppe associate editor at “The State”. This doesn’t provide ample explanation considering that the mid-terms elections do in fact represent a significant portion of state-level elections, which ultimately allows individuals to experience policies being implemented at a much greater effect. So the questions arise are we happy with single file candidates ascending to the elected office with no election? Is it the lack of interest or it doesn’t matter who’s in the seat? What does this say about the public responsibility for electing these people as our representatives to make decisions that impact our daily lives?

In conclusion, young voters need to take an active role in government in order to continue one of the founding principles of our country which is that we are an democratically elected republic who is looking out for the interest of all of its people. The problem lies not within the older generation who have high turnout rates and are concerned with supporting issues relative to their stage in life. Instead, the burden lies upon the apathetic younger generation whose unique ideals, viewpoints, and experiences are being squandered because we are not voting. It is time for young Americans to step up to the plate.

It seems as though the younger population of voters have all grown up in a world where they have been influenced to believe that their one vote will not make a difference, and therefore they do not bother to take the time out of their busy schedules to cast their meaningless vote. In the last presidential election, only one out of four citizens between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four casted their vote (“Is the System broken?”). The opinion that one vote will not make a difference appears to be directly respondent to the younger generation of voters. This generation needs to be educated on the difference that one vote can make.

Growing up where half of my siblings aren’t born in America and what 's more, one sibling is still not even a citizen reminding me how voting can change everything. Even some of my friends who’s not born here and not a citizen grew up here there whole life with me. It’s terrifying that a vote can send people out of this country to another country where they have no knowledge of, other than being born in their country to get sent back. At first I didn’t care I didn’t think it was much of an issue at all. I was born in America so I didn’t think too much of wouldn’t concern me at all. On top of that, I just assume people are being paranoid that nothing wasn’t going to happen to anyone it is the United States. In my mind the only way they kick you out of America is breaking the law. However, I was mistaken. A few people I knew had been sent away. Voting plays the major part in political history. With reason, voting is subsequently important since it allows us to practice our rights as a Democratic nation. If we don’t vote, then we are allowing others to decide to tell us how to live our life and what’s right for us. Because history and politics in the voting, always had an effect in changing and molding the United States.

The United States of America is one of the few countries that give its citizens a unique opportunity and that is to vote. Many other countries give its citizens the right to vote, however America is different due to the fact that its citizens vote for everything, from their local government to their president. With power this great, it gives more reason to become and informed voter. Each state has congressional districts that are made by the population. Each district has around 711,000 people. Each district gets one representative in the House of Representatives. For example, Portland Connecticut is part of the 1st congressional district in Connecticut. Their representative is John Larson. The 1st congressional district of Connecticut spans over multiple counties including multiple major cities, and example would be East and West Hartford, Hartford being the capital of Connecticut. Other cities include Middletown and Manchester, all which are highly populated and the towns have large impacts on Connecticut’s economy.

The United States is often seen as a hallmark of democracy, due to the nature of peaceful presidential transitions along with the abundance of civil rights and liberties as outlined in the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution. However, on an average, only 60% of eligible voters participate in the presidential elections that take place every four years, and 40% turn out for the congressional midterm elections that occur every two years (Fair Vote). John Winthrop, a New England colonist during the early 17th century, told his fellow Puritans, “We shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us” (Ushistory.org), but has this really lived out its meaning if American elections do not include the voices of everyone?