This election has been described as “the most extreme version of would you rather to ever exist.” The past few months has seen a ridiculous amount of memes and jokes and satire regarding the two front runners and now presumptive nominees: Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton. The choice between the two is literally choosing between the lesser of two evils. The absurdity of this race has caught the attention of people all over the world thanks to social media. In previous races every candidate has struggled to impress young voters and have struggled to encourage them to come out and vote. In 2014, the midterm elections had the lowest voter turnout in 72 years. In California, Texas, and New York – the three largest cities in the US- less than a third of the population voted. The national voter turnout in 2014 was 36.3 percent. The reason why voter turnout has been suffering is due to anger, frustration but mostly, apathy.
Apathy is a “lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.” Apathy is caused by a multitude of things, a side effect of a mental illness, recent trauma, stress, adolescence. Political apathy is attributed to mostly social causes. Simply, the government and other social institutions have made it too hard to participate. When states try to make voting easier they end up with a higher voter turnout. For example, Colorado switched to a mail ballot system, and they had one of the highest voter turnouts in 2014.
The youth and American citizens are tired; this year’s candidates are using the media and shock factor to snap the American people out of their apathy. While the election hasn’t happened yet therefore the total voter turnout isn’t available, the primaries foreshadowed a promising voter turnout. If as many people show out, the general election will have a high voter turnout – one like the 2008 elections. People don’t vote because when they do they’re unsatisfied with the result. This causes the vicious cycle of frustration, anger and apathy to repeat. A perfect example of why the people are frustrated is that Hilary Clinton has won the Democratic nomination despite the fact that the people are in love with Bernie Sanders and what he aims to do. Political apathy and low voter turnout can have detrimental effects on society and on the government by electing someone that only 32% of the population voter for to rule the entire population.
But political apathy can be combated! People need to care; every vote counts! Encourage your friends, family, strangers to go vote because if you don’t voice your opinion how can you expect to be heard? It is your moral obligation as a citizen of the United States of America to get out and vote when the time comes.
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