Why does 40% of the population not vote?
-I don't have the time.
-My vote wont change the result in my District/State.
-It doesn't make a difference since all politicians are the same.
-What's the point?
Perfectly demonstrated that if the job approval of congress was applied not one of them should be in DC.
So on average; if you can get 30.1% of the electorate to turn out for you, then you have a very good chance of winning.
So basically all you have to do is motivate your base, and then discourage as many other people not to carry out their democratic duty by voting.
How do you go about this?
1] Electoral Suppression.
Make it as hard to vote as possible.
Voter ID laws have received plenty of attention recently, but they're not the only controversial changes to election rules this year. Some states have made changes that critics say could impact individuals' ability to vote. Here are four.
2] Electoral fraud.
Make it easier for your base to vote whilst at the same time making it harder for the opposition to vote.
It’s lucky that was the case, because the federal commission tasked with making elections function better has been stymied by partisan infighting that has left it with zero commissioners, with Republicans refusing to appoint new ones and blocking Democrats from doing the same.
3] Gerrymandering
gerrymandering, “Gerry-mander, The” [Credit: Bettmann/Corbis]in U.S. politics, drawing the boundaries of electoral districts in a way that gives one party an unfair advantage over its rivals. The term is derived from the name of Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts, whose administration enacted a law in 1812 defining new state senatorial districts. The law consolidated the Federalist Party vote in a few districts and thus gave disproportionate representation to Democratic-Republicans.
4] Make it as near impossible for others to run a possible
Since those who contribute to campaigns have such disproportionate control over who can get elected, Congressional candidates spend 30 to 70 percent of their time fundraising for re-election, according to Lessig. This dynamic also allows for a Congressman’s views to be heavily influenced by financial contributors, and any reform that angers funders is highly unlikely to pass.
“(Funders are) driving public policy not in a way that aims at public interest but at their private interest,” Lessig said.
By the time the negative campaigning has drowned out all reason it really does take some effort to vote, then by making it harder with
creative ballot design:
The complex ballot paper in Florida – which is some counties is up to six pages long – is also said to be creating delays as it takes much longer than usual for each paper to be counted and put into the computer system.
So once the two parties have managed to keep this system in place, it is a wonder that only 40% don't participate.
Mention a third party; and both sides of the aisle will savage you. Yet the two party system enables the burying of so many globally important issues.
Most candidates, as outsiders, came to the agreement that the two-party prominent system is guilty of keeping important issues out of the limelight.
A modified system of proportional representation might do the trick to get more people involved. The parties can choose who they would most like to represent them and voters would also get that choice.
Campaign finance reform is probably the most urgent need.
Making voter registration easy, a priority.
The object should to be to increase participation; rather than beating it over the head. If you feel your vote doesn't matter, then there is something wrong with the system.