Causes of Voters Apathy, Essay Example

One the principal themes in the world of politics encompass voters apathy. The statistics prove that the voters are staying home in record numbers because of lack of interest, dislike of candidates, news media reports, blurred party lines, and negative campaigns. In Ohio Statewide race of local candidates the Ohio voting polls recorded one the lowest voting participation rates of 39% (Borchardt 1). The voters in Ohio have a trend of voters not voting in the presidential election years while other voters do not participate because they dislike both state candidates.

There are many voting organizations nationwide cite the causes of voters not voting is a lack of trust of the voting system and election candidates. The voter is often bombarded with negative information and untruthful information concerning both candidates. The negative information creates a level of distrust between the political arena and the eligible voters. The CNN news will show candidate “A” as a family man with strong morals and many years of government experience while CBS will show the same candidate as a “theft” that cheats on his or her taxes. This causes the voter to lose interest in the presidential or local city race because they have been alienated from the voting process with negative and conflicting reports. The political candidates believe that smearing the opponent scores points with the voters. However, with the declining numbers of voter turnout in every state may indicate that the voters are tired of watching candidates be destroyed with half-truths and misconceptions. This should be awake up call to the running candidates that the negative campaigns are no longer winning votes. The voter apathy has continue to be a growing trend in the local and presidential races.

The last five years in Ohio, the news has been reporting the different reasons voters are reframing from voting because the massive number of opinions that make it difficult for the average voter to make a decision on the candidate (Borchardt 2). The political journalist Jackie Borchardt shares that the election years statistically show voters do not vote especially the constituents of the Democratic Party. This indicates that the Democrats are running candidates that their own Ohio eligible voters refused to participate in the voting process.

Low Voter Turnouts

Many people have come to distrust the voting system because they have a lack of interest in the candidate that is running (Salter 1). In some instances, the eligible voter does like either candidate furthermore, causing the eligible voter to avoid participating in voting. The trend of eligible voters not participating in the voting process in mid-term elections has reach poor numbers over the last decades. According to Ghosh(2011), the lowest recorded voter turnout was in 1996 Bill Clinton race with Bob Dole had 51% of eligible voters did not participate in the election and in 2008 for the Obama Presidential campaign only 57% of voters went to the polls.

The political voting consultants share the grim reality concerning voter apathy surrounds the lack of voters has been on the decline since the 1960s (Ghosh 1). This frame of belief concerning voter apathy is based on the political divisions that blur the lines of the Democrats and Republicans (Ghosh 1). The voter is confused with some many voting opinions from the left wing, the right wing, the Liberals, the Conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, and independent parties. The political party’s different ideas, different parties, and different candidate’s beliefs all contribute to low voter turnouts and voters refusing to vote a form of protest. In politics, voters apathy is an individual that no longer cares about the election, thus they stop voting. The political candidates have caused many voters to make the decision not to show up to vote.

The political candidates run negative campaigns 24/7 while the media helps discrediting the candidates on both sides of the political arena. The voters want to feel they are making a difference for the country, district, or neighborhood. However, the negative campaigns all sound so convincing the voters just decides that neither candidate is worth their time at the poll. The average person will watch the morning news for the weather and breaking news of the day. They are saturated with mixed facts, different figures and information about the candidate that the voters simply do not believe either candidate is ethically qualified. The voter was prepared to vote until the massive TV commercials, radio, Social Networks, and cable news stagnate the voters. The elections have candidates that smear each other’s reputation just to gain a vote, however, it does contribute to the reasons the voter does not show up at the voting polls.

The only thing the negative campaigns accomplish is alienating and confusing the voter on which candidate has the best background (Tidy 1). The political journalist, political lobbyist and political consultants spend time tearing down the candidates making it more difficult for the voters. They understand that the timing is critical for a candidate that is behind in the voter’s poll. The candidate who is leading the race by comfortable margins understands that the negative campaign works in his or her benefit because they already have enough votes. They want the voter to either be so confused they become neutral or the voter abstains from voting because the candidates opposing views are so negative the voter refuses to vote. In our society, voting has changed in the new millennium because of the speed in which we receive our news. The voter can analyze, scrutinize candidates in a matter of minutes from cable channels, news channels and constant radio advertisements. The bottom line is negative smear campaigns attacking the candidate are no longer a viable option to bring voters to the polls. The eligible voters have spoken with the lack of participation and protesting by staying at home.

Works Cited

Borchardt, Jackie.” Ohio’s 2014 election turnout could be lowest in recent history.” Northeast Ohio Media Group. Nov. 2014. Web 27 Apr. 2015

Ghosh, Palash. Where is There So Much Voters Apathy in the U.S. Elections?” Sept.2014. Web 28 Apr. 2015.

Salter, Miffa. “Salter on: Learning lessons from rising tide of voter apathy.” Planning [UK] 18 June 2004: 09. General OneFile. Web. 26 Apr. 2015.

Tidy, Joe.” Voters Confused by Parties “Warning Messages” Sky News Elections Reporters. March 2015. Web 28 Apr. 2015