Review by: Mark David Richards, Sociologist

Americans think voting is the right thing to do. But in the 1996 Presidential elections, only about half actually voted. The other half didn't register their opinion about who should hold the most important leadership positions in the American democracy-the elected positions held by citizens.

Fewer and fewer voters have been showing up at the polls, and in many places there has been a shortage of those even willing to run for office. Pew Research Center reported that turnout might be even lower in 2000 than in the past. Does it really matter?

The most basic measure of representative democracy is the right to elect one's representatives. After years of civil rights struggles, virtually all American citizens living in states have the right to vote-regardless of race, color, creed, or gender.

Those who don't have the vote want it. Take the District of Columbia- because it isn't a state and citizens born there don't live in a state, they are still struggling to win the right to vote in the Senate or the House of Representatives. Citizens living in capital districts of all world democracies have this right. D.C. citizens did not have the right to vote for President until 1961 when they were granted a limited right with the passage of the 23rd Amendment.

Americans value their vote, but they're cynical about who is in control. In May 1999, a survey conducted by the Center for Policy Attitudes found that 75% felt the government is pretty much run by a few big interests looking out for themselves. But, 71% believe elections make the government pay at least some attention to what the people think. And over 80% think that the majority opinion should have a great deal of influence on the decision elected officials make. And yet, the U.S. has one of the lowest participation rates of democracies worldwide. In 1996, 49% voted for President. In 1998, 33% voted for Congressional representatives. Contrast that to Denmark and Germany where, on average, over 80% of citizens vote.

Citizens in some states vote more than citizens in others. In 1996, a higher proportion of Maine voters went to the polls than any other state (65%), living up to their motto-I Drigo (I lead). Other states leading the nation in participation include Minnesota (64%), Montana (63%), South Dakota (61%), and Wyoming (60%). On the other hand, Hawaii (41%), Texas (41%), South Carolina (42%), Georgia (43%), California (43%), and Nevada (39%) trailed behind.

Some nations, like Australia, Brazil, and Italy have laws requiring citizens to go to the polls. But Americans have the right not to vote, and many exercise it for a variety of reasons. Although as many felt the issues were as complicated in 1952 as today, more voted then than now. In 1998, in a nationally representative survey by The National Election Studies, 73% agreed that sometimes politics and government seem so complicated they can't really understand what's going on-unchanged since they asked the same question in 1952.

In June 2000, a nationally representative survey by The Pew Research Center learned some of the reasons people didn't vote: 72% sometimes didn't like any of the candidates, 64% said they sometimes don't know enough about the candidates, 47% said they can make more of a difference by getting involved in their community than by voting in elections, and 36% don't want to involve themselves with politics.

Very few said it was too complicated to register where they live (13%). Slightly more said it's difficult for them to get out to the polls (26%). The poll found more young people (59%) than older people (40%) think things will be the same regardless of who wins the 2000 presidential election-a possible explanation (or excuse) for why young people vote least.

Americans say they most want to hear about proposals for education reform, the economy, health care, and Social Security. But, many arrive at the voting booth feeling they don't know enough. About half (47%) mostly agreed they sometimes vote for a candidate without really knowing enough about him or her.

And it is no surprise Americans are feeling they don't know enough-they're less interested and paying less attention. In 2000, The Pew Research Center found 38% interested in politics, down from 55% this time eight years ago. In another poll by Project Vote Smart, 45% of adults 26 and older and 26% of 18 to 25 year olds said they pay a lot of attention to the national government and politics.

What kind of information do Americans say they need to help make a good decision? In The Pew Research Center survey, three items stood out: a candidate's reputation for honesty (84%), how well a candidate connects with average people (67%), and a candidate's voting record or policy positions in public offices he or she previously held (60%).

Even worse than not voting, in some parts of the country there aren't enough citizens willing to run for office. In 1998, for example, 22 Virginia towns didn't have enough candidates to fill council seats.

The American experiment in self-rule can only be sustained if its citizens participate, and by participating they learn and teach one another. The more citizens are involved in political affairs, the more they become informed about the issues, and the more likely they are to vote or to run for office. And leaders learn by experience-by getting involved in local issues with a citizens group or political party, and running for the School Board or other local elected positions. But today, few are involved. In 1998, The National Election Studies found that only 5% attended a political meeting, rallies, dinners, or such; and only 2% worked for one of the parties or candidates. Why is this? Perhaps the demands and personal costs of running for public office are too high. Perhaps there are other reasons. Perhaps political parties could involve more people if they reached out more-many citizens appreciate the opportunity to meet new people and work on issues they care about. And yet, only 27% reported having been called or talked to by either major party-up from 17% in 1956.

Americans must not take their right to vote for granted, for it is their safety net. Thomas Jefferson said, "The elective franchise, if guarded as the ark of our safety, will peaceably dissipate all combinations to subvert a Constitution, dictated by the wisdom, and resting on the will of the people."

The more that citizens opt out, the greater the likelihood that a small organized faction will win an election and control the many. An uninvolved citizenry can result in the loss of precious rights and liberties. And in many cases, elections are determined by a few hundred votes.

Let no one be fooled into thinking his or her vote is meaningless. But in the end, it is up to each and every American to decide whether to seek out information and voice an opinion about who should be the next leaders-or to skip the election and choose autopilot.

Data sources:

Nationally representative surveys by the Center for Political Studies (http://www.umich.edu/~nes/nesguide/nesguide.htm)

The Pew Research Center for People and the Press (http://www.people-press.org)

The Program for Governmental Research and Education at Oregon State University (http://osu.orst.edu/dept/pol_sci/pgre/youth.htm)

The Center on Policy Attitudes (http://www.policyattitudes.org).

All groups adhere to the standards of survey research established by the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR). The complete surveys with questions and answers can be found at the websites shown.

Voter resources:

Project Vote Smart (http://www.vote-smart.org) provides information about candidates and their records.

Congressional Report Cards (http://www.CongressionalReportCards.org) provides information to help evaluate members of Congress by their actions.