Are low voter turnouts bad for our country (U.S.)?

Question

Only about 50% of eligible voters voted in the 2000 presidential election. The 2002 congressional election turnout was 39.3%.

Do you believe such a low voter turnout is a serious problem for our democratic government in the U.S.?

Should citizens have to pay a fine for not voting or would it be unconstitutional?

What are some alternative ways to increase voter turnout in future elections?

Answer 1

I don't think it is "bad" to have low voter turnout.

I won't speak on behalf of all non-voters, but in my case, I used to vote but I finally stopped because I figure that if the Supreme Court of the U.S. -- who we can't vote for -- can order a state to stop counting the ballots, to stop trying to find out who actually won an election, then there's no point in voting.

Again, my suggestion is not necessarily going to inspire a lot of other non-voters, but if our system would somehow reform the behavior of the Supreme Court, so that they stop "striking down" as many laws as they do, for the reasons that they do, and if they stop sticking their noses where they don't belong, then I'll return to the ballot box.

Answer 2

Yes, I do think it's a bad sign and I think what would correct it alot would be to unclude a "NO VOTE" and move all voting days to Sunday.  A day that most all working people have off, the non church people could vote in the morning and the church people in the afternoon.

Answer 3

as 1/3rd of americans are retarded, I think it is a good thing.

I am still hoping the Hillary / Guliani voters will forget to vote

Answer 4

Whenever you get low turnout....  the only people who do turn out are the extremists in both parties...

So yes it is definitely bad..

If only we could get the same amount of people to vote as those who voted for American Idol...we'd be in better shape today.

Answer 5

I think we should all read Starship Troopers by Robert Heilein and model our voting system on the one in that book.  Then, only the people who take true responsibility for the safety of this country will vote, and the people who don't care, won't mess it up for those that do.