When people advocate for increasing voter turnout, I have to wonder what that’s supposed to magically change about the election outcome.
Certainly, there’s the Idea that, “when people vote, Democrats win.” Even if true, that’s merely a correlation. It could be that the non-voters are mostly Democratic-leaning and need an inspiring Democratic candidate to come out and vote for; or it could be that their leanings are divided similarly to the voters’, and an inspiring Democratic candidate causes the Democratic-leaning half to come out and vote.
My feeling, though, is that it’s likely forcing the other 34% to vote would not materially change the election results, or the policy outcomes, beyond higher vote totals.
When people advocate for increasing voter turnout, I have to wonder what that’s supposed to magically change about the election outcome.
Certainly, there’s the Idea that, “when people vote, Democrats win.” Even if true, that’s merely a correlation. It could be that the non-voters are mostly Democratic-leaning and need an inspiring Democratic candidate to come out and vote for; or it could be that their leanings are divided similarly to the voters’, and an inspiring Democratic candidate causes the Democratic-leaning half to come out and vote.
My feeling, though, is that it’s likely forcing the other 34% to vote would not materially change the election results, or the policy outcomes, beyond higher vote totals.
Stopping people from voting has been a Right tactic for decades.
https://allthatsinteresting.com/voting-literacy-test
“Both sides are the same” is a favorite GOP line.