In the 2012 election, Mitt Romney vs. Barack Obama, there was a 57% voter turnout at the polls from the voting age population. That percentage is amazing! We live in the United States, a democracy! There are a couple different ways that I believe can bring a better turnout on a national voting day.
First thing we need to look at is instilling the "want to vote" in kids. Incorporating the excitement and the thought of being able to share your opinion into school classrooms. Kids are easily influenced, so encouraging them to get pumped up to vote at 18 is a easy way to increase the turnout. With the encouragement to vote there also must be a knowledge about government and important issues which is something that schools lack and should put a bigger focus on.
Secondly, make voting day a national holiday. If the government wants us to think voting is a big deal and to push it so hard than why don't they act likes it is a big deal. The presidential elections happen once every 4 years, I am pretty positive that employers can handle that.
Lastly, I believe initiating compulsory voting in the US would give people a push to take 2 hours out of their day and go vote. Compulsory voting is implementing a a fine or service that the person would have to follow through with if he or she did not vote. Belgium uses this method and when you look at there voting turnout it is typically in the 90% range. I wonder how different the votes would turn out in the US if there were the case
When we look at the voter turnout ratio to other countries the US is at the bottom of the list with our 50% average. The list goes on of things that i believe the US could begin doing to help our voter turnout, but I have just listed a few. Voting is important and not voting does not just effect us it can potentially effect younger generations and history for that matter.
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