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Politics

Why Do Americans Take the Time to Vote? Experts Explain

Nov. 5, 2012 7:34am

WASHINGTON (AP) — There’s always grousing about the many people who don’t bother to vote. But look at it the other way: An estimated 133 million Americans will cast ballots in Tuesday’s election. Some will persevere despite long lines, pressing personal burdens or the devastation left by Superstorm Sandy. Why do they do it?

It’s not because any one voter will decide the contest between President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney.

A one-vote win is rare even in local or state races, which attract smaller turnout. The largest numbers of voters — about 6 in 10 eligible adults — come out for presidential years. Yet the presidency’s never turned on just one vote, not even in the 2000 recount that flummoxed Florida.

Why Do Americans Take the Time to Vote? Experts Explain | Presidential Election

US President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally in Aurora, Colorado, on November 4, 2012. Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney are both showing signs of exhaustion as they dart from swing state to swing state, trying to fire up enthusiasm among supporters and win over any last wavering voters before November 6 election. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

It’s so improbable that scholars debate whether voting is a rational act.

“There is no question that from a simplistic rational view it doesn’t make sense to vote,” said Kevin Lanning, a political psychologist at Florida Atlantic University. “Even in Florida I’m more likely to be killed in an auto accident going to the polls than I am to cast the deciding vote in the presidential election.”

Still, Lanning is a voter.

Andrew Gelman, a professor of statistics and political science at Columbia University, was co-author of a study before the 2008 presidential election that found that, on average, a voter had a 1 in 60 million chance of deciding that race.

The Electoral College means the odds vary by state. This year’s chances range from roughly 1 in a million (for a voter in the battleground state of Ohio) to essentially zero (in states such as vastly Republican Wyoming or deeply Democratic Vermont).

That might seem to validate the inertia of the 4 in 10 eligible adults who don’t bother to vote even in presidential years.

Yet Gelman’s a voter, despite living in the entrenched blue state of New York.

He says voting can be a rational investment of time. That’s partly because the outcome affects so many people. It’s like entering a lottery that you almost certainly won’t win, but if you do win, all 315 million Americans share your jackpot — the president you believe will do more for the country.

Why Do Americans Take the Time to Vote? Experts Explain | Presidential Election

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign rally at the Smithfield Foods Hangar on November 4, 2012 in Newport News, Virginia. With two days before election day, Mitt Romney is campaigning in swing states across the country. Credit: Getty Images

Plus, a democracy relies on its voters. If the numbers drop too low, the legitimacy of the system is at risk. Consider mid-terms, when turnout runs only about 40 percent, or local elections that sometimes dip shockingly low. Voters contribute to the greater good.

How seriously Americans take their presidential votes was illustrated this year by the effort and time that many devoted to obtaining the photo identification required under new laws in some states.

“Every four years we are divided, Republicans and Democrats, by real differences — in what we feel government should be doing and so forth — but we are united in this responsibility to keep America going and the privilege to participate in it,” said Lanning, the psychologist.

For many, it’s a family tradition.

Kelvin Lovely’s grandmother always encouraged him to vote, and he took it to heart. The 42-year-old Pensacola, Fla., resident cast his first ballot at 18 and became a regular. “I always want to vote, and I think my vote will have an impact,” Lovely said.

Veronica Padilla of Las Vegas is already stressing the importance to her 13-year-old son, five years before he can vote.

Why Do Americans Take the Time to Vote? Experts Explain | Presidential Election

Photo Credit: Getty Images

“I tell him not to just vote for the most popular,” she said. “You have to stand for what you believe.”

Tim Farmer, a Denver University law student, attended a Romney rally one day and an Obama event the next because he feels a responsibility to make the right choice.

“Enough wrong votes,” Farmer said, “and you get the wrong guy elected.”

Adam Brandstetter knows he won’t affect the election’s outcome. His vote is going to long-shot Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson, “It won’t ever matter,” said Brandstetter.

But he enjoys the sense of community on voting days in Crystal Lake, Ill., a far suburb of Chicago. Brandstetter will leave the home office where he works as an investment manager and head for the polling place at the Lutheran church, staffed by some of his older neighbors.

“I’ll take a walk over,” he said, “have lunch, see all my senior friends: `Haven’t seen you in a while. What have you been up to?’”

It feels good to vote, Brandstetter said, and to make time to appreciate that “we’re in America. We have the freedom to express our views.”

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Comments (12)

  • TheMajority
    Posted on November 5, 2012 at 8:52am

    Experts say, experts know best, experts, we are the experts, —who ever we are.

    The experts need a new head line and some real investigation, and they will see not only Americans voting, (because of islamic communist overreach), many Americans are taking the time to run for office, who never considered it before.

    Experts—leading from behind. Stay tuned—-experts.

    Report this comment

    TheMajority  
    • JRook
      Posted on November 5, 2012 at 3:10pm

      We have the freedom to express our views. In theory yes, but when you see the criminal acts and anti-voting games being played by Republican legislatures and governors you have to wonder. Florida is a good example as no one in the US should have to wait 5 hours to vote. People in Florida waiting 5 hours to vote…. so make your case on how Republican led states are more effective and efficient in running the state’s business.

      Report this comment

      JRook  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on November 5, 2012 at 8:49am

    I have been wondering, and wandering, “Why Do Americans Take the Time to Vote?” Our vote is stolen via the Electroal College vote!

    It just does not turn out the way our Founding Fathers intended!

    Report this comment

    watashbuddyfriend  
  • commonsenseguy
    Posted on November 5, 2012 at 8:38am

    it was the day before election,
    and all thru’ town,
    tempers were flaring
    emotions ran up and down.
    i was drinking coffee with my cat in my lap,
    had shut off the t.v,
    tired of the crap.
    when all of a sudden,
    there arose such a noise,
    i peered out my window,
    saw obama and his boys
    they had come for my wallet,
    they had wanted my pay
    to hand out to others
    who had not worked a day !!
    he snatched up my money,
    and quick as a wink,
    jumped back on his bandwagon
    as i gagged from the stink.
    he then rallied his henchmen
    who were pulling his cart.
    i could tell they were out
    to tear my country apart !!!
    on fannie,on freddie,
    on biden and ayers !!
    on acorn,on pelosi
    he screamed at the pairs !!
    they took off for his cause,
    and as they flew out of sight
    i heard obama laugh at a nation
    who wouldn’t stand up and fight.
    so i leave you to think on this final note,
    if you don’t won’t socialism or communism,GET OUT AND VOTE !!!!!!
    author unknown.

    Report this comment

    commonsenseguy  
  • noslave
    Posted on November 5, 2012 at 8:04am

    true americans go out to vote to improve america,obama supporters go because thei ass is sore from sitting aroundwatching big screen t.v.? playing govt provided x-box? tired of eating freebie steaks? no they go out to vote for more free phones,rent ,etc.

    Report this comment

    noslave  
    • justangry
      Posted on November 5, 2012 at 8:28am

      A lot of people don’t vote because they know nothing is going to change. I mean no one here has been able to tell me which socialist policies of Obama passed Mitt is proposing to do away with. Unless Mitt is going to repeal a bunch of stupid, programs and agencies things will only get worse and the government will continue to expand. I mean with all the problems we face today, our choice is pro or anti gay marriage and keystone pipeline. Every issue that effects all of us has been swept under the rug by both parties with a complicit media. Nah, if there wasn’t a chance to establish a third party this time around, I wouldn’t vote either.

      Report this comment

      justangry  
  • Small World
    Posted on November 5, 2012 at 7:57am

    The question should be why doesn’t every citizen vote.

    Report this comment

    Small World  
  • jackact
    Posted on November 5, 2012 at 7:53am

    Americans take time to vote because it’s the only privilege the federal government alliows us (for now) and we don’t want to make mistakes……..like we did in 2008.

    Report this comment

    jackact  
  • ellietoo
    Posted on November 5, 2012 at 7:50am

    I live in New York state. We all know that NY belongs to the dems. I do live in a more conservative area of the state and we do have our Republican state representatives (have to feel sorry for them) I will vote because of our local and state issues but I also want the democrats to know that there are still conservatives in this state that have a voice!
    Dems have held this state because they own the media and they own the educational systems. They are eating away at the roots of our society by buying the institutions that shape our lives.

    Report this comment

    ellietoo  

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