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Your Vote Counts ! - Power
of one vote ! Considering that the number of votes cast runs in the
Billions or more, the frequency of close votes comes often. Out
of 89,000 votes cast in U.S. Congressional elections, one vote was cast
in an election where the candidate won by a single vote or was tied. The
frequency rate is greater in state legislator elections where one in
15,000 votes had been cast for a candidate winning by one vote or was
tied.
Only 36.4 percent of voters cast their ballots in 1998, the lowest
since 1942. Nearly two out of three of the 115 million eligible American
voters did not bother to vote.
Between 1972 and 2000 the national voting turn-out for the 18-24 year
age group declined by 10 percent.
In 1998 less than 20 percent of 18-24 year-olds chose to vote. That is
one in five.
In 2000 only 42 percent of 18-24 year-olds bothered to vote. That same
year only 75 percent of those older than 25 voted.
Looking at the statistics of just one demographic, with voter turn-out
being low in all demographics and with so many races running close, one
can see how powerful a coalition of votes can be. Even your One Vote has
an influence to increase the power of those who do vote as you would.
When you do not vote, by default you cast your vote against the person
or proposal you would prefer. When you do not vote, that vote is one
less the opposition has to overcome, thus your "no vote" is a vote for
them. The inconveniences of voting are just a small price to pay for the
liberty we enjoy. Get up, Get out and vote!
(c) Roger W Hancock 2004-2007
www.PoetPatriot.com
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Statistic Sources: http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/xpect/VOTEfacts.jsp
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http://www.lwv.org/voter/govote/taftv_votingpower.html -
http://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/pubcho/v116y2003i1-2p31-54.html |
