Introduction of Sociology
What reasons do people give for not voting in the U.S.? How are these explanations related to larger structural forces?
Where do people get their political information from? How does this vary by age? What impact can this have on political beliefs and political actions/behaviors?
Sample Solution
Introduction of Sociology
One of the most important rights of American citizens is the franchise, the right to vote. Voting is a right that allows citizens to make their voices heard, but the reality is that as many as half of eligible voters in the US still don’t participate in the election process. The reasons people don’t vote are just as complex. While full voter participation helps maintain a fair and functioning democracy, everything from logistics to socioeconomic status can get in the way. Reasons that people give for not voting include: they don’t feel candidates represent their views, others don’t believe that their vote will make a difference, and election day falls on Tuesdays and is not a federal holiday, presenting a dilemma for many workers who don’t get paid time off to go to polling place. People get their political information from the internet. It clearly exceeds radio, and is on par with newspapers, as a major source of campaign and election among the entire adult population.
