There is a noticeable lack of faith in the democratic process in today’s political environment. The reality is that the sheer quantity of voters often reduces the average voter’s power, even in the face of promises to the contrary.
Many feel that their efforts are in vain when they consider themselves to be a solitary drop in a sea of voices. It is questionable if voting actually has the
weight that is attributed to it, or if voting is just a front used to keep people believing they have a choice.
The overwhelming power of special interests and the existence of established political systems are two major problems that undermine the validity of the vote. Within the boundaries of partisan politics and corporate power, the system of governance continues to operate regardless of the elected representative.
“Your vote matters only if you break a tie. The most optimistic theory in political science estimates that voters in swing states have a 1-in-10 million chance of deciding the presidential election. Everyone else’s chances are far lower,” opinion contributor Jason Brennan said.
The problems with the winner-take-all system in many democratic systems intensify the situation. The electoral system, which usually only offers one choice, is unable to account for the wide variety of values and ideas held by the electorate.
Voting becomes less effective as a result of this simplifying of complicated societal concerns, which makes people feel excluded and underrepresented. A growing percentage of people avoid going to the polls as a result of their increased sense of alienation from the political process.
“In the American Political Science Review, Adam Dynes and John Holbein carefully and rigorously measure how parties affect economic, education, crime, family, social, environmental and health outcomes. They find zero difference between Republican and Democratic state governments,” Brennan said.
Many people feel like their vote doesn’t matter and the issues that are in their community are not getting fixed.
“We don’t care who wins the election, because no elected politicians have helped during “‘these hard, dark times,’” said a 36-year-old Georgian voter who says she doesn’t follow party lines; she spoke with CNBC Make It under the condition of anonymity because she is worried about criticism.
People feel that the issues that are going on in the community are not being fixed even with them voting for someone to make a change.
“I feel like my voice doesn’t matter. People who suck still are in office, so it doesn’t make a difference,” said Megan Davis, a 31-year-old Rhode Island massage therapist who has never voted.
