In terms of global voter participation, the U.S. comes in 138 out of 169 which is the last among G8 nations. Many experts believe that this may due to some serious problems experienced by the current American election system.
1. The Elections Go For Too Long
Aside from the money and energy wasted on long campaign periods, plenty of worthy news gets covered as most news cycles focus on Presidential candidates. The public hears much less about events in foreign countries, domestic crime, educational topics, and medical issues happening in their own country, according to Philip Kotler of Huffington Post.
2. Voter Registration And Voting
Many states require voters to show an official government document or car registration to be entitled to vote. Votes from low-income families particularly do not have time to secure a proof of citizenship from a government office.
Plenty of states are also reducing the number of polling places and the hours open for voting which will result in longer lines. Kotler argues that in the current digital world where information can be sent and received immediately, a digital voting process will allow citizens to exercise the freedom to vote a lot easier.
3. Identifying Voters
Since most states have delayed modernizing registration lists, many voters will show up at the polls only to have their legitimacy challenged. This may be a possible scenario due to the dirty tricks or errors done by other states. For example, there have been reports of a Republican firm based in Nevada and Oregon that registered new voters but destroyed the registration forms submitted by Democrat voters.
4. The Problem With Polls
Polls are not just a predictive measure that will win the election as it can influence media coverage of competing campaigns especially when news media focuses on the coverage daily. Candidates who do well in polls have a better chance to gain attention from votes due to the media spotlight, according to Discovery News.
5. The Winner-Take-All System Changes The Popular Vote
All states, except for two, work on a winner-take-all system, which means the candidate who wins majority of the votes will win all the votes. Unfortunately, the system can leave many minorities underrepresented despite possible differences in ideas and values. The current election system also represents a departure from the principle of "one citizen, one vote."
