When election time rolls around, vote recruiters hit the street corners vying for the public's vote. In suburbs, urban areas, and rural, campaign signs litter yards and off ramps advertising the name of a candidate and passersby subconsciously absorb most of the names. However, having knowledge as to whom these candidates are, what they stand for or even what they look like escapes the mind of the average citizen.

On November of every other year, the polls open and voting booths fill throughout the day, and out of the 270 million people in America, maybe half register to vote and only a quarter of those registered actually vote. The question is, if only half of the country actually voted this election, what goes on in the minds of those who do not vote?

According to political experts the top three reasons people do not vote are 1) the registering process 2) political disconnectedness in the average citizen and 3) the Rational Ignorance Factor, a condition in which people purposely decide not to be educated in political matters so they choose remain ignorant. However, besides the lack of time, interest, and information, people just do not trust politicians.

The registration process may seem menial to many; simply go into the local registration office, usually the driver's license bureau, city hall, or maybe the grocery store, fill out a card and there it is, voter registration. But others feel that that process is an intrusion into their time and it escapes the memory too easily during hectic days, even during lax ones.

The registration is somewhat simple and requires a three-month lead-time before the election date, which normally does not make a person's normal, everyday to-do-list. Proper ID and proof of residence (at least 30 days at present resident) are the credentials needed; things people carry around with them everyday. Drivers license, social-security card and a utility bill of some sort would qualify as proper credentials. These criteria are not difficult to come by, it is the extra task of taking the time to register that people shun.

Some political experts disagree with the "time" factor as a deterrent to low voter turnout and attribute it to other, sociological reasons, such as political disconnectedness. They believe that most people are not as politically concerned as they should be but are more socially concerned: socially concerned as in gathering with friends, family, or coworkers to discuss everyday life matters, problems and situations.

People know more about television programs than they do about political affairs. They know more about their neighbor's business than they do the president's business, which they find less interesting than the neighbor's. They daily face work dilemmas and home dilemmas as well as relationship dilemmas and they are use to handling these situations themselves and without help from the president and his staff, therefore, politics does not play an immediate role in their lives but a distant role. Politics is last on their list of things-to-be concerned about.

In fact, 1200 people were asked whether they are interested in politics, 40 percent said they were very or fairly interested, 31 percent said they were somewhat interested, and 27 percent said they were not interested in politics at all.

The third factor that contributes to citizen apathy is the Rational Ignorance Factor, the condition in which people choose to remain ignorant of government affairs. While politics may arise in the socially active person's conversation, it is not standard for those who choose to ignore it. The core reason they choose to ignore politics is that they feel their vote will have no effect on the country.

Though politically active people stress constantly how untrue that philosophy is, it does not seem to pierce deep enough to the heart of one who is unconcerned about politics. When 1250 people were asked if they agree or disagree that what they say or do has an effect on what the government does, 47 percent agreed that they have no say so over government affairs, 37 percent disagreed and believes that their voice is heard, and 14 percent were neutral.

According to the big picture, it seems logical to one who sees millions of people voting for one man to change their lives for the better, that their vote does not count. Many feel that large interest groups and corporations have cornered the political market and determine who gets into office and what policies are passed, which are normally only in their interest and not the average citizen.

Much of what the Rational Ignorance believer believes appears rational in the big picture, but other demographic factors contribute to why people do not vote, such as education and income level, as well as ethnic background and gender. Before we go into demographics, we will search a little deeper into the physiological factors that contribute to citizen apathy then we will be better able to understand other variables such as race, income and education.

Another survey of 1200 people reveals that 66 percent believe the Federal Government has too much power, 29 percent say the government's power is about right and 3 percent say the government does not have enough power. This means that the Rational Ignorance Factor has a higher probability rate of effecting voter turnout among all likely voters.

Though people may vote, however, they would probably believe that the government has too much power. More numbers reveal that out of 1200 surveyed and asked whether they trust Congress, 48 percent said somewhat, 44 percent said they have hardly any trust, and only 7 percent said yes, they do trust Congress. Therefore, in addition to believing the Federal Government has too much power, the average citizen does not trust the government.

This analysis leads us to realize that there is more cynicism against the government in the country than there is support for the government, which takes us more in-depth of our study. Regardless of America's present (or so-called) economic prosperity and global superiority, many of her citizens have grievances against government politicians and the way they run the country. However, many other variables contribute to this mentality besides politicians.

There are also declines in church membership, social club membership, and community involvement and identity. People are more in tune with themselves than with others and other's activities and problems, and the spirit of individuality plays a large part in this new social isolationalism. Technology and entertainment draw far greater crowds than anything does with political, social, or community significance. With all the conveniences of home at the fingertips these days, mobilization and socialization suffers.

Because many different social situations play a role in whether people vote or not, these same situations are a direct reaction to what policies, laws, and regulations are passed by the government. Politicians swear to change unwanted laws and policies to make life easier for the average citizen, but too many times politicians aim to please too many people all at the same time. This is where interest groups play a role.

Whatever the issue, be it abortion, education, social security, or racial issues, the most powerful groups with the most money are usually heard more than the average person. Therefore, individuality has its difficulties and benefits, unless collectively, whatever activities benefit the majority benefit the politicians also.

The mainstream mentality among individuals of interest groups undermines the mentality of those who choose not to vote. Whenever the subject of voting comes up and someone admits to not participating in the election process, voters will tell them they should not complain about the country or their own situation if they are not participating. However, the average citizen, whether they vote or not, pays taxes and they have every right to complain as well as the next person.

There is a division between those who hold the "do not complain" mentality and the nonvoter and this division is demographics, the rich, the poor, the educated, the uneducated, the black, the white, and the other.

© 2002 by C.R. Hamilton