Most Americans are spectators in today's most critical struggle for democratic values — being battled at every hour of every day in Ukraine. But in another vital struggle for democracy, a third of Americans are spectators.
That's the rate of Americans who did not vote in the last presidential election, perhaps the most important in a generation. Even though voter participation in 2020 was the highest since 1900, only 66.8 percent of Americans voted in an election with perhaps the most flexible voting requirements ever.
kAm%92E :D ?@E 6?@F89[ 2E =62DE :? E96 G:6H @7 t]y] s:@??6 yC][ E96 (2D9:?8E@? !@DE 4@=F>?:DE[ 2?5 |:=6D #2A@A@CE[ 2 76==@H 2E E96 w2CG2C5 z6??65J $49@@=VD pD9 r6?E6C 7@C s6>@4C2E:4 v@G6C?2?46 2?5 x??@G2E:@?] x? E96:C ?6H 3@@<[ Q`__T s6>@4C24Ji %96 r2D6 7@C &?:G6CD2= '@E:?8[Q AF3=:D965 =6DD E92? 2 >@?E9 28@[ E96J 2C8F6 E92E G@E:?8 D9@F=5 36 2 5FEJ[ >F49 =:<6 D6CG:?8 @? 2 ;FCJ[ C68:DE6C:?8 7@C E96 5C27E 2?5 A2J:?8 E2I6D]k^Am
kAmxEVD 2 AC@G@42E:G6 :562[ 6>3C2465 :? ae 4@F?EC:6D[ 2E @?46 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 p>6C:42? EC25:E:@? WE96 r@?DE:EFE:@? 368:?D H:E9 E96 A9C2D6 Q(6 E96 A6@A=6[Q H9:49 DF886DED 2== @7 FDX 2?5 2E @55D H:E9 :E Wp>6C:42?D 5@?VE =:<6 E@ 36 E@=5 H92E E@ 5@[ 2D E96 5632E6D @G6C >2D<D 2?5 G244:?6D AC@G6X]k^Am
kAm'@E:?8 :D 2 AC64:@FD C:89E E92E p>6C:42?D[ :? E96:C 277=F6?46 2?5 62D6[ 92G6 E2<6? 7@C 8C2?E65[ 36=:6G:?8[ =:<6 ~EE@ G@? q:D>2C4<[ E92E “v@5 92D 2 DA64:2= AC@G:56?46 7@C 7@@=D[ 5CF?<2C5D 2?5 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D @7 p>6C:42]” (6 D92C65 E96 4@?G:4E:@? E92E 56>@4C24J H2D 5FC23=6[ E92E 6=64E:@?D 5:5?VE >F49 >2EE6C[ 2?5 E92E E96 DE2<6D H6C6?VE E92E 9:89] $@>6 @7 FD G@E65[ D@>6 5:5?VE] }@ AC@3=6>]k^Am
kAmqFE :? 7@FC 4@?E6DED :? =6DD E92? b_ J62CD — EH@ @7 E96> :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D — E96 H@C=5 92D D66? E96 E9:CDE @7 A6@A=6 7@C 6=64E:@?D[ E96 4@?D6BF6?46 @7 6=64E:@?D 2?5 E96 7C28:=:EJ @7 6=64E:@?D]k^Am
kAmx? `hhc[ :? E96 7:CDE 6=64E:@? :? H9:49 q=24<D H6C6 A6C>:EE65 E@ G@E6 :? $@FE9 p7C:42[ =:?6D 2E A@==:?8 A=246D DEC6E4965 @FE >@C6 E92? 2 92=7\>:=6] %96 ?6IE J62C[ H96? "F6364 G@E65 @? H96E96C E@ 564=2C6 :ED6=7 2 D6A2C2E6 4@F?ECJ[ hb]d A6C46?E @7 E9@D6 C68:DE6C65 E@ G@E6 24EF2==J 5:5 D@[ 2?5 E96 AC@G:?46 C6>2:?65 H:E9:? r2?252 3J ` A6C46?E286 A@:?E] x? a___[ E96 &]$] AC6D:56?4J H2D 56E6C>:?65 3J 92?8:?8 4925D 2?5 9288=:?8 =2HJ6CD :? 2 u=@C:52 4@?E6DE 564:565 3J dbf G@E6D — @C 3J D@>6 @E96C >:?FD4F=6 ?F>36C[ 56A6?5:?8 @? H9@ H2D 4@F?E:?8 2?5 H92E J@F 36=:6G6 — :? 2? 6=64E@C2E6 @7 23@FE e >:==:@? D@F=D]k^Am
kAmp?5 :? a_a_[ G2DE ?F>36CD @7 p>6C:42?D 5:5 ?@E ECFDE E96 G6C5:4E @7 E96 >@DE D24C65 AF3=:4 24E E92E @FC 4:E:K6?D A6C7@C>]k^Am
kAmr@?46C? 23@FE G@E6C EFC?@FE 92D 366? 3F:=5:?8 7@C ad J62CD] x? E96 =2E6 J62CD @7 E96 =2DE 46?EFCJ[ rFCE:D v2?D[ E96 C6DA64E65 4@\7@F?56C @7 E96 r6?E6C 7@C E96 $EF5J @7 E96 p>6C:42? t=64E@C2E6[ HC@E6 E9:D[ 2AA=:423=6 E@52J 6G6? H:E9 E96 C6=2E:G6=J 9:89 a_a_ EFC?@FEik^Am
kAm“tG6CJ J62C[ E96 ?2E:@? D66>D 7FCE96C 2?5 7FCE96C 7C@> E96 A@=:E:42= 4@>:EJ[ 4@96D:@? 2?5 4@?D6?DFD E92E >2<6D A@DD:3=6 E96 4@?DECF4E:G6 255C6DD @7 4:E:K6? ?665D ]]] %96 ?2E:@? E92E AC:56D :ED6=7 @? 36:?8 E96 36DE 6I2>A=6 @7 8@G6C?>6?E @7[ 7@C 2?5 3J E96 A6@A=6 :D C2A:5=J 364@>:?8 2 ?2E:@? H9@D6 A2CE:4:A2E:@? :D =:>:E65 E@ E96 :?E6C6DE65 @C K62=@FD 76H]”k^Am
kAm%96 3:8 DFCAC:D6 :? a_a_i %9:D ?6H 86?6C2E:@? @7 J@F?8 G@E6CD :D A6C7@C>:?8 36EE6C E92? :ED AC65646DD@CD[ H:E9 C64@C5 EFC?@FED :? 3@E9 E96 a_`g 2?5 a_a_ 86?6C2= 6=64E:@?D] %96 a_a_ 6=64E:@? H2D E96 7:CDE E:>6 E92E 2 >2;@C:EJ @7 E9@D6 `g E@ ah 24EF2==J G@E65]k^Am
kAm“%9:D :D 2 9:89=J 2?I:@FD[ 9:89=J <?@H=658623=6[ 56AC6DD65 8C@FA @7 J@F?8 A6@A=6[” D2:5 y@9? s6==2 '@=A6[ 5:C64E@C @7 A@==:?8 2E w2CG2C5 z6??65J $49@@= @7 v@G6C?>6?EVD x?DE:EFE6 @7 !@=:E:4D 2?5 E96 2FE9@C @7 “u:89Ei w@H v6? + xD r92??6=:?8 %96:C u62C 2?5 !2DD:@? %@ $2G6 p>6C:42]” “tG6CJE9:?8 E96J H6C6 D92A65 3J H2D ?682E:G6] %96J 5@?VE C6>6>36C 2 E:>6 @7 ?2E:@?2= F?:EJ] #2E96C E92? EFC?:?8 2H2J 7C@> A@=:E:4D[ E96J EFC?65 :?[ 2?5 24EF2==J EFC?65 @FE E@ G@E6] x 5@?VE E9:?< H6V== D66 2 5:>:?FE:@? :? E92E]’k^Am
kAmp?5 J6E E96C6 2C6 H9:DA6CD — ?@E J6E D9@FED — E92E D@>6 J@F?8 A6@A=6 H:== ?@E G@E6 :? E9:D 2FEF>?VD >:5E6C> 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 6=64E:@?D :7 !C6D:56?E q:56? 5@6D ?@E 42?46= DEF56?E =@2?D] %9:D 92D s6>@4C2E:4 A@=:E:42= AC@76DD:@?2=D :? 2 DH:G6Ej E92E H@F=5 36 2?@E96C 5:D25G2?E286 2D s6>@4C2ED ECJ E@ AC6D6CG6 E96:C >2;@C:E:6D @? r2A:E@= w:==]k^Am
kAm|:5E6C> 6=64E:@?D 2C6 >@C6 492==6?8:?8 7@C E96 s6>@4C2ED[ 3642FD6 J@F?86C A6@A=6[ A@@C6C A6@A=6 2?5 A6@A=6 @7 4@=@C 2C6 >2;@C 4@>A@?6?ED @7 E96 s6>@4C2E:4 4@2=:E:@? — 2?5 E6?5 E@ G@E6 :? >:5E6C> 6=64E:@?D 2E =@H6C =6G6=D E92? @=56C H9:E6 G@E6CD] %96 6IA64E2E:@? E92E E96 s6>@4C2ED 2C6 8@:?8 E@ E2<6 2 D96==24<:?8 :? }@G6>36C 2=D@ 4@F=5 =@H6C A2CE:4:A2E:@?] “'@E:?8 8C@FAD E92E 2C6 5:D6?82865 4@F=5 364@>6 6G6? >@C6 D@ 3642FD6 E96J 766= E96:C G@E6 H@?VE >2EE6C[” D2:5 |:4926= |4s@?2=5[ 2 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 u=@C:52 6IA6CE @? G@E6C A2CE:4:A2E:@?]k^Am
kAmu@C c_ J62CD[ s:@??6 2?5 x 92G6 4@>A6E65 2D C:G2= ?2E:@?2= A@=:E:42= HC:E6CD[ D92C65 7C:6?5=J 5:??6CD 2?5 DA@ED @? A2?6=D[ 6I492?865 H2C> 6>2:=D 2?5 8@@5 H:D96D] (6 92G6 ?@E DA@<6? 23@FE E9:D :562[ 2?5 96 925 ?@ :?<=:?8 x H@F=5 HC:E6 23@FE 9:D 3@@<] p?5 xV> ?@E DFC6 H96E96C F?:G6CD2= G@E:?8 H@F=5 492?86 E96 @FE4@>6 @7 6=64E:@?D[ ;FDE 2D xV> ?@E DFC6 E:>6\4@?DF>:?8 }qp 2?5 }u{ :?DE2?E C6A=2JD 2C6 2? :>AC@G6>6?E @G6C E96 :>A6C764E G6C5:4ED @7 @77:4:2=D[ H9@D6 ;F58>6?ED >:89E 6G6? E96>D6=G6D @FE @G6C E96 4@FCD6 @7 2 82>6 @C 2 D62D@?]k^Am
kAmqFE x 2> 46CE2:? @7 E9:Di p? 6=64E:@? :D 2 4:G:4 C:EF2=[ 2?5 — H:E9 E96 564=:?6 @7 =@42= ?6HDA2A6CD[ E96 AC@=:76C2E:@? @7 E6=6G:D:@? ?6HD 2?5 DEC62>:?8 D6CG:46D[ E96 D@CE:?8 @FE @7 p>6C:42?D 3J H62=E9[ 65F42E:@?[ A@=:E:42= :?4=:?2E:@?[ 2?5 6E9?:4 2?5 86?56C :56?E:EJ — H6 92G6 76H6C 4:G:4 C:EF2=D E92? 6G6C 2?5 E9FD 76H6C D92C65 6IA6C:6?46D]k^Am
kAmx F?56CDE2?5 E96 G2=F6 @7 >2:= G@E:?8j 2D 2 A@=:E:42= 4@CC6DA@?56?E EC2G6=:?8 H:E9 2 42?5:52E6 @? 2 7:?2= @776?D:G6 @? t=64E:@? s2J[ x @7E6? G@E65 E92E H2J] qFE x 2=H2JD D2H A@6ECJ 2?5 AFCA@D6 :? 2? 6?E:C6 4@F?ECJ 5@:?8 E96 D2>6 E9:?8 @? E96 D2>6 52J[ D66<:?8 E@ 567:?6 E96 4@F?ECJ 2?5 E@ D6E :ED 4@FCD6]k^Am
kAmt=64E:@? s2J :D (2=E (9:E>2?VD G6CD6 @? 7@@E[ 7@C :? A6@A=6 EC@@A:?8 E@ E96 A@==D[ x 2=H2JD 92G6 962C5 p>6C:42 — D@>6 @7 FD 2=E@D[ D@>6 E6?@CD — D:?8:?8] (6 D2?8 5:776C6?E A2CED] qFE 2== @7 FD — (9:E>2?VD >6492?:4[ 42CA6?E6C[ >2D@?[ D9@6>2<6C 2?5 H@@5 4FEE6C — D2?8 “H:E9 @A6? >@FE9D W@FCX DEC@?8 >6=@5:@FD D@?8D]” xE :D 2 D92>6 E92E G@E:?8 >:89E 36 C6BF:C65] qFE @FC E:>6 >:89E C6BF:C6 :E]k^Am
kAmk6>ms2G:5 |] $9C:3>2? :D E96 7@C>6C 6I64FE:G6 65:E@C @7 E96 !:EED3FC89 !@DE\v2K6EE6] w6 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>Qm5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>k^2m[ @C 7@==@H 9:> @? %H:EE6C 2E $9C:3>2?!v] %96 !F=:EK6C !C:K6\H:??:?8 ;@FC?2=:DE 92D 2 G242E:@? 9@>6 :? z62CD2C86]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.