Election statistics reveal a shocking truth: nearly half of eligible voters in the U.S. chose to sit it out. Yes, you read that right—46.9% didn’t even make it to the polls. This statistic has been shared almost 400,000 times, and honestly, who wouldn’t want to pull their hair out and drown their sorrows in a tub of Oreos after seeing that?
According to The United States Election Project, there are 231,556,622 eligible voters in the country, yet only 131,018,000 ballots were actually counted. So we’re left in the dark about who the nation really wanted to lead, all because a significant chunk of people didn’t show up. And let’s be clear, this isn’t just a case of laziness; it’s a complex issue fueled by recent changes in voting laws.
In 2013, the Supreme Court made a controversial decision against The Voting Rights Act, resulting in the closure of around 800 polling places and the implementation of strict ID requirements in several states. While we can’t pinpoint exactly how many people were discouraged from voting due to these barriers, the staggering drop in turnout compared to 2012 and 2008 suggests a troubling trend.
The elections were razor-thin in many areas, reinforcing the notion that every vote truly counts. The more obstacles we create for participation, the less representative our elections become.
And for those who did manage to vote, you might guess who predominantly supported the then-candidate Trump. If you said “white voters,” congratulations—you just won four years of chaos!
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Summary:
Almost half of eligible voters in the U.S. didn’t participate in elections, largely due to new voting restrictions. This significant turnout drop highlights the importance of accessibility in the voting process.