Discuss the reasons for the high abstention levels at US elections.

Although prone to fluctuate, the turnout in US elections is notably lower than inc comparative western states. The 2016 US election provided a turnout of 58%, in comparison to the turnout of 68% at the UK general election in 2017. This can be attributed to factors such as democratic overload and ‘negative’ campaigns that will be explained below. Democratic overload can be attributed as one explanation for low voter turnout in the US. This is the concept that voters are bombarded by ‘too much democracy’. The federal system of the USA means there are frequently local and national elections for state legislators, Presidential elections, mid-terms as well as others. Voters are also expected to vote in primary election races; where turnout averages an extremely low 20-30%. It is said that Americans are expected to vote for everyone ‘From the President to the local dog-catcher’. All this leads to voters becoming apathetic towards any kind of democratic process; thus causing high voter abstention in US elections. One ought to observe, however, continued attempts have been made by the US government to increase voter turnout. In 2002, for example, Congress passed the ‘Help America Vote Act’ to implement sweeping reforms to the registration after a turnout of 51% in the 2000 elections. Another reason for high abstention is the changing nature of political campaigns in the US, and in particular ‘negative’ campaigning. Negative campaigning is said to alienate many voters from the political process, with many voters not wanting to vote for any candidate, or becoming dissatisfied with the ‘nasty’ element of the campaigns. In the primaries for the 2016 election for example, Rep. Devin Nunes referred to another Congressman, Rep. Jordan Amash as ‘Al-Qaeda’s best friend’ for criticising the NSA’s surveillance methods. This demonstrates how US elections often focus on the negatives of the opposing candidate rather than the positives of their own and ultimately voters become disenfranchised. However, it is important to note with US elections that turnout is differential between voter groups. We should not talk about ‘low turnout’ without considering that it is often higher amongst higher socioeconomic groups and the elderly in comparison to low socioeconomic groups and the young or minorities.