2024 looks to be a make or break year for the United States as the country approaches its centennial of a continuous common system of government. Already, the 2020 election shook up the political landscape of the country, with Joe Biden’s victory bringing a variety of changes and reform proposals that have immense implications for the future of the nation.
But beyond the voter base, there’s another powerful force wield influence on the political environment: the nonvoters. Nonvoters make up a significant portion of the American electorate, with estimates running as high as a total of 41 percent of the voting age population that could potentially swing the election in any given direction.
There are plenty of reasons why people abstain from voting. For some, they may feel disconnected from the system or overwhelmed by campaigning and political rhetoric that seems, in their eyes, unimportant or devoid of real sense. Others may have underlying distrust of the government, feeling disenfranchised by the process and its governing body. Finally, some may not even be aware of the voting processes or systems, rendering them unable to participate even if they feel strongly about pressing social issues and political policies.
As the 2024 general election approaches, we will need to reevaluate how we engage potential nonvoters and how much more effort we should be putting into activism and outreach initiatives in order to turn these Americans into active and informed participants in the process. Regardless of how the 2024 race shakes out, it is clear that the nonvoter bloc has the potential to make a profound impact on the results and will shape the direction of the nation in the years to come.