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Andrew Joseph Pegoda

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    Civic Ed

    Asked why they don’t vote, here is what people say

    Andrew Joseph Pegoda
    April 03, 2020
    Image of voting booths

    "Some people might be indifferent or simply not care, but many who forgo voting have legitimate reasons," argues Andrew Joseph Pegoda.

    Joe Raedle/Getty Images

    Pegoda is a lecturer in women's, gender and sexuality studies, as well as religious studies, at the University of Houston.

    At least 40 percent to 90 percent of American voters stay home during elections, evidence that low voter turnout for both national and local elections is a serious problem throughout the United States.

    Now that the 2020 campaign is in something close to a state of suspended animation — the novel coronavirus pandemic having taken almost all attention away from the presidential race and forced delays in a dozen states' primaries — directives for people to "get out and vote" have some time to get fired up again.

    But if and when outbreak subsides, some people might remain indifferent or simply not care. And many who forgo voting have legitimate reasons.

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