Why does the USA have such a low number of registered voters compared to other nations?

[Natnasci]

Originally Posted by workingclasshero

not sure where you are getting your numbers

how can Canada, or Sweden be in the 90's%, it just not possible

for example approx 83m of our citizens are under 18...ie not eligible to vote, note eligible to even be registered.....that's 25% of the population right there

It is inferred that those number refer to people who are ELIGIBLE to vote.

[workingclasshero]

Originally Posted by normstad

The vast majority of Canadian voter registrations are made via the annual tax return. That information is then shared with the provinces.

There is no reason the USA can't do the same. It's easy, it works, and is inclusive.

if you use that as a standard, the only standard, then in the last election we had nearly 100% of the people actually vote

number of tax returns filed in 2020...... 169,098,000
number of votes cast in 2020 election....158,383,403

that's a 93.6%

[workingclasshero]

Originally Posted by Natnasci

It is inferred that those number refer to people who are ELIGIBLE to vote.

ok...

but...

1. voting and registering to vote is voluntary

2. in 2020 the number of REGISTERED voters was 168.3m....and in 2020 157m votes were cast

[moneill]

Originally Posted by normstad

I concur that the voter turn out is not at it's best in either country. Canada had 62% and the USA 56% in the last federal elections. I have mixed feelings the way Australia runs its elections, whereby if you do not vote, you get fined (with some excuses accepted). They get turnouts in the 90% and up.

Depending on the time of day, you could convince me that is a great system, or that it sucks.

Like you I went to see what participation rates were and my initial reaction was -- sure Canada has higher voter registration but participation isn't much greater.

BUT...a few things -- of course 62% of 93% voters mean more eligib le voters are voting....so that's a good thing.

But also at 62% that was Canada's 'low' rate of participation.

In the USA if we got 62% we'd be delighted or calling election fraud.....(depends on who would win and who is interpreting the results).

So -- yeah participation rates percentages seem to be close but they don't tell the whole story.

[Ceece]

There rarely an excuse not to count all the ballots and call an election the day it occurs. Nobody can convince me that the days and weeks long waits for results aren't just a way to drum up ballots that wouldn't otherwise have been cast. Same with stopping the count(but not really) because it's "late" or whatever. Has that ever happened before? What are the odds it will happen every time there's an election now? I'd say close to 100%. Same with weeks (months) long "voting periods". What the heck is wrong with people?

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by Ceece

There rarely an excuse not to count all the ballots and call an election the day it occurs. Nobody can convince me that the days and weeks long waits for results aren't just a way to drum up ballots that wouldn't otherwise have been cast. Same with stopping the count(but not really) because it's "late" or whatever. Has that ever happened before? What are the odds it will happen every time there's an election now? I'd say close to 100%. Same with weeks (months) long "voting periods". What the heck is wrong with people?

Well, you have to give people time to deliver the ballots they took home and forgot about in their car trunk or hid in the back of their closets.

As far as suspending counting because it's late, I was at counting sessions back when the ballots were folded before you put them in the ballot box after you marked a box for your choice.

[tinytrump]

Same coin two sides and neither gets anything done for the people. For the USA even.