Only 61% of eligible US voters showed up at the polls in Nov, 2016 according to the US Census Bureau.1 To vote in the US, you only need to be at least 18 years old, a US citizen and registered to vote. That means 39% of eligible Americans hit the snooze button last Nov. The biggest drop came from black, non-Hispanic voters. Over 70% of seniors (65+) voted, while 46% of young voters (18-29) cast a ballot (up a percent).
What does this mean? A disenfranchised group of citizens stayed at home--as did millions of other Americans. A variety of reasons are cited for this failure: lack of feeling unrepresented and obstacles to voting (transportation, polling locations, limited voting hours, voter id laws). Other excluded populations include former felons, citizens in US territories, voters with disabilities, etc.) 2 I submit a good percent of non-voters failed to cast a ballot due to ignorance.
Since the election, new information has come forward pointing to Russian interference in US elections via social media like Facebook. 3 Eleven days before the election, then FBI director James Comey announced his concerns over Hillary Clinton's emails.4 Prior to the election, Trump publicly begged the Russians to interfere & enthused over Wikileaks.
The Trump family has proceeded to deny any and all allegations of collusion (but not obstruction) as well as promoting their own interests in the US & abroad. Traditionally, US Presidents have released their tax documents as well as created blind trusts to ensure they serve the interests of the American people and not themselves. Trump has failed to do this & Congress, led by Republicans, has not acted on the issue either. This contradicts the Emoluments Clause of the US Constitution and seriously compromises the ethics of the US Congress.
Prior to the election, potential voters had the opportunity to research the Presidential hopefuls. I've personally noted, from many past US elections, a tendency in voters to wait until the last 6 weeks of an election before really thinking about it. Due to ignorance, laziness, or busy schedules, many Americans fail to do due diligence. Many Americans, confused by the negative media flurry, simply chose to give up & stay at home. I'm convinced that Trump's flamboyant media style, Comey's comments, and Russian interference have led to one of the biggest electoral travesties in US history (the other one being the 2000 Presidential election).
Ignorance is not bliss. It's dangerous.
References
1. Census Bureau, Voting in America: A Look at the 2016 Presidential Election.
4. Vanity Fair, The True Story of the Comey Letter Debacle.
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