In 2012, 40 percent of Americans didn’t vote. The research on this website is an attempt to determine why so many citizens opt out of this fundamental civic duty, using extensive survey research as well as interviews with nonvoters to give a voice to those who are often ignored or marginalized by politicians and the news media.
In addition to gaining a better understand of the attitudes of nonvoters, the research explores ways the news media could better engage nonvoters, which would increase the overall media usage and consumption.
The research by Professor Ellen Shearer and the Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications dates to 1996.
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In a series of video interviews, three nonvoters from different parts of the country explain how they came to be about the 40 percent of Americans who sat out the 2012 election and why it’s going to be difficult to woo them to the ballot box. Continue reading
Many researchers have long believed that the reasons for not voting are more psychological than logistical, that lack of interest, lack of confidence a vote will pay off or active dislike of the political process or candidates was more of Continue reading
On Election Day 2004 in Gambler, Ohio, it was raining and the lines were long. Kenyon College freshman Matthew Segal was a volunteer worker trying to help people, especially his fellow Kenyon students, get to the polls. It was the Continue reading
Results of the Medill News Service/Ipsos survey are based on online interviews conducted November 7-19, 2012 among a sample of 1,686 American citizens aged 18 and older residing in the United States, including 516 who voted in the recent Presidential Continue reading