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Siyave veronica,Namibia
Why most people don't vote because they're not interested into politics and they are discouraged by politicians because there's no change.
What would get people to vote is when the politicians own up to their word's and give them change.
What will get them to engage is politics is the support they get from the politicians,when they do the change they talk about and not bring them down and discourage them.

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In my opinion,Voting is a very important part of democracy.  Citizens vote for leaders to represent them and their ideas, and the leaders support the citizens' interests.

People do not vote in an election due to lack of interest in politics,decrease in trust in political parties etc. Likewise, Voters who don’t feel candidates represent their views might choose to opt-out. In the same way,lack of proper knowledge about voting might be another reason in developing country like Nepal.

If we educate young people on their civic duty to vote and improve voter's knowledge of election issues then we can increase participation of people in election.

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Faruk S, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Sarajevo, FBiH

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Faruk S, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Sarajevo, FBiH

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In my opinion for most people the problem exists because of a few reasons (there are lots of possible reasons, but there are a few main ones):
- They believe their vote won't change anything
- They feel like they have no one to vote for
- They don't know who to vote for if there are many options like here in Bosnia

The first reason is by far the most common one - at least here in Bosnia. The local elections started today, November 15th. Most people I know, including friends and family members, didn't vote. The reason for that is that people simply think their vote doesn't matter. It does. Every single one matters.

Why do so many people have this incorrect opinion? The answer to that question could be different for every country. I think that here in Bosnia the reason for that is simple. People aren't politically educated at all (at least the vast majority isn't). I have heard parents scold their children for discussing politics more times than I can count. Their reasoning is exactly the issue we have here - they think that, since their child's future vote cannot change anything, much like their own - the child has no purpose to discuss politics. Just like that, a critical approach to politics is extinguished for one person.

This is a huge problem. As for the second question, I believe that children should be taught about their civic duties, democracy and politics in general in school, just like they learn Math or History. It is just as if not more important than those subjects. This would eventually encourage everyone to exercise their right (and, one could argue, duty) to vote. Through education about this as a part of the official education system, future generations would find voting a lot more natural than we do now. I think that no other method could be effective. People who currently don't vote will hardly be convinced to change their opinion. It is better to try to educate younger generations about the importance of voting.

There are those who suggest that voting should be mandatory for every citizen. Personally I do not support this as I believe that this would do more harm than good. People who were forced to vote would probably put zero thought into the whole process. A larger number of such votes would likely result in the election of a government worse than the one before. This is why people first need to understand why voting is important. Once they do it is reasonable to expect higher voting rates.

As for the last question, I also have to take into consideration the same mentality as above. If people think their votes don't matter, then there is absolutely no chance they will run for any position. In a more politically educated environment the chance for more candidates would be significantly higher. Then there's the fact that many people don't believe that the things they would stand for as president or some other position could ever succeed.

Here in Bosnia, there are many parties and candidates. In the USA, for example, the competition is mainly between the Democrats and the Republicans. Here, however, the power is much more equally distributed. While that does have its benefits it also means that every candidate has a lower chance to win. Every candidate has a lot of competition. This creates another reason that ordinary people like me don't run for office - because there are already lots of candidates.

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Gulsim Azirakhmet, Kazakhstan
I think that not all people understand what each candidate is offering to them. Sometimes there is a big difference between words that are said to citizens and thoughts that are actually in candidate's mind. Of course, the other reason for this issue is that some people really do not care about country where they live.

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Voting is the most fundamental form of civic engagement in a democracy .
There are many ways to get people engaged with their gouvenment and political activities :
We should make people learn about their right in voting to elect their different representatives
Showing the voting laws to peaple throught all means of information like Tv , social-media , civil socities , news papers , and electoral compaings .
Distributing à citizen guide to voting
Indentify with basic information about the person who will be elected and represent them in decision-making place

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I believe the lack of voters is caused by multiple reason. One, many people feel like they can't be bothered to go out and vote. Maybe they don't care about politics enough or just don't feel like making an effort to get their vote registered. Two, many people feel like that if they vote, it wouldn't mean anything. Whether this could mean that they think that one less vote out of millions of voters wouldn't matter or that it is an effect of the electoral college, making people think they shouldn't vote because either way, their state would be blue or red, it is an unfortunate way to think. Third, maybe they don't like either presidential candidate. All of these reasons have their own argument, and often, it is a combination of all three. However, a vote is more than just your opinion. A vote is both a right and an obligation. It not only shows you care, but also legitimizes those you vote for. In the end, voting is one of our most important rights, and the importance of a single vote should not be undermined.

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I think the Americans mistrust in these two candidates, And neither could better represent the country. Also the fact that Trump is pursuing an "American first" policy and the fact that mismanages the health crisis I think Americans want things to change.

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I think decrease in trust in Government and in Politicians, A sense of futility that one's vote won't make any difference etc may be the reasons that make people stand away from voting.
If we strengthen civic education in schools more people will become aware and they would come forward. I think if people feel that their participation have a impact on policy decisions and improve people's lives they will be more interested in politics. If people have more convenient voting options it will be easy for them to be a part of election.

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I think a lot of the times when people live in a solid red or a solid blue state they don't vote because they don't think their vote will matter. That's such a terrible mindset to have, but at the same time it shows how flawed the electoral college is. Then there are people who don't vote because they don't think either candidate is a good choice. I don't think any two candidates would ever be equally as bad; there should always be something that makes one better than the other. I also know people, including some of my teachers, who don't vote because they "don't get into politics," the privileged ones. Lastly (just for the U.S.), lots of people work on Tuesdays, so those who need to be at work to be payed don't want to risk standing in line for a long time. Everyone should be taught civics, and the importance of a single vote should be stressed as much as possible. I think just learning more about how the actions of leaders affect individuals would encourage people to engage actively in politics.

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A lot of people in the USA hate election time. It usually comes down to two candidates that are not well-liked. One phrase I have heard a lot this year was "lesser of two evils". I think this is one of the worst ways you could think about it. You shouldn't be forced to vote for someone you don't like. There should be more than the two main parties. Also, a lot of people are uninformed about the candidates they are voting for. I think each candidate should have a list of policy ideas they have for a set list of political issues that year. Many people also do not believe that their vote matters because of the electoral college system. People who live in states that are guaranteed to one party often don't bother voting because they think that no matter what they will do, the outcome will be the same. The two-party system doesn't align with most people who have views from both sides of the political spectrum. Most people can't run for office because they aren't as well connected as others. Politics involves a lot of connections and sacrifices. Running a campaign can also be extremely expensive. Most people don't have the extremely passionate views required to be a politician.

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Many believe their votes wouldn’t serve any significance, so they choose to opt out completely. In other cases there are people who dislike both candidates and refuse to vote, or people that choose not to vote because they’re uneducated in politics. I think more people would vote if there was a greater emphasis on educating those who don’t want to vote or those who are overwhelmed by the election. It’s important to assure everyone that their vote matters. Some people don’t run for office or engage in politics because they think the system is corrupt—so  what’s the point in trying to change anything? I think urging people to stay updated on current political issues and informing them that change is definitely possible would encourage more people to stay engaged in politics.

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Some people don’t vote because they don’t think their vote will matter as in the US, that would be 1 person’s vote out of 239 million. However if everyone thinks like this, obviously it will add up, so everyone’s vote truly does matter. Or some do not care enough to vote because they are in positions of privilege where they will not be as affected by the outcome of elections, or they are ignorant of how they might potentially be affected. In my opinion people should vote not just for themselves but their fellow citizens and non-citizens too, and recognize that their vote does not only impact them, but also other people, as sometimes one citizen's vote might affect other peoples’ lives more than their own. I think more people would run for office when they see that change can actually happen as a result of efforts of elected officials, because some think that the government cannot do much, and therefore choose not to participate.

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Nayeli Quiles- Boston, Massachusetts USA

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Nayeli Quiles- Boston, Massachusetts USA

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Many people don’t vote became in the united states there is not universal civic education and most people’s knowledge of how the government works and their vote, ends at the 8th grade. If more people had a true understanding of how their vote matters and the potential for good it has, I believe more people would be registered to vote and ultimately go to the polls. Those who ultimately become active in politics are those who were taught about civics or sought out the information they needed, it’s hard for people to get involved by voting or community organizing if they don’t understand fundamentally how the system of our government works.

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Emmanuelle B, USA, Boston, Massachusetts

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Emmanuelle B, USA, Boston, Massachusetts

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Everyone doesn't vote because many people are bystanders. A lot of people dont think that their vote matters or they just don't care enough to vote. I think if it was really really enforced then people would vote. Even extreme situations like this election, not everyone voted, however more did. I feel like people would not run for office or be active unless they are passionate about a certain subject. Some people are just bystanders and aren't encouraged or even willing to get involved. There are many that are however.

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Personally, I think that there's a big percentage of people that don't vote because they think that their vote isn't valid or they just don't undestand the politics of the country. It also depends from the place that they're from. For example, more closed cities probably have less voters.
It's really good that more people are voting right now. I think that more people started to vote because of social media.