Final Percentages
DID YOU VOTE IN THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION?
92% YES 8% NO
WAS IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES?
33% YES 67% NO
DO YOU THINK THIS ELECTION WAS ABNORMAL OR DIFFERENT FROM PAST AMERICAN
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS?
58% YES 42% NO
WHY DIDN’T YOU VOTE?
N/A DIDN’T LIKE THE CANDIDATES N/A NO TIME/IT IS INCONVENIENT 100% MY VOTE WON’T
COUNT ANYWAY N/A I DON’T CARE
DO YOU THINK VOTING IS THE PARAMOUNT ASPECT OF A FREE DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY?
42% YES 58% NO
HOW CAN THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO VOTE?
40% BETTER CANDIDATES N/A EASIER ACCESS TO POLLS/LONGER HOURS 60%
MORE/BETTER CIVIC EDUCATION
(OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS + RESPONSES)
HOW DO YOU THINK AMERICA ENDED UP WITH TWO BAD OPTIONS?
• THE CANDIDATES WERE NEITHER CHARISMATIC NOR CONFIDENCE-INSPIRING
• THE PEOPLE PICKED THE WORST CANDIDATES IN THE PRIMARIES
• DIVISIVE PARTY POLITICS
•
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE PARAMOUNT ASPECT OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY?
• WHERE THE PEOPLE HAVE A TRUE VOICE IN ELECTIONS/ELECTIONS ARE NOT FAKED
• FREE SPEECH
Analysis
From the nation’s beginning, voting rights have continuously been expanded to include
multiple groups. This basic principle of voice in a democratic society has always been close to
the hearts of American citizens. Even before the adoption of the Constitution, most states
extended voting rights to citizens without property—a revolutionary concept for the 18th century.
Later, the 15th, 17th, 19th, 23rd, 24th, and the 26th further expanded suffrage. We were very
surprised that the majority of our participants voted in the 2016 Presidential Election. Likewise,
we were interested in the fact that most participants claimed it was not difficult to choose
between the candidates, yet nationally, many people complained that it was. Personally, we
believe that voting is the paramount aspect of a democracy, so the fact that a slight majority of
our participants thought other aspects, like free speech, played a more significant role was an
interesting idea. We think a non-partisan evaluation of voting participation is important because
instead of focusing on divisive party politics, we can have a discussion about modern
democracy that greater resembles the civil discourse our Founding Fathers intended.