Why Don't Americans Vote?: Causes and Consequences (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781440841156)

This timely book provides a thought-provoking discussion of issues that influence voter registration and turnout in contemporary America.

Elections not only determine who will fill an office; they have a lot to say about how the democratic process works--or doesn't work--in 21st-century America. This fascinating book sheds light on that question by focusing on factors that currently shape elections and political participation in the United States. It covers issues that are consistently in the media, such as gerrymandering; voter ID; and rules pertaining to when, where, and how Americans register and vote. But it also goes beyond the obvious to consider issues that are often overlooked--civic education and engagement, citizen apathy, and political alienation, for example.

The volume begins with an introduction to elections that includes a discussion of the history of voting in the United States. Each subsequent chapter covers a different topic relative to registration and voting. It addresses matters of education as well as socialization, mobilization, and the legal and political structures that shape U.S. political participation. Ideal for readers who may be considering such concerns for the first time, the work will foster an understanding of why political participation is important and of the causes and consequences of non-voting.

Author: Bridgett A. King
ISBN-10: 1440841152
ISBN-13: 9781440841156
Publisher: ABC-CLIO
Language: English
Published: 07/11/2016
Pages: 256
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.55lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.20w x 1.00d

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 10/01/2016 pg. 12
Choice 01/01/2017
Library Journal 02/01/2017 pg. 102