Nearly 90 million Americans didn’t vote – which is more than the number of people who voted for Trump or Harris

The 2024 US presidential election had been widely characterized as one of the most consequential political contests in recent US history. Although turnout was high for a presidential election – almost matching the levels of 2020 – it is estimated that close to 90 million Americans, roughly 36% of the eligible voting age population, did not vote. This number is greater than the number of people who voted for either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.

More than a month on from polling day, eligible US voters from across the country as well as other parts of the world got in touch with the Guardian to share why they did not vote.

Scores of people said they had not turned out as they felt their vote would not matter because of the electoral college system, since they lived in a safely blue or red state. This included a number of people who nonetheless had voted in the 2020 and 2016 elections.

While various previous Democratic voters said they had abstained this time due to the Harris campaign’s stance on Israel or for other policy reasons, a number of people in this camp said they would have voted for the vice-president had they lived in a swing state.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    32·
    13 days ago

    Do you know nothing about Project 2025? You’ve had a long time to learn about it. The whole point is to keep Republicans in power perpetually and remove any need for legitimate elections.

    And you think you can vote your way out of that?

    (By the way, I love how you’ve gone from “this sort of arguing won’t change anyone’s mind” to “why aren’t you trying to change people’s minds?!?!”)

    • msage@programming.dev
      31·
      13 days ago

      Re:btw what do you mean? It’s the same thing: you should be trying to change people’s minds, and be better at that, and I’m bringing your attention to it. You are a prolific poster all over the fediverse, so you can have a big impact on people. And I think you are aware of it.

      I’ve known about the P25 for a long time, I’m well aware of its consequences. Burying our heads and losing our hope is the only way they can get away with it.

      Kings have fallen, and we all should do our best to not create them again. That includes understanding those who voted for them. Ignoring the problem or its root cause won’t change anything.

      I keep repeating this line in my head:

      The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        44·
        12 days ago

        Please do name the absolute monarch that fell because people had a vote and the monarch said, “fair enough,” and stepped down.

        And I like how your only two options are “vote expecting elections to be fair” and “do nothing.”

        • msage@programming.dev
          32·
          12 days ago

          You are completely misrepresenting what I’m writing, and I’m done discussing with you.

          Have a nice day.

            • msage@programming.dev
              22·
              12 days ago

              I’m not an american, but I watch closely what’s going on there.

              You enjoy for self-fulfilling prophecies and laying down.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
                33·
                12 days ago

                I thought you were done discussing it with me.

                And yes, believing in Project 2025’s aims, which Trump just re-endorsed, is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

                I noticed you never gave any sort of rational pathway for Trump to offer fair elections or accept their outcome. Is it because there isn’t one?

                • msage@programming.dev
                  22·
                  12 days ago

                  Don’t stick your head in the sand, oppose anything that threatens democracy, don’t just accept defeat.

                  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
                    33·
                    12 days ago

                    Again, what is the rational pathway for Trump to offer fair elections or accept their outcome?

                    You know you can’t answer that question because you know there isn’t one.

                    And you still have this ludicrous idea in your head that the two options are “hope for a free and fair election” and “accept defeat.”