During Obama's eight years as president, the Democratic party has lost more power than the party in the White House usually does. Democrats have 14 less senators, less House seats, and less governors. There are many things that have caused this. A very small percentage of Democrats (compared to Republicans) vote in midterm elections which coincided with the redrawing of congressional and legislative boundaries in 2010 and 2011. While gerrymandering is technically illegal, there are many ways to get around it. Democrats are typically clumped together in urban areas which makes redistricting easier. Another reason is the lack of effort Democrats usually put into state legislative elections, which are important but have a much smaller voter turnout. If we are not careful, the voter turnout could drop even lower. 1920, 1924, and 1996 are the only years in US history where less than half of the people that were voting age voted in the presidential election. More Americans in both parties need to vote in all elections. Until we have more people, especially Democrats, voting, there will not be accurate representation in state and national politics.
http://www.npr.org/2016/03/04/469052020/the-democratic-party-got-crushed-during-the-obama-presidency-heres-why
Brenna Hale(6th Period)
ReplyDeleteI didn't know any of this, especially that the Democratic party was losing power. I've often heard that it is your duty, if you are of voting age, to go a vote, and now I see that it is true.