Voters, or Not?

American's lives are complicated! We come from every country in the world, speak nearly every language, and yet we all somehow work together to vote and elect our representatives to run one of the richest countries in the world. Yet, even here, not everyone who can vote, votes!

In The Election Day Book a group of these Americans and immigrants have to balance many challenges and concerns on Election Day. Can you figure out which characters are having which problems voting, and, can you guess, did they vote? or not?

Think you know if they may vote or not? Take the quiz!

You can look below for clues and to read about all the different reasons people might have not to vote, specifically, some of our characters! 

Clues: #Paranoid #TuberTots #Teahead #SexySenior #DoItAll #Bookworm #Fashionista #Committed #CoolKings #Overachiever #IntrovertedImmigrant

"Flashy Fashionista" Dawn is a hard working, flashy, style loving work from home online mom with an unemployed husband and three awesome middle school kids. Dawn: Voting Not Voting
"Paranoid Poll Worker" Dale is a poll worker this year, but he doesn't trust the election system, the IRS, or the government, very much. Dale:  Voting  Not Voting
"Very Distracted" Fred takes care of his and Dawn's kids full time now that he's unemployed, but he still manages to find free time to deal with the emotional overhead of being unemployed. Fred:  Voting  Not Voting
"Faithful Conservative" Nancy is an energetic, dedicated conservative religious voter and is very active in the local political community. Nancy:  Voting  Not Voting
"Hurricane Absentees" Rob and Bill are an outgoing optimistic loving couple who recently co-bought a house that unfortunately was flooded out in a 1 in a 100 year hurricane, but they decided to get an air BNB for a month during repairs close to a big city center and enjoy themselves. Rob and Bill:  Voting  Not Voting
"Senior Princess" Alice lives alone but owns her own house. She has had issues getting around lately but having a home health aid part time has helped her keep up and get out and about. Alice:  Voting  Not Voting
"Disenchanted" Tanijah is a budding entrepreneur with big dreams going to night school, but currently taking the bus to and from whatever work she can get. Tanijah:  Voting  Not Voting
"Job Seeker" John has his ups and downs, and his life hasn't been easy. But that doesn't stop him from trying to follow his imagination. John:  Voting  Not Voting
"Next Generation" Caleb, Madison and Brittany are highly motivated and social kids that are always busy pursuing their goals of fame, fortune, the newest iphone, sugar and drama. The Kids:  Voting  Not Voting
"Dedicated" Teresa is an intelligent, introverted immigrant who struggles with the language sometimes, but her quick learning and interests have endeared her to her current work. Teresa:  Voting  Not Voting
"Apathetic" Dave and Logan are recently met 2nd year college students from very different backgrounds who don't really know what they're doing yet in life, but when they see something they like, they recognize it. They just haven't found it yet. Dave and Logan:  Voting  Not Voting
"Neighborly Hero" June takes care of everything and everything, but that's not always a good thing. One thing she does know is you don't stop until you've dealt with the problem. June:  Voting  Not Voting
Submit

What are some reasons voting is difficult for some people in America?

1. Voters who have to work: MAKE ELECTION DAY A FEDERAL HOLIDAY!  
2. Voters who distrust the voting system: Many jurisdictions require specific identification to vote, and individuals without acceptable ID may face difficulties.
3. Voters without ID: Many jurisdictions require specific identification to vote, and individuals without acceptable ID may face difficulties.
4. Disabled voters: Physical disabilities can limit access to polling places, especially if they are not fully accessible.
5. Elderly voters: Aging-related mobility and cognitive issues may make it difficult to reach polling stations or navigate the voting process.
6. Low-income voters: Economic challenges can lead to difficulty accessing transportation to voting sites or taking time off from work to vote.
7. Rural voters: Voters in remote areas may face long distances to polling stations, and lack of access to transportation can further complicate voting.
8. Non-English speakers: Language barriers may make it difficult to understand ballots, registration processes, and voting instructions.
9. Homeless voters: Lack of a permanent address can create difficulties in voter registration and proving eligibility.
10. Voters with past convictions: In many places, people with felony convictions face barriers to voting, either permanently or until certain conditions are met.
11. Young voters: First-time voters or those newly eligible may lack information about how to register or vote, leading to confusion.
12. Immigrant voters: Legal immigrants who are eligible to vote may not fully understand the process or face misinformation about their rights. 
13. Voters with limited access to technology: Those without reliable internet access may struggle with online registration or finding polling place information.
14. Voters without transportation: Lack of reliable public transportation or personal vehicles can make getting to a polling station difficult.
15. Indigenous voters: Native American voters, especially those living on reservations, may face geographic isolation, lack of addresses, or restrictive voting laws.
16. Military voters: Those serving overseas or stationed far from home may face delays or logistical challenges with absentee ballots.
17. College students: Students living away from their home address may face challenges with absentee voting or finding information about voting locally.
18. Voters in long-term care facilities: People in nursing homes or hospitals may need assistance or face obstacles to voting from their current location.
19. Voters in areas with limited polling locations: Reduced polling sites can lead to long lines, making it difficult for some to wait and vote.
20. Voters in natural disaster zones: Voters in areas affected by natural disasters may have difficulty reaching polling stations or receiving absentee ballots.
21. Parents with young children: Those without childcare options may struggle to find time to vote, especially in areas with long lines or wait times.
22. Voters facing voter suppression tactics: Some groups, such as minority voters, may encounter targeted efforts to dissuade or confuse them about the voting process.

These obstacles reflect a wide range of barriers, from logistical issues to systemic challenges that disproportionately affect different groups of voters.

Additionally, Voters who distrust the voting system can face a unique set of challenges, often rooted in concerns about the integrity and fairness of elections. This group may include:

1. Voters worried about election fraud: Concerns about vote tampering or fraud can lead to skepticism about whether their vote will be counted accurately.
2. Voters who distrust mail-in voting: Some fear that mail-in ballots could be lost, manipulated, or not counted, leading to reluctance to vote by mail.
3. Voters concerned about electronic voting machines: Distrust in the security of voting machines, fearing they could be hacked or malfunction, may discourage people from voting.
4. Voters skeptical of the results: Those who believe that election outcomes are predetermined or manipulated might feel that voting is pointless.
5. Voters concerned about voter suppression: People who believe certain groups are being unfairly disenfranchised may lose confidence in the overall system’s fairness.
6. Voters worried about voter intimidation: Some may fear that there are efforts to scare away or silence certain voters, leading to reluctance to participate.
7. Voters distrustful of election officials: A lack of faith in local or state election authorities can cause hesitation to engage in the process.
8. Voters concerned about media coverage: If they believe that media outlets are distorting facts or pushing biased narratives about the election process, it can breed doubt in the system.
9. Voters who distrust political parties: Skepticism toward political parties, feeling they manipulate the system for their own benefit, might deter voting.
10. Voters affected by conspiracy theories: Belief in widespread but unfounded conspiracy theories about election rigging can prevent people from feeling confident in the voting process.
11. Voters frustrated by gerrymandering: People in heavily gerrymandered districts may feel that the outcome of elections is predetermined, reducing their motivation to vote.
12. Voters worried about voter privacy: Fear that their vote will not remain private or that they could face repercussions for their political choices can deter participation.
13. Voters distrusting provisional ballots: Concerns that provisional ballots won’t be counted may cause some to not even attempt to vote if they are told they must use one.
14. Voters wary of voting during a pandemic: In places where COVID-19 precautions have been politicized, some voters may distrust the safety measures in place or the motivations behind them.
15. Voters skeptical of recount processes: Fear that recounts won’t be conducted fairly or accurately can make people feel their votes won’t matter in close races.
16. Voters concerned about voter registration security: Some worry that their registration data could be used improperly or that they could be purged from voter rolls without knowing.
17. Voters distrustful of absentee ballot systems: Concerns about whether absentee ballots are tracked and counted properly can lead to avoidance of voting by mail.
18. Voters unsure about overseas voting: Military or overseas voters may be skeptical of the effectiveness or security of their absentee ballots reaching their destination.
19. Voters distrustful of polling place procedures: People who believe there are improper practices or bias at polling places may feel uncomfortable voting in person.
20. Voters disillusioned with political outcomes: Feeling that past votes did not lead to meaningful change or representation, they may question the value of casting a vote in future elections.

Distrust in the voting system can discourage participation and erode faith in democracy, and addressing these concerns requires transparency, education, and robust election integrity efforts.