ions were to be held on a weekend, or there became a law requiring employers to give workers time to vote, as in Canada, there might be an increase in the turnout. Though these issues are somewhat irrelevant, even comical one may add, they probably do play a role in whether some Americans choose to vote. The lack of voter participation also involves the concept of efficacy, which undoubtedly plays a role in the minds’ of American voters. There may be a belief that they do not have any affect on the political process. Many are unaware that voting, and other types of political involvement, can actually have an influence on policy making. Yet another factor may be partisanship, which is voter identification with a specific political party. Many voters possess pride in partisanship, and voting becomes a competitive mechanism. The outcome of an election becomes a personal matter. One theory is, partisanship may be declining. Some possibly feel that candidates no longer represent their respective parties. They feel that Republicans and Democrats have nearly converged on the political spectrum, leaving the differences between them minute, or conceivably non-existent. If a Republican or Democratic candidate is sure to win, and both are the politically equal, what is the point in voting? Another thought provoking motive for involves the issue of trust. Many people remain pessimistic about the entire political process. They just do not have confidence in the govern-ment or candidate’s ability to effectively govern. On the extreme other hand, the decision to abstain from voting, and from otherwise taking part in political activities, may reflect a voter's rational judgement that his future is safe in the hands of whichever candidate emerges as winner. Another possible variable is the media and its involvement in politics. What effect does live reporting of election results have on the voter turnout in the western regi...
