• Pollsters predict record-low turnout

As the presidential election campaign enters its last days, millions of Americans are electing not to vote, according to numerous studies. Predictions claim as few as 38% of eligible voters may head to the polls on November 7.

Analysis in Sunday's New York Times suggested a correlation between a strong economy, the absence of looming crises, and lack of voter interest. But the Times also noted that voter turnout has dropped consistently since 1972, when Richard Nixon beat George McGovern in a landslide. Nixon later resigned from office rather than face impeachment in the Watergate scandal. McGovern ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination in 1988.

Other analysts disagree. Researchers at the Center for the Study of American Democracy claim that voter apathy is a response to "the foregone conclusion that whether Bush or Gore wins, nothing will change." In addition, Center head researcher David Spindel said, "young people are going to stay away in droves" because neither candidate speaks to their interests.

"Overall, the American electorate has decided that they are politically powerless to impact the government," Spindel said. This view is echoed by many.

Deborah Mulling, 56, of Grand Rapids, MI, will not be voting. "No one in the race seems to share my opinions on the issues." Mulling, a long-time member of the Sierra Club, believes multinational corporations have too much power and are damaging the environment. If corporate power is to be checked, she says, the political system has to be fundamentally changed. "We have to limit campaign spending and limit corporate influence." But, she says, she's frustrated by the Presidential candidates. "Nobody realizes what the problems are."

Also not voting is Jack Withers, 48, of Tacoma, WA. Withers believes free trade and open immigration policies are endangering American jobs. "We have to take our country back from foreign powers. We have to stop the UN and NATO and OPEC from taking over our government." Withers also claims neither Bush nor Gore is addressing these issues. "If only there were another candidate running, someone I could really believe in," he laments.

Some non-voters, recognizing their own views fall towards the extremes of the political spectrum, would become more involved if there were other parties formed around their positions. Jasper Willitt, 69, of Butte, MT, believes that "the world and everything in it is the creation of the Lord our God." Willitt's ideal political party would be one that, like him, held that "God has a plan for all of nature, and our human laws should reflect that." Willitt has not voted since 1956.

Las Vegas resident Trudy Sims, 39, will not vote because "there's no point in voting for anyone who won't abolish taxes immediately." Sims is frustrated that "there isn't some kind of 'no-tax' party or 'no-tax' candidate."

Others will stay home from the polls just because neither Bush nor Gore generate much interest. Rod Carpenter, 50, of Dallas, TX says neither candidate measures up. "What I really want is a good-ol'-boy, maybe somebody with a ton of money who doesn't really have an agenda," Carpenter says. "Heck, he doesn't even really need to understand or respect government or nothing. You know, just some oil-rich jackass that panders to voters."

Atlanta resident Denice Snider, 37, is also turned off by the major candidates. "If there was somebody running who had been raised by his parents to become President, maybe I'd be interested," says Snider. "I think the next President should be somebody who feels entitled to the office because he's been loyal to his party and sat through 8 years as Vice President. You know, like Richard Nixon in 1960 or George Bush in '88."

Most disturbing to many is the continued political absence of youth. James Froman, 19, of Lexington, KY explains: "It's just a bunch of old dead white guys. Who cares?" Froman's rejection of the importance of the Presidential election is echoed by the members of Kappa Delta Chi fraternity at the University of Wisconsin. At their recent "Hammer the Vote" party, fraternity brothers complained that Gore is a "geek," but were especially harsh toward Bush. "Man, he used to party like a dog," says Jason Grant, 20. "He, like, totally went straight. Wuss." Grant and his brothers are holding the "Hammer the Vote" party in protest, and will continue drinking until November 8.

Still others refuse to vote out of their beliefs that they are not US citizens. Thomas Fried, 27, of Mannheim, Germany, is one such person. "I cannot vote," Fried says, "I am only here on a tourist visa to see the Grand Canyon."

The Election will be held November 7.