Every Election Day, whether it involves a municipal primary or a national general election with the U.S. Presidency or Congressional control at stake, I experience a contrast of emotions. On the one hand, I am enormously grateful to be part of a unique democratic process that facilitates debate and a peaceful transition of power. On the other, I am saddened to think of family I have trapped in the “Democratic” People’s Republic of Korea, where a key component of survival is voting “correctly.” In light of this forced choice that my North Korean family and their fellow citizens face, I am troubled when I hear of low voter turnouts in American elections. According to The New York Times, the 2013 general election for New York City Mayor saw a record low turnout of 24 percent of registered voters.
While some of this lack of voter participation may in itself be a conscious exercise of voting rights, due to disillusionment with candidates, or simply the result of a perceived lack of time to vote (I don’t buy the latter), there are still too many voters not casting ballots because they are unaware of or unable to exercise their rights. Too often, these voters come from populations of color.
