But too many don't bother to vote. A lot of people say they're discouraged from voting because politics is too partisan, and because politicians have become captive to ideological extremists and special interest groups. What people must understand is that by not voting, they are helping create an environment in Washington that is contaminated by intense partisanship, one in which the power of ideological factions and special interests is amplified. These factions and interests make sure their faithful show up at the polls, so, naturally, candidates for elective office cater to them. Higher voter turnout is one of the best antidotes for Washington's partisanship.
Several things come to mind.
We need to eliminate the obvious administrative hurdles that discourage voting. Some states require people to register to vote many weeks in advance of an election, a practice long out of date in this era of instant data transmission via computers and the Internet. In some states, the polling hours are inconvenient for working people with long commutes. In my home state of Indiana, for example, the polls close at 6pm, far too early for people who work a full day and then face a tough drive home. We also should enact structural reforms that would help make our elections more competitive, especially contests for seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.