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Because as an individual, my vote doesn't matter. I know we like to tell ourselves that our vote counts, and voting is important, but mathematically, it just doesn't (again, as an individual) Elections in cities are never decided by exactly one vote; if they were, they would certainly go to a court and the court would decide anyway. That means that I know whether I choose to go to the polls or not, it won't affect the outcome. Now, of course, if a whole demographic realizes this and doesn't vote, it does swing the election. However, when I am sitting at home deciding whether to vote or not, I am not deciding for a whole demographic; I am just deciding whether I as an individual will vote. I might get downvoted, because the idea that our individual vote doesn't really matter goes against everything we are taught in democracies. We REALLY want to believe our vote matters, and as a whole, it DOES. We want everyone to vote, it allows our democracy to function. So we tell ourselves little lies that our vote AS AN INDIVIDUAL matters. Deep down, though, we know it doesn't, so many people decide to stay home. |
It's like people who say that their individual choices won't help fight climate change, so they won't change their habits. A lot of people do that, then nothing happens and the problem just gets worse.