The 2024 US presidential election had been widely characterized as one of the most consequential political contests in recent US history. Although turnout was high for a presidential election – almost matching the levels of 2020 – it is estimated that close to 90 million Americans, roughly 36% of the eligible voting age population, did not vote. This number is greater than the number of people who voted for either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris.

More than a month on from polling day, eligible US voters from across the country as well as other parts of the world got in touch with the Guardian to share why they did not vote.

Scores of people said they had not turned out as they felt their vote would not matter because of the electoral college system, since they lived in a safely blue or red state. This included a number of people who nonetheless had voted in the 2020 and 2016 elections.

While various previous Democratic voters said they had abstained this time due to the Harris campaign’s stance on Israel or for other policy reasons, a number of people in this camp said they would have voted for the vice-president had they lived in a swing state.

  • magnetosphere@fedia.io
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    121
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    14 days ago

    “The Dems are out of touch on social issues, and have tacked too far to the left to appease a minority of progressives.”

    Asshole.

    • makyo@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      79
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      14 days ago

      And ignorant - they fell for the conservative talking points too

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      41
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      14 days ago

      For those who aren’t aware already, “a minority of progressives” means “queer people,” specifically trans people.

      This asshole is saying the Dems went too far in trying to make things more equal.

    • MagicShel@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      14 days ago

      I think there are a lot of progressives, but I think not enough of them live in swing states. I’m one, and I know there are some around in the college crowd. When Michigan went blue trifecta in 2022, I thought the pendulum was swinging, but now it looks like I was wrong.

      This guy might be an asshole, but I’m not certain that he’s wrong.