It happens: Some elections involving thousands of votes end up in a tie. One of those contests, a race for a seat in Virginia’s House of Delegates, had to be decided by drawing a name from a bowl (see "Every Vote Really Counts"). Many people who hadn’t voted later expressed regret.
Yet Americans are routinely missing in action when it comes to this important civic act. During the 2016 presidential election, about 43 percent of eligible voters didn’t bother to cast a ballot. The missing votes, say experts, could have altered the outcome of the election.
This cartoon has something to say about low voter turnout. Study it, then answer the questions.
1. What distinguishes these groups of people? How do you know?
2. What do facial expressions say about their different attitudes?
3. Why might a person think that his or her vote doesn’t count?
4. What point do you think the cartoonist is making?