Although voting seems like a simple task, it is much more than that. It takes a lot to check a few boxes and submit your vote. First of all, even being able to vote takes work. Before you even get the ballot in your hands, you need to make sure you are eligible and registered to vote. Nearly all U.S. citizens over the age of 18 can register to vote, with the exception of certain felons who are excluded from the political process. The effort doesn't stop once you sign up. When it is Election Day, you must make yourself available to submit your ballot, which may be more difficult for some than others. Some people do not have the resources to take time off work to vote, which may lead them to vote. Others see the paradox of voting where the costs far outweigh the benefits and decide not to vote. The costs of voting are: registration itself, receiving information about how, where and when to vote, the small chance that your vote will be decisive and, as previously noted, taking the time to do so. TO DO. The benefits, beyond the actions carried out, are the expression of your belonging to a particular party, the social benefits within your social networks, and the continuation of the mobilization imposed by the campaigns or even your social networks. In addition to the costs and benefits that determine whether or not you are more likely to vote, your age and education also influence your ability to vote. A large portion of voters are less informed voters. When people who vote receive their ballot, it all depends on the party they represent. Party identity is the deciding factor in any major election, which is why elections do not represent American democracy. It should be about the candidate and their positions on various issues, but that is rarely the case. Most of the time, party members all favor the same things; for example, Democrats tend to be more liberal and Republicans more conservative. It doesn't matter how hard, say, a presidential candidate tries to become a serious contender, because ultimately only their party affiliation matters. In smaller-scale elections, there is more emphasis on candidates, but turnout is lower. People care less about party identity in small-scale elections, whereas they should have this attitude towards larger elections.