Cost of Elections

With averages for voter turn-out so low in the US, we discussed reasons such as rational ignorance or opportunoity cost, but when we spoke about the opportunity forgone by voting we mostly highlighted whatever else we could have done with the one hour it might take us to go to our local voting poll, maybe read the newspaper, wash the car, or even write a blog post, but we almost never consider the cost of voting to be our own life. This article discusses the elections in Nigeria and the high risks that can still be attached to the process and outcomes of these elections. It mentions that many Nigerians were killed after riots broke out about elections in Kaduna and Bauchi. There is heavy arguing over whether or not the elections were "rigged", but the violence and rioting forced the elections to be postponed.

This is heavy news that might make Americans reconsider the importance of voting. I believe that it is safe to say that most of these Nigerians are more enthusiastic to get involved with their election because the stakes of the election are much higher. This also reminds me of the Afghans who were killed when they tried to vote around 2007 in dangerous elections. What platforms in the US might make American voters risk their lives to vote?