1 00:00:01,333 --> 00:00:02,833 JUDY WOODRUFF: Both presidential candidates agree 2 00:00:02,833 --> 00:00:05,300 this is the most important election in modern history. 3 00:00:05,300 --> 00:00:10,300 But in most recent elections, about four in 10 eligible voters stayed home. 4 00:00:11,900 --> 00:00:14,100 We talked to a few of the people who are not voting this time around. 5 00:00:14,100 --> 00:00:16,666 CLIFFORD GENECE, Not Voting in 2020: My name is Clifford Genece. I'm from 6 00:00:16,666 --> 00:00:19,133 Brooklyn, New York, currently residing in Denver, Colorado. 7 00:00:19,133 --> 00:00:21,333 ELLIE PANA, Not Voting in 2020: Hi. I'm Ellie Pana. 8 00:00:21,333 --> 00:00:25,666 I am a Greek American dual citizen born and raised in America, but living in Greece now. 9 00:00:27,066 --> 00:00:29,133 RODGER WEIR, Not Voting in 2020: My name is Rodger Weir. 10 00:00:29,133 --> 00:00:31,700 MARYAM ALANIZ, Not Voting in 2020: My name is Maryam Alaniz. I'm not voting in this election. 11 00:00:31,700 --> 00:00:35,566 ELLIE PANA: I would have never thought that I would not be voting 12 00:00:35,566 --> 00:00:39,400 or would even consider not voting. I never - - like, I have always -- like, it's my 13 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:44,366 civic duty or it's my patriotic duty or even my desire. Like, I want to do it. 14 00:00:46,366 --> 00:00:49,433 CLIFFORD GENECE: This year is the first year where I just don't feel like -- I don't feel 15 00:00:51,333 --> 00:00:53,466 represented or heard. 16 00:00:53,466 --> 00:00:56,933 RODGER WEIR: I'm not voting because no one has earned it. No one has earned my vote. If 17 00:00:56,933 --> 00:01:01,900 I can't have a candidate that I feel is going to actually represent me, then why should I vote? 18 00:01:04,033 --> 00:01:07,366 CLIFFORD GENECE: I don't feel like anyone is doing anything that's really going to 19 00:01:07,366 --> 00:01:11,066 create change and kind of bring us back to a place where we're not having 20 00:01:11,066 --> 00:01:15,300 these continual tensions and issues that we have been having for centuries. 21 00:01:15,300 --> 00:01:20,300 MARYAM ALANIZ: If there was a candidate that spoke to my concerns, spoke to my interests, 22 00:01:21,666 --> 00:01:24,333 shared my politics, Then maybe I would consider voting. 23 00:01:24,333 --> 00:01:28,766 ELLIE PANA: Because I am overseas and I waited too late in the game for an absentee ballot, then it's 24 00:01:31,333 --> 00:01:34,300 like, OK, should I get on a plane, fly to New York for a couple days, cast my ballot, and then come 25 00:01:36,833 --> 00:01:39,966 back? And because neither candidate inspires me that much, I'm like, I will just sit this one out. 26 00:01:41,633 --> 00:01:44,700 RODGER WEIR: If we live in the land of the free, the home of the brave, 27 00:01:44,700 --> 00:01:49,666 and we have freedom to choose, then give me that freedom, give me the choice, 28 00:01:51,666 --> 00:01:55,833 instead of just giving me these two steaming piles of waste on which to decide from. 29 00:01:57,733 --> 00:02:00,266 MARYAM ALANIZ: This past year, there -- it's been a really, 30 00:02:00,266 --> 00:02:04,033 really volatile year. A lot of countries are facing political crises. 31 00:02:04,033 --> 00:02:09,033 And, really, it's a lot of young people like myself who are really, really dissatisfied and 32 00:02:11,100 --> 00:02:15,433 are realizing that, like, voting is not the only way to make our voices heard. 33 00:02:17,866 --> 00:02:20,466 If we want to actually organize ourselves, like, we shouldn't cede electoralism as our only option. 34 00:02:24,166 --> 00:02:26,333 We should be empowered to go to the streets. 35 00:02:26,333 --> 00:02:30,833 CLIFFORD GENECE: I understand that there is power and there is a necessity in voting. 36 00:02:30,833 --> 00:02:35,833 But if I know that voting has no impact on what I want for change, 37 00:02:37,766 --> 00:02:41,066 then it isn't an altruistic act. It's just - - it's just doing it, again, just to do it. 38 00:02:41,066 --> 00:02:46,066 I think not voting and not participating sends more of a message to leaders that 39 00:02:48,766 --> 00:02:51,700 we're not happy. We're not happy with what's going on.