Final answer:
Approximately 50 percent of the American population is considered politically inactive, not participating in voting, discussions, or organizations. Voter turnout is typically around 50-60 percent for presidential elections but drops significantly for local and off-year elections.
Step-by-step explanation:
About 50 percent of the American population are completely inactive when it comes to political participation, meaning they rarely discuss politics, do not vote, and are not involved in organizations.
Voter participation is essential to the functioning of the U.S. political system, yet statistics indicate that a significant portion of the population does not engage in voting or other forms of political activity.
For instance, in off-year elections, voter turnout can be particularly low; in 2010, only 37.8 percent of the eligible population voted.
Moreover, engagement in local politics is even more lackluster, with local elections often drawing much fewer voters, with some elections being decided by as little as 10-15 percent of potential voters.
It is also noted that digital engagement in political issues is higher than physical involvement, such as attending rallies or volunteering for campaigns.
While certain advocacy groups strive to improve voter turnout, barriers such as distrust in the electoral system and dislike of candidates contribute to the lack of full voter participation. The challenge remains in encouraging the politically marginalized and inactive segments of the population to participate more fully in the democratic process.