Will atheists decide the next election? [View all]

[trotsky]

http://www.examiner.com/article/will-atheists-decide-the-next-election

The presidential election is over and the Pew Research Center has released new data on November 7th, which suggests that there may be a new voter bloc on the rise. The religiously unaffiliated might have decided this election and will almost certainly decide the next election.

The religiously unaffiliated made up an estimated 12% of voters in the 2012 election based on exit polling. This number was unchanged from the 2008 election despite the fact that religiously unaffiliated Americas increased significantly since then. This indicated that many religiously unaffiliated Americans felt disenfranchised this election cycle and decided not to vote in this election cycle.

Out of those religiously unaffiliated Americans who did vote, 70% of them voted for Barack Obama compared to only 26% for Mitt Romney. Even despite the fact that many atheists have lost their enthusiasm for the president.

...

If the Democratic Party could get more religiously unaffiliated Americans to the polls, that would certainly help them in the next election. But if the Republican Party could appeal to more atheistic voters, they would be cutting into one of their opponent’s most loyal voting blocs. Plus, if trends continue, it is likely that in 2016 there will be even more religiously unaffiliated Americans. Whether or not those unaffiliated Americans become religiously unaffiliated voters could very well swing the next presidential election.