text: All U.S. citizens (and perhaps others) have access to voting. And they had access 20 years ago as well, before vote-by-mail and motor voter, etc. So those laws have largely found a solution to a problem that did not exist.
  
  Nowadays, people can be completely clueless about issues, but they get a ballot in the mail and they see a name on it and the election comes down to short catch phrases. Bernie Sanders? Free Education for Everybody! I'm voting for him! Donald Trump? Make America Great Again! I'm voting for him! Melania Trump? Wow is she hot! I'm voting for Donald! Hillary Clinton? It's time for a woman president! I'm voting for her! Barack Obama? Hope and change! I'm voting for him! What, he's not on the ballot? With easy voting (and other factors) we've dumbed down our system. On the other hand, if I'm going to take the hike to the polling place during a November shower, you bet I'm going to have put some thought into who/what I'm going to mark (or punch out, as we used to do).