I am missing something. So fewer voters voted. I know Republicans who decided not to vote this time. They had a myriad of reasons and they have a right to those reasons and the right not to vote. I am sure the voting has gone up and down in past elections. I must be missing something here.
#2...Yes #s go up & down @ elections...Still, what I've heard is that the Voting Age population has gone UP by 21 million since 2004...If you & I were talking about stable pop #s of the voting-age populace, that'd be ONE thing; but when you don't have at least SOME kind of voting increase to trail the increase in eligible voters, then that usually spells a problem for democracy.
I know some don't lament these "left-out" voters -- because they oft' come across as either shepherdless (no clue WHO to vote for), or they are shepherded by the wrong leaders (like black churches who bus their members to vote for Obama 100%-0).
As for having good reasons NOT to vote for either Romney or Obama, hey, I identify with that...voted for Virgil Goode.
As for having good reasons NOT to vote at all...well, every election is more than just about the POTUS race...lots of regional & local races & issues. So far as conservatives go, I don't look favorably of those voters who simply skimped key elections.
Since we're a govt ruled by the people (well, in THEORY we are), people need to steward that in some way...