Democracy's Dropouts: The Quixotic Rise of German Non-Voters. "With the help of intellectuals and celebrities, not voting has recently become de rigueur in Germany. But declining voter turnout harms democratic legitimacy, bolsters the power of those who prompted discontent and could sway Sunday's election."

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/decline-in-voter-turnout-in-germany-a-danger-to-democracy-a-923081.html