We have systematically annihilated the traditional alternative sources of community that would put people in contact with local, on-the-ground politics. Individuals, left isolated, often end up participating in a bastardized facade of politics built on media consumption. If you want to improve this you have to address the systems creating the isolation.

If it’s not people who study policy as a hobby, then who ought to be voting?

Pretty much everyone who wants to and is old enough for it. That would include people who have families they spend time to, friends they priorities and who have variety of hobbies and jobs.

I think the issue is that that doesn’t really prepare you to vote on national or often even statewide issues.

Yes it does, as much or more as spending whole day in a reddit/blogosphere bubble of like minded individuals with the same interests does.

Having interacted with many people who don’t engage with any kind of political media, this isn’t true. It’s very difficult to have any clue what to vote for or why when you have no information; these people end up going off vibes. Spending all day listening to choir preaching may still diffuse useful information about current issues into you by accident.