When did we used past tense?

What if the author had used “looked at” instead? punishment would be deemphasized. punishments would be seen as less harsh. the meaning wouldn't change.

Which statement best represents a claim? a. people who do not exercise their right to vote are truly wasting a precious democratic privilege. b. the benefits of mandatory voting in the united states far outweigh the potential drawbacks. c. some countries require people who do not vote in certain elections to pay a moderate fine. d. i would never want to live in a country where it was mandatory to vote in political elections.

Charles darwin time connective and dates