That being said, it's also important to understand that a free file program isn't just sitting behind a door waiting to be unlocked. If there was political will to make it happen, it would take a multi-year outlay of funds to design, build and operate a new digital product and the federal government has a less than stellar track record of delivering on that kind of thing. And you can bet that even if it actually happens, that Republicans would make it a campaign plank to tell everyone how terrible it is and prevent broad enough adoption for it to be worthwhile.
Those who don't get their interests represented well disagree.
My rep represents me well. She got like 85% of the vote in her district. She votes along with my interests nearly all the time. But the fact she frequently votes for things that don't end up getting signed into law isn't her fault. The fact that a lot of policies I like don't even get voted on because they don't have a chance isn't her fault either.
Suffice it to say, we most likely don't have Free File because of voters.
Because geography is just one thing that matters.