I have missed two elections or so since I starting voting.
Not nearly as much as I should. I need to get better about that. It annoys me that I don't put hte effort into.
I really don't care if they vote or not. I just better damn well never hear them complain about who won the election, the direction the economy, whatever is going. It is a sure fire way to get my foot up their ass. My H is one of them, as are my grandparents(I don't yell at them). Each and everytime he starts to complain, I simply ask him who he voted for. He gets mad me for not letting him express his opinion, my response is simple, you sat back idly and let this happen. You chose to not bother to take a stand or make an effort to change anything. Until you start voting, you don't get to complain. He has finally learned to shut it around me.
Do you vote? Every time or just for "big" stuff? I vote for the big and small stuff. I like voting. It would also be pathetic if I didn't vote. My polling place is 2 blocks from me.
How much time do you spend researching candidates/issues? Currently I have avoided all the debates and other nonsense. about a week or two before the elections I'll go online and research and figure out who gets my vote.
What do you think about eligible adults who *never* vote? I think they can't complain about their states representatives or other bills that they could have changed on the local level or on the national level since they couldn't be bothered to vote. You can't make a change if you sit on your butt.
I always vote presidential and congress. I try to vote on small, local stuff but I will only vote then if I feel I have a good grasp on the issues and have a reasonable understanding of what I'm voting for.
Well, I feel that way about presidential and congressional votes as well. I just put a bigger priority on research for those raises than on the local alderman's race.
I do vote every time. Local elections are important and since I am in local government, I care about the direction of my town/county. I probably spend a few days before I go vote researching so I can figure out who best represents my interests that are most important to me.
I really don't understand why some adults don't vote. I have been proud and excited to vote since I turned 18.
Do you vote? Every time or just for "big" stuff? More now that I used to, since we got involved in local politics. Not for school board elections yet though- there's never any competition.
How much time do you spend researching candidates/issues? A fair amount, I guess.
What do you think about eligible adults who *never* vote?If they can't take the time to vote, I would imagine they don't take time to research or choose a worthy candidate, so it doesn't really bother me.
Do you vote? Yes. Every time or just for "big" stuff? No, not every time. I do vote for everyone that's up on the big elections (governors, senate/house seats, and such).
How much time do you spend researching candidates/issues? Most of the candidates are making it pretty easy for me this year. The "my stance on issues" link on their own websites is very telling.
What do you think about eligible adults who *never* vote? Nothing really. I can't tell if they're disinterested, unable to vote somewhat intelligently, just don't care for the candidates, too lazy to figure out how to register, or really any number of reasons. I registered when I was 19, but I didn't vote until I was 26. I wasn't really interested in politics before then.
Not every time. I've never missed a presidential election, but the city stuff not so much.
In the last few years as my views have changed, I've done my share of research.
Meh, to each their own. Some people just aren't interested in politics. Should they be more concerned about who is running the country? Yes, but I'm not going to be the one to shove it in their faces.
Post by fussbucket on Oct 24, 2012 13:15:41 GMT -5
Yes. I might have missed a special run-off election once because I forgot. One time in college I drove 4 hours round trip to vote in my home precinct because I forgot to get an absentee ballot. Oliver North was running for Senate.
It varies but I listen to public-affairs radio daily for state and national level coverage of issues, and I always spend at least an hour with the voter guide reading up on all the propositions (stupid California).
I'm with HS. Freedom isn't free, so if you can't be bothered to engage and vote EVER, perhaps you prefer some other kind of service to support our American political experiment, such as joining the military.
yes (I don't always do primaries, but I think I only skipped 2? years ago----maybe it was last year. Regardless, i missed the window to get an absentee ballot and would have had to take 3 hours off work because of timing and dropping off Buffy at childcare. So I skipped.) I try to vote for everything because I think that a lot of the 'little' stuff and local politics are a big deal
I find researching takes FOREVER. Not counting normal "read the newspapers" sort of stuff, I spent at least 4 hours researching candidates (I only know how much because I just finished filling out my absentee ballot this week
I understand the frustration and cynicism that leads to people not voting. I also think that if someone isn't working to change the system (and, voting is the best way to do that), they should shut the hell up about politics.
Post by PinkSquirrel on Oct 24, 2012 13:27:58 GMT -5
I vote in all state/national elections (including primaries), but have definitely forgotten local town elections before because they always happen at the most random of times.
I spend a decent amount of time researching, but it's not uncommon for a majority of the races to be uncontested. I believe the last presidential election I was only voting for president and ballot questions everything else was uncontested. I've known all my votes for this years race as well as what I'm voting for ballot questions for awhile now.
I'm torn on this. On the one hand I think everyone should vote and they need to grow up and do it, but on the other hand I do think it's important for people to research who/what they're voting for and I'm terrified by the thought of having people with no interest in or desire to vote choosing who runs the country.
Do you vote? Every time or just for "big" stuff? I vote every 2 years, except for right after I moved to Virginia. I couldn't get things transferred in time.
How much time do you spend researching candidates/issues? I consider myself an informed person based on my interest in news/politics, so I don't really reach for a voter guide when it comes to the national races. I do visit candidate websites for the local races. This year I plan to abstain from voting on the local races save for mayor. Everyone who is running for school board/city council espouses the same canned BS and they all suck.
What do you think about eligible adults who *never* vote? That they are dumb and lazy. I never buy the "not into politics" excuse.
I don't vote. Now that I'm staying in one place I might vote for local stuff, but in the current political environment, I truly do not believe voting matters, so I don't waste my time. The options generally suck anyway, I haven't kept up too much on this election. I don't complain, I have lost all hope that "we" really are of the people and not just a handful of money hungry assholes. Eta, oh, and I'm truly not into politics. It holds zero interest for me.
Do you vote? Yes Every time or just for "big" stuff? I try to every time, but sometimes the local ones slip by me
How much time do you spend researching candidates/issues? I spend a lot of time researching the issues most important to me. If you asked me about some of the other things, I wouldn't know where candidates stood nearly as well. If I tried to be up on everything everyone thinks, I'd never decide.
What do you think about eligible adults who *never* vote? I can't even begin to understand it. I don't give anyone a hard time about it, but in my personal opinion it's lazy and short sighted. I also think part of the trouble our country is in is because too many people are lazy and short sighted.
Somebody tell my why I should vote. Or be interested in politics. My individual vote does not even matter. The electoral guy votes, and he/she can not go with my/our vote if he wanted. You can say oh, but next time it might matter, but no, the whole thing is a pissing contest about who has the most money and can fill the most bribes. I feel so angst about this it's bothering me. So talk to me.
Somebody tell my why I should vote. Or be interested in politics. My individual vote does not even matter. The electoral guy votes, and he/she can not go with my/our vote if he wanted. You can say oh, but next time it might matter, but no, the whole thing is a pissing contest about who has the most money and can fill the most bribes. I feel so angst about this it's bothering me. So talk to me.
Post by fussbucket on Oct 24, 2012 14:02:04 GMT -5
Well there are more things to vote for than president for one. Like what property taxes are and what they pay for in your community, and what flavor of facts and/or propaganda your local schoolchildren will be fed.
People like you were denied the right to vote for longer in this country than not, for two.
To me it's just taking your freedom and security for granted, and taking stuff for granted is not good. No it's not a crime not to vote, but really look at some things that have happened in the world when citizens have not had or been able to fairly exercise the right to vote, and then think about some of those things happening to you and your family.
HG, IIRC only once (in the 1800s) has the winner of the popular vote been actively overturned by the electoral college. In a race like this one, which looks like it will be a close call, every vote that influences how the electoral college votes matters.
If you don't think your elector is going to honestly represent your state, then maybe you should have voted for someone else as elector. But then you'd have to vote.
*shrug* I'm just not wired like that. I don't understand the parties, why people have to pick one? My parents have never talked about political stuff other than they aren't happy about certain things. Like I said, now that I'm stuck in one place I'll probably read more about the local stuff, but I've been moving for the last 8 years of my life and never long enough in one place to feel I should vote locally. Side eyeing me is awesome, but helping me understand why I should think I make a difference is even more awesome. Or don't.
Post by starrieskies on Oct 24, 2012 14:16:54 GMT -5
I always plan on voting, but I make it more of a priority for local issues. I want to make sure I have a voice in the issues that impact my daily life, and I live in a fairly small community so I feel like my vote counts for more there. When I vote on national issues, I always feel a little bit like there are so many other people voting, the chances of my vote being the "deciding vote" are slim to none.
*shrug* I'm just not wired like that. I don't understand the parties, why people have to pick one? My parents have never talked about political stuff other than they aren't happy about certain things. Like I said, now that I'm stuck in one place I'll probably read more about the local stuff, but I've been moving for the last 8 years of my life and never long enough in one place to feel I should vote locally. Side eyeing me is awesome, but helping me understand why I should think I make a difference is even more awesome. Or don't.
I did tell you why. Your vote determines how the electoral college votes. They have only once gone against the outcome determined by the system. (To clarify: sometimes the popular vote isn't the same as the electoral vote ESPECIALLY in close elections, which makes it even more important for you to get as many electoral votes to win.)
I don't understand what you're getting at with the parties. You don't have to vote for a Rep or Dem just because that's the box you checked on your voter registration. You can also register as an Independent.
Somebody tell my why I should vote. Or be interested in politics. My individual vote does not even matter. The electoral guy votes, and he/she can not go with my/our vote if he wanted. You can say oh, but next time it might matter, but no, the whole thing is a pissing contest about who has the most money and can fill the most bribes. I feel so angst about this it's bothering me. So talk to me.
*shrug* I'm just not wired like that. I don't understand the parties, why people have to pick one? My parents have never talked about political stuff other than they aren't happy about certain things. Like I said, now that I'm stuck in one place I'll probably read more about the local stuff, but I've been moving for the last 8 years of my life and never long enough in one place to feel I should vote locally. Side eyeing me is awesome, but helping me understand why I should think I make a difference is even more awesome. Or don't.
You don't have to pick a party. You can pick a candidate, really based on a million different reasons. You can vot D for president and R for Senate and I or G or whatever else you choose for the other races.
No one can make you care. you have to decide that it behooves to actually participate in picking your government.
Post by fussbucket on Oct 24, 2012 14:25:04 GMT -5
One of the guys running for reelection to our local transit board made wildly offensive remarks directed toward me in a meeting a couple of weeks ago. I sure am going to enjoy voting for his challenger!
One of the guys running for reelection to our local transit board made wildly offensive remarks directed toward me in a meeting a couple of weeks ago. I sure am going to enjoy voting for his challenger!
No, not who are you going to vote for! Why the hell would I want to know that? But...
Do you vote? Every time or just for "big" stuff? I've voted in every presidential election since I've been 18. I try to vote for the smaller elections too and have missed those a couple of times.
How much time do you spend researching candidates/issues? I don't spend a lot of time, but enough to know who I'm voting for and what they represent.
What do you think about eligible adults who *never* vote? I don't undertand why someone wouldn't vote if they are eligible and it kind of pisses me off. When someone I know complains about the government and I KNOW that they don't vote, I tell them that I won't listen to them because you have no right to complain if you didn't vote in the first place.