Do you vote?

Sarah - posted on 05/22/2011

I think it's really important to vote, because we owe that to the hundreds of women who suffered and even died so that we could have the democratic right to vote alongside men. I also feel that we shouldn't take our democratic responsibilities for granted when there are so many places in the world where people are oppressed, not allowed to vote or face intimidation regarding who they vote for.

I don't always vote the same way, although there are parties I would never vote for.

Cathy, I agree that PR would be the best system. Sadly I think we won't get the chance in our lifetime as they will say that the no to AV result means that people don't want electoral reform.

Mel - posted on 05/22/2011

I do a dummy vote because I find it annoying that people are made to vote

Bonnie - posted on 05/22/2011

I always vote and usually for the same party.

Sapphire - posted on 05/22/2011

I actually do put a lot of stock into our local bills as well since it impacts me more. I didn't mind voting for a temporary 1 cent sales increase to help defray the decreasing budget. I voted to help save the state park in my town, but that was a wasted effort. I live in a Republican area, and it's not important to the big millionaires to think about the middle class people as something as petty as saving the state park. But yes, I do vote in local election issues as well.

Cathy - posted on 05/22/2011

Yes, I vote, always.
I weigh up candidates based on the policies of that party and how they fit in with my personal beliefs.
I consider the party currently in power and what they have achieved or damage they have done to my country.
I then pick the party that fits best with what I want to be achieved and the party that presents the most viable chance of achieving that...lesser of 2 evils.

It would be great if I could vote for the small party but the UKs current, first past the post, voting system would see my vote wasted.
We recently voted whether to switch to alternative voting. I hated that system, my vote to a small party would still be wasted, yet if I voted for a larger party who scored the greater number of first choice votes, then they could be shunted from power for a third choice party.
I will vote yes for Proportional representation (if we ever get the choice). Then I will vote for the party that most accurately meets with my own political position rather than the best of the worst.

Laura Zoey - posted on 05/22/2011

See here's where I get so confused I just give up, I agree with practically half republican and half democrat issues.
Really it's almost half and half. I have no idea how I'd choose a party, and even if I'm just trying to pick between two candidates it's hard when I agree on half of each of their standards.
So idk, it seems so wrong to pick person A when I hate half of their opinions, but if I pick person B it's exactly the same issue just flipped around!
Why can't I just agree with one whole party?!?!

Stifler's - posted on 05/22/2011

I live in Australia so it's compulsory and yes I vote for someone and not just do a dummy vote. I vote above the line though and don't always vote for the same party.

Jane - posted on 05/21/2011

Yes, I vote. Our polling place is right down the street so it is really hard to "forget" when an election is happening. One of the reasons I make a point to vote is that our local City council keeps trying to force things to happen that we have voted down already. An example: our sewers date to the 1960's. They are collapsing. Sinkholes form overnight in our streets. Sewage leaks out randomly (you can tell by the smell).



However, the City council would rather reroute the main street that runs along the water and is very popular with tourists. This will take millions and take away one of the major attractions in our town. And we have voted it down TWICE. Yet the council still wants to do it, when those millions could fix a lot of sewers.



Ever since Shrub became governor of my state (Texas) and then went on to Washington I have voted for anyone except Republicans. I do usually vote Democratic simply because all of the parties have so few followers that voting for one of their candidates is essentially throwing my vote away. In addition, very few parties really have clear, understandable, and complete platforms.



Frequently I am indeed choosing the lesser of several evils. I try to stay up to date on all races, but sometimes I miss a few.

Rebecca - posted on 05/21/2011

I vote in the states by absentee ballot. It's actually a bit of a hassle to research the local candidates in my old state, but it is worth it.

Sorry, but for me it is usually the lesser of two evils. My mother would kill me if I didn't exercise my right though.

I generally vote left. Lesser of two evils and playing the odds. However, if there was an independent candidate in the states election that I really dig - I'd vote for them.

I don't think I would ever be swayed to vote Republican. However, sometimes on individual issues put forward by the state, I am right leaning. For instance, capital punishment is one I am for, but I ain't voting for a The Grand Ole Party to stand by that. An individual issue yes, but for Newt, no.

Holly - posted on 05/21/2011

I used to work for my local town government, so I always vote on local issues (even now that I live in a larger city). Voting is important and in intregal part of our Democracy (of course, it is a limited democracy and not a full democracy, but that's the political science class I took last semester coming out. lol).

Teresa - posted on 05/21/2011

I'm a Rebulican in a Democratic state.....

No, I don't vote though you could probably guess that since I've mentioned it on other posts. ;) I don't understand politics and don't have enough patience/focus/whatever to try and figure out what it all means through all the political speak. That and I could never/would never vote against my personal morals, but don't believe I have the right to try and dictate other people's morals.

It wasn't even til the Obama election that I actually figured out for sure that I AM a Republican.....

Tah - posted on 05/21/2011

I have always voted democrat, If I win the power ball tonight maybe I can see a republican helping or caring about me and my lowly middle class life, but until then..democrat. I think I have missed maybe 1 or 2 elections, but not recently. I also stay up to date, I research the issues and the candidates.

Barb - posted on 05/21/2011

I've voted every vote except one since i've been allowed to vote.

I research who i'm voting for on major candidates, President, Governor, senator, congressmen, county rep, etc, but i don't usually do the local guys, mayor, treasurer, coroner, judges. Which maybe i should, since local guys would probably effect me more than national.

I never do the straight party ticket but do sometimes feel like i'm choosing the lesser of the two evils.

Good Day! - posted on 05/21/2011

I wanted to add that I'd never vote for someone who wasn't a major party candidate. Even if I agreed with them 100%. What's the point? They won't win anyway. And then I'm decreasing the chance that the "lesser evil" will actually win.

And Heather brought up a good point. I make sure I vote in city and parish and state ammendments. Espcially in city issues, one vote can make a difference.

Laura, I know there are these quizzes and things online that you can take and they'll tell you which candidate to vote for based on your views. I wouldn't go by that, but it might be a place to start...just so that you're more aware of what issues are out there.

Heather - posted on 05/21/2011

I am a registered Republican and almost always vote for republicans. I can be persuaded to vote outside my party, usually it is for an Independent. They have to be pro life though, protect our 2nd amendment and be for military funding. If i don't like who is running for any of the parties for the house, senate etc etc I just skip over them all completely. I always vote on town matters.

Rosie - posted on 05/21/2011

i always vote democrat, if there was a republican that was pro choice, supported gay rights, and didnt' want to give money to the upper class and powerful corporations, then i would vote for republican...however i havn't come across a candidate like that yet so i'll keep with my democrats.

i'm not sure i am choosing the right person, i do feel most of the time i'm voting for the lesser of two evils. although i did feel good when i voted for obama. now i realize that no matter who is in office, they can't get alot of things done because of the republicans in senate. i feel kinda hopeless on that front.
i ALWAYS vote for the president ever since i could. i didn't realize the importance of local voting until recently, so i didn't vote in that election until this past one.

Dana - posted on 05/21/2011

Laura, a straight party ticket is if you vote for only one party -every time.



I vote. I vote for either party. Though WAY more often than not, I vote democrat. I do keep up with who is running and what they stand for.



I find it very frustrating that some blindly follow their party and will vote for a complete ass rather than for the other party. I also get annoyed when people don't vote, of course only when they're like minded. The others who disagree with me can stay home. ;)

Krista - posted on 05/21/2011

I always vote. No, I don't always stick with the same party. And yes, I often feel like I'm voting for the lesser of the evils. It's tricky here in Canada, because voting for our MP is linked to voting for our Prime Minister. (It would be like, when you vote for your House representative, whichever party wins the most districts, that party's leader becomes President).

So it kind of sucks, if you love your local Liberal candidate but HATE the federal leader of the party, or vice versa.

Jenn - posted on 05/21/2011

Yes I vote. I don't always stick with the same party. I keep up to date with what's going on and what they stand for and what's they want to do or not do, and vote that way. Sometimes it feels like a choice of the lesser of two evils. I'm never 100% certain.

Sapphire - posted on 05/21/2011

I always vote, and have been voting for 20 years now. It's my right & privilege to vote. I hate when people botch and moan & complain about who an elected public official, only to find out they are not a registered voter. Well, your complaint means nothing to me then. Yes, I am dedicated to one party. I will NEVER vote republican ;-)

Holly - posted on 05/21/2011

I vote every time. I don't chose by party (I am registered, but I chose not to affiliate myself with any party on my voter registration). I thoroughly research what every person who is running stands for and then I decide based on that :) Honestly, there are times I feel I have to choose the "lesser of two evils" but in the end my main feeling is if I don't vote I have no right to complain when I don't like how things are going...

Sal - posted on 05/21/2011

yes i vote, in aus we have to there is a fine if you don;t, there are a lot of "donky" votes though, i always make a decision based on the whole govt, but also on the indvidual canidate, eg, we have 2 levels of parliment, state and federal and our seat is held in both by independents, which suits me fine they are both long term proven candidates, there is practiaclly no hope for a green or a labor canidiate to win our seat and i like the nationals on the whole execpt they are in colalition with liberal and a vote for them is a vote for tony abbot and i can''t stand him....
on the whole my thoery is i don;t care who anyone votes for that is our privaledge to do just make sure you do, people the world over are dying for that right and i know so many people who waste it it really shits me, also if you donky vote don;t bitch about the elected leaders, you had your chance to have a say and you didn't so you lose the right to compain and in the last election there was a campign ti donky vote as a protest and this pisses me, if you feel that strongly don;t vote and pay the fine (or fight it) donky vots are a cop out

Jodi - posted on 05/21/2011

I'm in Australia. It's compulsory to vote......
I vote based on the party that I believe will be of most benefit to us, and based on their overall policies.

Laura Zoey - posted on 05/21/2011

What's a 'straight party ticket'?
Sorry, maybe I'm going tor regret saying this but I've only voted once. :( well I'm 22 and the only time I voted was for president. Idk, I don't watch the news and I'm not involved in any politics discussions really so I guess I just don't know when voting is happening, and if I do hear about it I usually have no idea who is running, and all I see is commercials but they all contradict each other I can't make heads or tails of it all, I end up confused and not knowing anything I can trust. I feel like I could just go and pick one, but then I wonder what good is it if I'm not sure I'm picking the better party? What if I choose wrong. Idk, I'm not proud of it but I figure if I can't make a sound decision I shouldn't even bother.
Is that really bad? I know I should get up to date on elections, but it's hard cuz I just hate politics and it confuses me and I never know who to trust.
I don't want to just choose a party and go with that every time. It's a sad excuse but my mom died when I was 15 and my dad kicked me out at 18 and honestly I never learned the proper etiquette on voting or how to choose a party.....
Any kind advise?

Katherine - posted on 05/21/2011

I always vote. For millage's, for president, senators and the like. I try to keep up to date but sometimes I don't know the judges I am voting for.....oops. But I ALWAYS vote and it's a straight party ticket.

Good Day! - posted on 05/21/2011

I always vote. I do my best at reading up on the issues and picking the person whose views most align with mine, regardless of party affiliation. Sometimes I do feel like I'm picking the lesser of two evils. I don't clearly agree with either party, so I consider myself an Independent voter. And I hate politics...so I don't tend to join in the political debates on here too often. I tolerate politics during election time because I feel it's my duty as an American citizen.