i have to vote in 3 elections in the next month...

your favorite weapon

i've never voted before...

i haven't followed the election race so far because i've been studyin' and wrapping up the year at school..

i'll probably have about 2 weeks to form some sort of opinion and vote for a leader of my country.

i must say, i'm rather cynical about the whole process, and i take comfort in the fact that no matter who gets in - it's quite likely that i'll still be better off than the people in somalia, and that's a pretty good life (not being in somalia that is).

i can't handle the fact that people say their gonna do something, and then not do it... i'd rather just have them tell me they were gonna do something and then do it so i knew what i was getting...

my mom says i can't b*tch if i don't vote, but i figure it's like picking my poison, short of running myself - picking the person least likely to annoy me and suck up the country, doesn't seem to comforting.

i could be selfish and vote for the person that benefits me the most, but should i not think about my country/city/municipality first?

it's all so complicated. the dude i thought would be great is behind this big friggin' scandal now, and i dunno. every year people talk *so* big and nothing ever gets done.

do you guys vote? do you feel you make a difference? do you still complain regardless?

a young voter wants to know.

Newbie

I love to vote. I've gone out hungover in a blizzard on foot to vote. I just know the time I skip it my guy, or my issue, will lose by one vote. A few times I've been on one side or the other with a real small margin.

Most ballots there are a few races going on. I'm bound to have strong feelings about at least one of them. The rest, I try to get some kind of sense who's on which side.. generally I'll identify with one camp more than the other.

I leave unpunched the stuff I have no clue about. Usually judicial races, school boards, obscure municipal positions. Unless, somebody up for election has pissed me off lately.

If I'm feeling cranky, I use the electoral rule of thumb: Against all incumbents, No on all initiatives. This works especially well when I get the feeling the local establishment is acting kind of shifty about what they want.

Whether to vote your own interest or the community's? Really, it's pretty rare for me for there to be a conflict. I guess if everybody voted there own interest, then the "greatest good for the greatest number" would tend to win most of the time.

Get off your butt and go give 'em hell.

Dave

Member

I think I have missed one vote in my voting career..one of those off-month school mill votes.

I vote because I can. I don't punch a ballot if I don't know who the people are on the ticket. I do make an informed decision as I can.

I know this has been said before, but people in other countries still DIE trying to get the right to vote, or trying to get to voting polls. And in the US we can barely get half the population to cast a ballot.
I love to vote. I feel it gives the right to complain!

Gone Fishin

Here in Minnesota, voting is big. We usually lead the nation in turnout.

Fact of the matter is, I do research what those running for office stand for. Granted, I am a limited issue voter. Some of my pet topics are a must for me to cast a ballot for someone.

And again, just my 2-cents, but I believe the vote is the single most important political statement you can make. All the internet posting, letter writing, picketing, in-law bantering or however else someone might spout about what our elected officials should do, it's all dust in the wind compared to the power of stepping in that poll booth.

Member

That was an interesting link. I was surprised that AZ was so low. Aren't there alot of retirees...aka older people who vote in AZ?
And CA. There must be as many people apathetic about the issues than the people who are passionate about the issues.

i have to vote in 3 elections in the next month...

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