Do you go to elections?

[MrMonkey]

We have elections today where I live: we elect a new mayor and people who run the city. So like a good citizen I went to the polls and voted!

How about you? Do you vote? Do you even care?

 

[tonka]

I always vote.
Sometimes it matters more; sometimes less. But it's easy to do. so I do it.

I also vote because I live in the area of my city where voting rates are low (post college hipsters don't bother). Areas of the city with higher voting get better services.

This summer we'll be voting for a new US senator (John Kerry is now secretary of state), and the initial election for a new mayor of Boston.

 

[howardjk]

I always vote, it was strongly impressed on us in high school that it was a duty of citizens to participate in our democracy. Sometimes I have to consult with like minded neighbors to help me decide (the last school committee election was of no concern to me but I felt I should at least try to inform myself of the issues). It is also easy and hassle free in my area of Cambridge, MA (US).

 

[MrMonkey]

Elections

Turnout is really low. It's a beautiful sunny day and people seem to have better things to do than to waste their time on politicians and their promises!

 

[tonka]

The annoying thing about being a regular voter is that you are on every campaign's turn out list. This weekend I had four people ring my bell for the mayor's race. I live on a side street with maybe 40 houses (80 units), but the canvassers skip most of the households and focus on we few regular voters.
I have found the best strategy is to tell them you have decided (even if you have not). That way the other campaigns will put you in their data base as a lost cause.

 

[gb2000ie]

We have elections today where I live: we elect a new mayor and people who run the city. So like a good citizen I went to the polls and voted!

How about you? Do you vote? Do you even care?

Yes - always.

If you don't vote you have no right to complain about what any politician does. Apathy is the single biggest enabler of bad politicians. The fewer people care about what their political representatives are up to, the less those representatives will actually represent their constituents.

B.

 

[haiducii]

Voting is a civic duty of all citizens.

How can people who don't vote complain about our government? :thinking:

I heard one person saying: "We need to change the laws, but I won't vote because it makes no difference." :duh:

 

[dradly]

sometimes i go but not always

 

[hrylgslvr]

I always vote. As with many places, voter turnout here tends to be low. However, if you don't vote you have no right to complain.

 

[KittyKat]

In the poll should be an option for "Yes, though i know that my vote won't change anything."

 

[Tjerk12]

In the poll should be an option for "Yes, though i know that my vote won't change anything."

Agree.

I never missed a possibility to vote. But at some occasions I made my vote illegal by just posting a big message -we vote by pencil- like nobody deserves my vote this time. Try harder, maybe next time somebody gets my vote.

 

[MrMonkey]

Protest (blank/white) votes are a way of expressing your opinion, however I don't think politicians take these seriously! At least not where I live!

In my country such ballots are counted as invalid! People talk about that for day or two and then simply forget about it!

Voting system here is designed to favour only two big parties (left and right) and their satellites, so small parties and citizen initiatives can hardly pass!

For example if you vote for small party (e.g. Green) and it doesn't reach necessary 5% threshold then your vote is automatically distributed between big parties!

We are a divided bipartisan society! But I guess it's pretty much the same everywhere!

 

[Machor]

Yes! I believe that my vote can make a difference in my country!

 

[gb2000ie]

Protest (blank/white) votes are a way of expressing your opinion, however I don't think politicians take these seriously! At least not where I live!

In my country such ballots are counted as invalid! People talk about that for day or two and then simply forget about it!

This is mostly true, but, if enough people spoil their vote in the same way it can be very powerful. In one constituency in Ireland a puppet turkey from childrens's TV out-polled one of the candidates. Sure, the votes were all counted as invalid, but it made quite a splash, and sent a strong message that people demand better.

Voting system here is designed to favour only two big parties (left and right) and their satellites, so small parties and citizen initiatives can hardly pass!

For example if you vote for small party (e.g. Green) and it doesn't reach necessary 5% threshold then your vote is automatically distributed between big parties!

We are a divided bipartisan society! But I guess it's pretty much the same everywhere!

It's not the same everywhere actually - there are electoral systems specifically designed to give small parties a fair chance in some countries. Ireland is one example - our system is complicated, but, the seats in parliament tend to mirror opinions quite closely, with small parties actually getting some seats.

The key to the Irish system is that your vote is transferable - you don't give it to one person, but you rank all the candidates you like in order. Your vote first goes to your first choice, all the first choice votes are counted, and then the person with the least votes is eliminated, all the votes for that person are then passed on based on the second preferences of his/her ballots. This continues until there are the same number of candidates left as there are seats - so in a 3 seat constituency until you get three candidates left. All the constituencies are between 3 and 5 seats depending on population.

In the US or the UK if you vote for a small party you are in effect wasting your vote, because you get no say over which of the two big parties win, and one of them inevitably win. With the Irish system you can safely vote for the small parties, and, if they don't get a seat, your vote is not wasted, your second, third, fourth, etc. preferences continue to count, and your opinion continues to matter.

B.

 

[buffpaul]

I am an Election Inspector for the USA/NewYork State. It does count, I have witnessed election won/lost by a single vote. Exercise your rights or be quiet.

 

[dargelos]

If there are 62957 members here as of today, the 13 votes so far cast represent an election turnout of 0.02% which would be a disastrous result for democracy. All it really proves though is that voluntary polls have a self selection effect, ie only those with an interest take part. So while it is cheering to read people supporting the idea that you should always use the right to vote that most of us are lucky enough to have, out in the general membership it's a landslide for apathy.
There's a T shirt which has the slogan;
Nobody Cares...
so vote for nobody
It's a great T shirt but a horrible philosophy.

 

[tonka]

And we thirteen have figured out...life is a lot more interesting if you take an interest, be it a forum or an election.

 

[gb2000ie]

If there are 62957 members here as of today, the 13 votes so far cast represent an election turnout of 0.02% which would be a disastrous result for democracy. All it really proves though is that voluntary polls have a self selection effect, ie only those with an interest take part. So while it is cheering to read people supporting the idea that you should always use the right to vote that most of us are lucky enough to have, out in the general membership it's a landslide for apathy.
There's a T shirt which has the slogan;
Nobody Cares...
so vote for nobody
It's a great T shirt but a horrible philosophy.

Errr - this "poll" has no consequences at all - elections on the other hand they most certainly do - your numbers are spectacular, but utterly meaningless.

B.

 

[Chaturboys]

Once you vote here, you're put on the jury duty list.

I don't vote, as I don't want to do jury duty.

I also don't like concerning myself with politics.. I know.. I should... but meh..

 

[MrMonkey]

Once you vote here, you're put on the jury duty list.

I don't vote, as I don't want to do jury duty.

I also don't like concerning myself with politics.. I know.. I should... but meh..

Luckily, our judicial system here is different, and we don't have that kind of juries

Mr Foreman, have you reached your verdict?