Very few people vote...but I do

[P&R Fan]

First of all, no politics. Don't want to get any dings or have the thread locked.
We had the opportunity to vote today in my hometown on whether to continue a local option sales tax for another 10 years. Missus Fan and I went in at about 1600 hrs. Polls had been open for at least 8 hours. As we were walking in I predicted we would be voters # 33 and 34. We were # 23 and 24.
This is terrible.
I guess we get what we deserve.
Jim

 

[PatAz]

Figures on the number of people voting are enough to make anyone with common sense sick.

 

[shouldazagged]

I first voted at twenty-one--eighteen-year-olds didn't get the vote for some time after that. I have always believed that voting isn't a privilege, it's an obligation. It's how I pay my dues for living in this great country.

 

[joeintexas]

Actually I read where more people voted in Chicago than actually live there! I'm guessing the census folks just miscounted. Just saying.

 

[RSBH44]

Yup, One of the first things that I did after turning 18, among other things, was sign up for the draft and registered to vote.

 

[Evil Dog]

I've only missed voting in a half dozen elections in the past 50 years. In the back of my mind though is the thought that if my vote actually counted for anything they wouldn't let me do it.

 

[sophie]

I never miss a chance to vote.

 

[Bajadoc]

When others don't vote it makes my vote more powerful.

 

[Whitwabit]

Me and the misses have missed one minor election since we became eligible to vote in 1968 when we both had the flu one year!!

Can't bitch about the politicians if you didn't vote the way I see it !!

 

[Goldstar225]

I vote, my wife doesn't (by her choice). That works for me. With our different viewpoints we would probably cancel each other out!

 

[old bear]

I've never missed voting in any election city, state, or federal since 1969.
I always believed that if you don't vote ya got no right to complain about the way things turn out. But now it appears the aforementioned is not correct. Everyone got some sort of bitch we just have to listen to and then do something about. Oh well, such is life.

 

[jinx]

I always hear" My vote won't do anything but cancel out some one elses vote". So they don't vote. This tells me they are lazy and irresponsible.
What happens is the minority then becomes the majority.

 

[Grayfox]

I've only missed a few elections in the last 40 years. I encourage others to vote and scold them if they don't.
Unfortunately, for many years now only an average of 1/3 of the people eligible to vote actually do.
I'm reminded of an old saying:
People get the government they deserve.

 

[wrhk33]

I vote against almost every single bond issue because I don't believe in borrowing money for most things. I'm sure it irritates a lot of people, mostly tax and spenders.

 

[Old TexMex]

If God had wanted us to vote, He would've given us candidates.

Yeah, I vote.

 

[P&R Fan]

The only election I have missed have been school board ones. I don't pay attention as my kids went to private schools. Otherwise I never miss the opportunity. I have seen turnout in my area is usually less than 50%. Even in Presidential elections. That says something about the electorate.
Oh, by the way, the extra 1% sales tax passed for another 10 years. By a BIG margin.
Sighhhhhh.
Jim

 

[YogiBear]

Aloha,

The 1 time I voted to keep the Libertarian Party alive,

I didn't vote for my usual city council person.

That particular election ended in a TIE.

So, if I had voted in that election, mine would have been the tie breaker.

So, Voting does matter.

 

[sasu]

Unfortunately voting has very little effect as all the parties are part of the same power hungry machine.

It is time for new ways of organizing a society to appear. If you asked me the main principles would be distribution of power instead of concentrating it and voluntary payments instead of taxes collected by threat of force. The Libertarians are closest to these ideals.

 

[desi2358]

I have missed very few elections since I was first able to vote. Ballot issues, national, state or local I feel it's a responsibility to vote and just as important to be an informed voter. I too am unhappy with many of the choices for office we are getting nowadays but try to determine he best option and place my vote there.

I meet too many people who complain but often admit they don't vote. Some it's probably just as well, there are a lot of totally uninformed people out there, but if you don't like the way things are going get involved, get out and vote. Don't forget to stay in contact with elected officials between elections too. They get enough comments from the public it can influence their actions (they want to keep those cushy jobs they have).

 

[Brian41]

I didn't vote until I was 19, getting drafted, Nixon was re-elected and I got my US citizenship. I haven't missed too many elections since and even vote at some of the more minor ones that get little voter turnout.
I even was a state delegate once during Reagan's re-election and that was an educating experience.
I do have the attitude that if you don't vote you probably shouldn't complain either.