craftymom101
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,771 
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Post by craftymom101 on Jul 17, 2019 21:20:50 GMT
A few weeks ago I had a conversation with the mom of one of my son’s friend’s that left me scratching my head.
We live in a true swing state. I feel my vote counts here, I vote in every election, and I believe it is my civic duty help elect local, state, and federal officials.
She and I were talking about Trump and one of the recent crazy things he had done. She is anti-Trump. I made a comment about how I can’t wait to vote for the candidate opposing him in the next election. She responded “oh, my husband and I don’t vote”. I must have looked confused because she continued “we don’t believe our vote has any power so what’s the point?”.
I mentioned that we live in a swing state and voting is important, especially in local elections that can be very close. I also pointed out that Trump won by a combined 80,000 votes in three states, making every vote important.
She repeated “we don’t vote” several more times while also talking about all the disgusting, racist, sexist things Trump has done while in office.
I changed the subject but I’m still so confused! I realize a large percentage of our population doesn’t vote but I really don’t get it. How can you complain without taking part in the process?
I’m not sure what I’m looking for here... I think I’m venting! And totally annoyed that this family opts out of voting without thinking of the bigger consequences.
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kelly8875
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,407
Location: Lost in my supplies...
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Post by kelly8875 on Jul 17, 2019 21:25:23 GMT
Whenever someone says they don’t vote, I follow up with “then don’t complain, or tell me your opinions”.
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Post by papersilly on Jul 17, 2019 21:28:42 GMT
i think many of them don't feel that their votes count. some are jaded about the political system. some feel it's skewed towards the rich because they have the power and money to lobby matters in their favor. some aren't knowledgeable enough about the issues to feel confidant in casting their vote. some are just too lazy to cast that ballot.
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Post by freecharlie on Jul 17, 2019 21:32:29 GMT
Lack of experience...if they've never voted, perhaps it is intimidating
Long lines
Not wanting to take the time
Lack of knowledge on the candidates and issues
Lack of knowledge on how the political system is supposed to work
Being in the minority in a strongly held state and feeling dejected every year
Apathy
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Post by Merge on Jul 17, 2019 21:40:10 GMT
The false (in my opinion) belief that both parties are equally terrible, so it doesn’t matter who wins.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 5:25:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2019 21:41:44 GMT
Somehow voting here is tied to jury duty. My neighbor won’t vote because of that.
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Post by workingclassdog on Jul 17, 2019 21:44:53 GMT
Lack of experience...if they've never voted, perhaps it is intimidating Long lines Not wanting to take the time Lack of knowledge on the candidates and issues Lack of knowledge on how the political system is supposed to work Being in the minority in a strongly held state and feeling dejected every year Apathy Pretty much this... sometimes I wonder why I vote.. I don't like Trump, I don't like the alternative either.. basically I hate all of them. As much as I try to learn about the candidates I never feel like I know them or their real beliefs. I don't believe either party is truthful at all. I hate how our politics are. But I do my best and vote on the person (not party) who I think is the best. And I say you can't have any beef in it if you don't vote. |
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basketdiva
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,649
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Post by basketdiva on Jul 17, 2019 21:47:14 GMT
My brother says that is the way many people in Hawaii feel-why vote when the results are pretty much determined before their polls close.
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Post by freecharlie on Jul 17, 2019 22:07:29 GMT
My brother says that is the way many people in Hawaii feel-why vote when the results are pretty much determined before their polls close. I can totally see that. Local elections only really matter if the presidential race has been determined before you've even voted. I think they should hold off announcing winners in the different states until all polls are closed in the country. Or maybe Hawaii should get to vote on Monday and not have results until polls close on the mainland or change voting hours or do mail in only...? |
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scrapngranny
Pearl Clutcher
Only slightly senile
Posts: 4,821
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Post by scrapngranny on Jul 17, 2019 22:28:05 GMT
We don’t live in a swing state, but my DH voted for the first time in our marriage, (47 years), in the midterms. I convinced him he had to vote to get rid of our Representative. He voted and we got new Representative, now he feels powerful.
He has never paid any attention to politics until the Orange Turd came along. Now he is flabbergasted at how the Republicans behave. Our state is blue, but our district is very red.
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Post by birukitty on Jul 17, 2019 22:34:20 GMT
I have voted in every presidental election since I became of age. As a woman I look back at the suffergettes and reflect on the fight they led, the suffering they went through, and the years it took for them to finally gain women the vote both in Britain and the USA.
I do agree with what another Pea said-if you don't vote you have no reason to bitch about who wins and how that person's win effects the country.
People have many reasons why they don't vote. My own sister who is 18 months younger than I am has never voted in any election. It shocks me, but knowing her it makes sense. She spends 5 months of the year out of the country in Thailand ( a good bit of that is for her buisness). We both were born in Germany and are half German/half American but she considers herself almost 100% German. I consider myself half and half.
I think people don't vote for lots of reasons mentioned previously along with: no way to the polls, embarresment about no way to the polls. Also no way to get to the polls during working hours.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Jul 17, 2019 23:12:50 GMT
I think people don't vote for lots of reasons mentioned previously along with: no way to the polls, embarresment about no way to the polls. Also no way to get to the polls during working hours. Used to be absentee ballot now it is mail in ..... That is what I do.
I looked up my voting record last night. It is only listed back to 1995, but does show I registered in 1978 (the year I moved to this town and county.) I was a poll clerk during all those years. I guess they didn't move all the years forward into the computer records.
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Post by freecharlie on Jul 17, 2019 23:14:34 GMT
I disagree about a person having no way to vote due to transportation issues. All states allow absentee voting (some require a reason) and most have early voting early voting. (There are 13 who do not do early voting)
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Post by AussieMeg on Jul 17, 2019 23:31:21 GMT
Voting is compulsory here, but if it wasn't, a lot of people I know probably wouldn't bother voting. The main reasons would be:
(1) They think it's pointless and that their vote doesn't count
(2) They are too lazy to go to the polling booth
(3) They are too complacent about or simply disinterested in politics
In my electorate the Coalition candidate (conservative / right) always wins. Nevertheless, I cast my vote for the Labor (left) candidate and hope that one day......
This year, for the first time, I did a postal vote. You have to select a reason for doing a postal vote, and "I can't be fucked going to a polling booth on the day" unfortunately isn't an option. So I ticked the "I will be more than 20km away from a polling booth on Election Day." I am going to do a postal vote from now on, it's so much easier.
I agree with those who say if you don't vote then you have no right to complain about who is in power.
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Post by delila on Jul 17, 2019 23:33:42 GMT
It is a privilege to vote. We live in a country that allows us to vote & we should exercise our right to vote. The people who don’t vote should visit or live in a country that doesn’t allow you to vote & then let them bitch about how miserable they are. If you don’t vote you lose the right to bitch about politics even mayoral ones.
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Post by freecharlie on Jul 17, 2019 23:52:31 GMT
Voting is compulsory here, but if it wasn't, a lot of people I know probably wouldn't bother voting. The main reasons would be: (1) They think it's pointless and that their vote doesn't count (2) They are too lazy to go to the polling booth (3) They are too complacent about or simply disinterested in politics In my electorate the Coalition candidate (conservative / right) always wins. Nevertheless, I cast my vote for the Labor (left) candidate and hope that one day......This year, for the first time, I did a postal vote. You have to select a reason for doing a postal vote, and "I can't be fucked going to a polling booth on the day" unfortunately isn't an option. So I ticked the "I will be more than 20km away from a polling booth on Election Day." I am going to do a postal vote from now on, it's so much easier. I agree with those who say if you don't vote then you have no right to complain about who is in power. how do they enforce it 2nd bold is key I think it is important to vote even if you are in a traditionally opposite state. Colorado used to be red, then purple, now it is more blue than anything. 3rd bold- I love phrases from elsewhere (err...not rural colorado) |
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Post by AussieMeg on Jul 18, 2019 0:04:48 GMT
Voting is compulsory here, how do they enforce it Well first of all you have to enrol to vote when you turn 18. Then on voting day, each person working at the polling locations has an enormous binder of papers with every single person who lives in that electorate. When you go in to vote, you give them your name and address, and then they cross you off the list. Like, literally run a pencil through your name. It's as basic as that. Somewhere down the track they will find out if you didn't vote, and you will be fined. I have been fined for not voting in a state election. DSO and I both forgot about it, and a couple of weeks later we both got fined about $80. I think it's only about $20 for not voting in a federal election. I'm not sure why the fine would be more for a state election. |
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Jul 18, 2019 0:57:19 GMT
In my electorate the Coalition candidate (conservative / right) always wins. Nevertheless, I cast my vote for the Labor (left) candidate and hope that one day...... Your vote does count overall.... The winners will know that there are some people who are in opposition and that helps with normal people! |
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Post by mollycoddle on Jul 18, 2019 0:59:56 GMT
Laziness is the only reason that I can think of.
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Post by lisae on Jul 18, 2019 1:07:45 GMT
Mother didn't vote until after her father passed because he was a strong Republican and my father a Democrat. She felt she would be choosing between them when she registered. That was when you registered for one party or another and being an independent was unheard of. I had an aunt who didn't vote because it was cumbersome for her to get to the polling place due to her handicap. There are solutions to both situations but they just didn't feel it was worth it.
I can't imagine not voting. We even vote in run-off races for judges and such in primaries where hardly anyone shows up. I'm of the 'If you don't vote, you don't have a right to complain' belief. Another thing I will say to those who won't vote in the US is that there are people all over the world who would give anything for the right to vote in an election. It's a privilege many of our ancestors fought and died to defend. How can you waste their sacrifice by not voting?
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Country Ham
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,314
Jun 25, 2014 19:32:08 GMT
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Post by Country Ham on Jul 18, 2019 5:26:08 GMT
Somehow voting here is tied to jury duty. My neighbor won’t vote because of that. I know folks that will not register to vote because once you register to vote you are on the list to be called for jury duty. But jury duty is also our civic duty. So by not registering to vote as a way of avoiding jury duty is a double head shake for me. When I got my citizenship I immediately registered to vote and within a year I served on a grand jury in my county. It's our duty. |
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Post by iamkristinl16 on Jul 18, 2019 12:56:16 GMT
I think it is faulty thinking to say that ones vote doesn’t count. We should all want our vote to be known, whether that makes a difference In the outcome or not. What if everyone who said “my vote doesn’t matter so I’m not going to vote” actually did vote? Collectively, it could make a difference.
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Post by tentoes on Jul 18, 2019 13:16:04 GMT
Lack of experience...if they've never voted, perhaps it is intimidating Long linesNot wanting to take the time Lack of knowledge on the candidates and issues Lack of knowledge on how the political system is supposed to work Being in the minority in a strongly held state and feeling dejected every year Apathy This brought memories from my childhood. I grew up in a very poor community in Michigan. My father was a truck driver. I remember him getting home from work, and taking me with him to the high school to vote. It took place in the gymnasium. It seemed like a huge place, and the line to vote stretched all the way around the room!! We got in line, and it seemed like it took forever. I was very young, so maybe it wasn't as long as it seemed, but he waited in that line, after working all day!! When we got home, I remember him telling me how important it was for him place his vote. I guess that little talk really resonated with me, because I don't remember an election I've missed over the years. I'm thankful for his good example!! |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 5:25:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2019 13:26:45 GMT
"Hey, pssst, you....C'm ova here. I'm trying be the person in charge of your the rules of your life, your wages, your health, your safety, your family's ability to flourish or flail. You wanna say in whether I gets to make decisions that impact your life EVERY DAY?"
"No thanks. I'm busy. I trust you to do what's best for my family and not put your greed above my well-being."
Lunacy.
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Post by monklady123 on Jul 18, 2019 13:30:34 GMT
All the reasons that people have already mentioned in this thread make a tiny bit of sense, in context. But... for our next presidential election, if people don't vote then the reason is simple -- stupidity!  |
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Post by sudie on Jul 18, 2019 13:43:29 GMT
I also feel that my vote doesn't really count due to the electoral college, but I vote every single time anyway. I feel it is not only my right but my duty as well.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 29, 2024 5:25:16 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2019 13:55:45 GMT
Apathy I would imagine is the main reason.
We get the same over here and I find that the people that moan the loudest about the status quo are usually the ones that couldn't be bothered to vote in the first place. We don't have the equivalent of your electoral college, it's first past the post here so they have no excuse that their vote doesn't count.
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trollie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,580
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Post by trollie on Jul 18, 2019 13:57:08 GMT
Somehow voting here is tied to jury duty. My neighbor won’t vote because of that. Wow. So I guess they want to shirk their civic responsibilities all around? |
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Post by beachbum on Jul 18, 2019 14:11:40 GMT
My mother never voted - until 2016. Her excuses before that were varied - no time, vote doesn't count.... Then she sipped the Kool-aid and voted for Trump. Now she's going to vote again in 2020 - for ABT -Anyone But Trump. At least she came to her senses.
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Post by auntkelly on Jul 18, 2019 14:20:29 GMT
In the four places I have lived in the last 20 years, I would guess that 5% of the people who don't vote have valid excuses (illness, sudden emergencies, etc.) and 95% of the people who don't vote are just lazy.
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