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D


Hermes

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you can't complain if you don't vote...
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I always find it amazing how few people vote. I think it's one of our greatest rights as Americans. If you don't vote, you have no right to complain, IMO.


Why Do So Few People Vote in the U.S.?
By CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Government of the people, by the people, will be missing a lot of people Election Day.

It's a persistent riddle in a country that thinks of itself as the beacon of democracy. Why do so few share the light?


Compare U.S. voting with foreign voting and it's not a pretty sight. Americans are less apt to vote than are people in other old democracies, in new ones, in dangerous places, dirt poor ones, freezing cold ones, stinking hot ones and highly dysfunctional ones.


Even that theocratic "axis of evil," Iran, has bragging rights over the United States in this regard. So does chaotic Iraq, where an estimated 70 percent of voters cast ballots in December parliamentary elections.


The pitched battle for control of the House and Senate in Tuesday's election has raised hope that voting will rise above its usual anemic levels. But competitive races are not reliable predictors of turnout and doubts exist about whether Republicans will be as fired up as Democrats and whether independents will vote with their feet or their seat.


As in other aspects of American life, the people who run elections work to make things easier for everyone. Yet they achieve little more than blips in increased turnout, if that.


Participation, paradoxically, is highest in states where making it to a polling station can be misery on a wintry day. Minnesota, Alaska, Maine, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming are among states that lead the nation in getting voters out, and they put the Sunbelt to shame.


About 40 percent of U.S. citizens of voting age population cast ballots in nonpresidential year elections.


Despite the competitive nature of the 2000 presidential race and the certainty of having a new chief executive no matter who won, just more than half turned out. In 2004, a polarized year when everyone remembered the near dead heat four years earlier, turnout climbed over 60 percent _ edging a little closer to the likes of Iran, Iceland and Somalia.


Some of the best states for voter turnout have conveniences such as same-day registration. But it is their culture of civic engagement that is most credited for their relative success. The expansion of absentee voting in many states has yet to produce a clear spike in overall participation.


Curtis Gans, who has been studying the riddle for three decades, says making voting easier does little to make people vote. "We know that it isn't procedure because we've constantly made procedure easier and voter turnout has gone down," he said.


Nor is it demographics.


The population today is more educated, older and less mobile than in the past _ all things that should steer people to the voting booth. But that does not happen.


Gans' diagnosis: lack of motivation.


Blame the politicians, in part:


_the attack campaigning casting the choice as one between bad and worse;


_the lack of clearly defined choices on issues;


_the string of deviousness or wrong turns over the years _ "I am not a crook," "I did not have sexual relations with that woman," "Saddam Hussein ... continues to develop weapons of mass destruction."


And blame people and their culture, too.


"We've had the fragmenting and atomization of our society," Gans said, driven by the 500-channel TV culture, the interstate, strip malls, abandonment of farms and the rise of the Internet. "All of those things have undermined community."


Gans is director of the Center for the Study of the American Electorate at American University.


A recent AP-Pew poll looked at the 45 percent of the population that can be characterized as nonvoters because these people rarely vote even though most are registered.


Most broadly, the poll found that nonvoters are not just disconnected from politics, but also from their communities. Nonvoters were less likely to trust others, to have a strong support network of friends and family or to know their neighbors than regular voters were.


Among those who were unregistered, only 14 percent said it was complicated to register where they live. Most had not done so because they lacked the time, had not gotten around to it, had no confidence in politicians or just did not care.


The United States lags about 130 countries in voter participation. Discount ones that enforce compulsory voting laws _ fewer than a dozen _ and America's standing hardly improves.


___


 



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HeatherLynn


Gucci

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ITA!  I am out of town all this coming week (already in the hotel room) and I went and voted early.  =)

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Chanel

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HeatherLynn wrote:

ITA!  I am out of town all this coming week (already in the hotel room) and I went and voted early.  =)


Me too! I'm not out of town but I'll have a super busy week at work next week and I didn't want to miss my opportunity to vote. I took a bunch of stickers so I can still get in on the spirit of things though.

I think some reasons why people don't vote are ease (polls are at random places that require looking up, only open 7 to 7, registration is a pain, etc.), negativity (politians spew so much negative ads, attacks, publicity, etc., that a lot of people think they're all the same so what difference does it make?), and lack of information (when the only info. most people get is dumb campaign ads, it's hard to feel like you have the info. to make a good decision).

I'm still registered in my old home town - I wonder if I should be a good Democrat and vote early and often?

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relrel


Marc Jacobs

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Here's my moral dilema about voting:


This election period, in Pennsylvania, the Senate race is between Rick Santorum (R) and Bob Casey (D). Santorum is obviously an evil, evil man who opposes any sort of choice in a woman's life: no abortion, no birth control. There isn't any question about not voting for him. However, Casey is also against abortion rights. While he says that he won't make it one of his top priorities, he is pro-life.


What would you ladies do in this situation? I don't want to get into any discussion about choice versus life...I just am really stumped as what to do. I can't, simply can't, vote for someone who is pro-life. Do I just ignore this part of the election? I am voting tomorrow and will vote for everybody else just fine...I just don't know what to do about the Senate race.



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D


Hermes

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I voted for Ross Perot back in the day, because he most closely aligned with what I felt the person it that role, at that time, should be.  I never vote based on who's I think is going to win, is representative of a certain party, or what my friends think. Have you investigated the independents who are running as well? Do Carl Romanelli's views more closely align with your's?

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relrel


Marc Jacobs

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D wrote:

  Have you investigated the independents who are running as well? Do Carl Romanelli's views more closely align with your's?

Oh my lord! D, thank you! I couldn't for the life of me figure out if there was an independent caididate...doesn't that tell you something about our voting system? I looked over his website and so far looks fantastic and much much closer to how I feel. I'm gonna do some research online later to really look into this guy but so far he's looking fantastic. Seriously, I can't thank you enough. I hate not voting but I was having major problems this time around.

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NCshopper


Hermes

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relrel wrote:


Here's my moral dilema about voting:


This election period, in Pennsylvania, the Senate race is between Rick Santorum (R) and Bob Casey (D). Santorum is obviously an evil, evil man who opposes any sort of choice in a woman's life: no abortion, no birth control. There isn't any question about not voting for him. However, Casey is also against abortion rights. While he says that he won't make it one of his top priorities, he is pro-life.


What would you ladies do in this situation? I don't want to get into any discussion about choice versus life...I just am really stumped as what to do. I can't, simply can't, vote for someone who is pro-life. Do I just ignore this part of the election? I am voting tomorrow and will vote for everybody else just fine...I just don't know what to do about the Senate race.





Here's my opinion, FWIW:  Sometimes it's about voting for the lesser of two evils.  For example, in 2004 John Kerry wasn't my idea of an ideal president--there were a lot of things I didn't really like about him.  However, I felt that Kerry represented my ideals much more than Bush, so even though Kerry wasn't perfect, I still voted for him.


It's also about power.  The Senate looks like it's going to be close this year with the possibility that Democrats could take over.  If the Democratic Party platform is something you generally prefer over the Republican platform, then you might want to vote for Casey.


In my opinion, there really are no ideal candidates, so I look at whether or not I  feel like one person has the same general values as I do and I look at what that person is capable of doing in office in the larger picture. 


HTH. 



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D


Hermes

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relrel wrote:


D wrote:

  Have you investigated the independents who are running as well? Do Carl Romanelli's views more closely align with your's?


Oh my lord! D, thank you! I couldn't for the life of me figure out if there was an independent caididate...doesn't that tell you something about our voting system? I looked over his website and so far looks fantastic and much much closer to how I feel. I'm gonna do some research online later to really look into this guy but so far he's looking fantastic. Seriously, I can't thank you enough. I hate not voting but I was having major problems this time around.



oh good! so glad I could help!



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valenciana


Dooney & Bourke

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D wrote:


I always find it amazing how few people vote. I think it's one of our greatest rights as Americans. If you don't vote, you have no right to complain, IMO.




I completely agree.  I was always such a little civic-minded nerd; in high school I volunteered at the polls to pass out those sample ballots before you go in.  (Also I just used a semicolon so I am definitely a nerd.)  ANyhow, in college I was always trying to get my friends to vote...I feel like even if there's only *one* issue you care about, you should vote based on that if nothing else.


That said, I am feeling sooooo uninspired this year.  My congressman is running unopposed, our senators aren't up for election this year, the candidates for Governor in Georgia are exactly.the.same., all the ballot measures are stupid and pointless, and I'm supposed to know who to vote for for Commissioner of Labor/Agriculture/Insurance????  I read the entire League of Women Voter's guide and everyone answers the questions identically.  It's really coming down to who didn't answer the actual question, or who got their answer cut off cause they went over the word limit...I don't know how else to decide!!!


and P.S. re: Santorum...I don't vote for nutjobs.  Period.  I was thisclose to voting in the Republican primary this year (we can pick whichever we want in any year) just so I could vote against Ralph Reed.  I didn't, but luckily the good people of GA helped me out all the same.


okay end of my rant...




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asf


Kate Spade

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i'm always amazed by how many people don't vote, too. working in politics, it's particularly disheartening - especially when people straight out tell you they're not going to vote. i just want to yell at them and tell them not to bitch about anything then, because they had their chance to change things and instead sat home on their asses.

i saw a really good commercial this morning - it's a bunch of shots of women trying on all these clothes, and then it says something like "of all the changing rooms you'll be in this year, there's one you can't afford to miss" and they show a woman walking out of the voting booth. it's sponsored by eleanor's legacy (a great organization here in ny)...i'll see if i can find it and post a link.

eta: here's the commercial. http://youtube.com/watch?v=uf4hzjUaUXw


-- Edited by asf at 12:43, 2006-11-06

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ILoveChoo


Hermes

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vote, people!! I have been wokring my ass off on this damn election and if I hear on anyone on this forum not voting I'll have to hunt you down...


Seriously though, I figure you're never going to find anyone who agrees with you 100% on every issue. Politics is way too complicated for that. Its all about finding who you think will be able to best represent the majority of what you believe (unless ou want to run yourself, which I also encourage. If you need a campaign manager you know who to call ). There's no reason not to vote- it takes 5 minutes and even if you don't love any of the major candidates at least you're doing something. Vote for a third party if you absolutely feel like you have to.


Also remember there are so many down-ballot races. People forget so often that you may be going initially to vote for governor or senator or the like, but when you get there there are so many local races too. And those are the ones that are really going to be able to make a difference in your everyday life. The issues aren't as glamorous, but they can have a huge effect.



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Hedvig


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I'd love to vote but I'm not an American citizen. Although I've heard it's possible to register even if you're not. Maybe I should give it a try.




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Kenneth Cole

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As a somewhat new U.S. citizen (who has been in the u.s. for most of her life) I am looking forward to being able to cast a vote for the first time. Even when I couldn't vote, I thought it was really important and would get pissed when my friends wouldn't get their butts down to the polls.

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Kincali


Dooney & Bourke

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ILoveChoo wrote:


vote, people!! I have been wokring my ass off on this damn election and if I hear on anyone on this forum not voting I'll have to hunt you down...


Seriously though, I figure you're never going to find anyone who agrees with you 100% on every issue. Politics is way too complicated for that. Its all about finding who you think will be able to best represent the majority of what you believe There's no reason not to vote- it takes 5 minutes and even if you don't love any of the major candidates at least you're doing something. Vote for a third party if you absolutely feel like you have to.


Also remember there are so many down-ballot races. People forget so often that you may be going initially to vote for governor or senator or the like, but when you get there there are so many local races too. And those are the ones that are really going to be able to make a difference in your everyday life. The issues aren't as glamorous, but they can have a huge effect.




Second all of this.



-- Edited by fairlight at 12:57, 2006-11-09

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squishy


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i think this might reveal how much of a bigfat GEEK i am, but i'm psyched.  not so much about the senator/governer's races, but about the local propositions... there are so many i made a little chart. *scampers off in embarrassment*



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Bastet


Kate Spade

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I don't understand why people don't vote.  Sometimes I feel like I'm voting for the lesser of two evils, but I still go vote.  I have similar issues to squishy about the Senate race, except in VA.  Allen is a sexist jerk (and a bigot) and Webb isn't much better.  And I'm annoyed with them both because of the non stop ubernegative TV ads!  Thank God I have Tivo and can fast forward through most of them.  But if I'm watching a show live or listening to the radio in the car, I get to listen to their mud slinging.    I'm more concerned with a proposed constitutional amendment that I could rant about for pages but will spare you all the eyestrain.



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Hermes

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Bastet wrote:


I'm more concerned with a proposed constitutional amendment that I could rant about for pages but will spare you all the eyestrain.




I'm with you there. We have an amendment on the ballot that, if passed, would no longer require affirmative action in public institutions. On one hand, affirmative action may have benefited me by being female and possibly helping fulfill a quota in getting accepted into university, but then again, I think it's only fair to admit or hire those who have demonstrated themselves as the best candidate regardless of gender or race.  I also do not think that the removal of affirmative action in my state's public universities would deter them from ensuring a diverse staff and student population. I would imagine it would be the same for any public jobs as well. What is bothering me is the lessening of opportunity for those who have been socioeconomically disadvantaged, and lessening the number of those who succeed from a disadvantaged environment and make a good example and prove to others who are disadvantaged that you can transcend your environment...



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Kelly


Hermes

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I think a lot of people don't vote in the US becuase really, rarely is there something that will change your everyday life. Candidates who want to abolish women's rights obviously have a big effect on your life. But a lot of the other things people care about in theory, but I think they know that no matter who they vote for, tomorrow they will wake up and go to work like they always have and nothing will have changed.

I'm not saying this is a good reason, but I think it is the reason.

I got to the polls at 6am as soon as they opened today and voted. But honestly, I didn't even cast a vote for half of the offices on the ballot. I don't think I know enough to have an educated opinion on a lot of things, honestly. Granted, I am registered at home where I grew up and not in the city I go to school in. So I don't have everyday exposure to a lot of the information those in my city do get. I made most of my decisions based on a few conversations my uncles had (they are involved in politics and the community, one uncle even ran this year for Supreme Court Justice! No offical word yet, but I'm fairly sure he won)

But I don't know if that's a valid excuse, because when I think about it, I don't really know anything about the politics of the city I currently go to school and live in, either. Maybe I don't seek the information out since I didn't vote here this year. But still. I only voted for a few offices this year because I didn't feel educated enough to even make a decision on the others.

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JoceyBaby23


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Here's my opinion, FWIW:  Sometimes it's about voting for the lesser of two evils. 

In my opinion, there really are no ideal candidates, so I look at whether or not I  feel like one person has the same general values as I do and I look at what that person is capable of doing in office in the larger picture. 


HTH. 





I totally agree with this statement NC. There are no perfect candidates. It is VERY rare to find a politician who has the same views as you on EVERY single issue. You have to choose your battles and ask yourself... Would I rather live with an official with this view or that view?

Sometimes you might not be crazy about either candidate. That's when you must decide which issues are most important to you.

Hope everyone voted today! :)

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Coach

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I thought about this today when I voted.  I wondered why people even registered to vote if less than half of them will even show up at the polls in my state.  I can understand if you just never registered, fine.  But if you registered, why not step up and vote? 


I think some of the no-show voters expect too much and just fall into apathy.  They are waiting for some perfect candidate to show up and they don't want to "waste" a vote on someone that can't win.  I knew that none of the candidates I voted for would win because I am in possibly the reddest state ever, but the point is I went in and made my views heard.



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