Do you vote in elections?

[AbbysMom]

It's Election Day here in the US and many will be out voting. I'm not looking forward to it because my town has switched around polling places and the whole town will be going to the same location as opposed to the five locations we used to have. Nevertheless, I will go vote. I've heard many say they aren't going to bother since Massachusetts always votes Democrat and their vote is pointless. We have a very close race for Senator, with the Republican being the incumbent.

Do you vote in your country's elections?

 

[jcat]

As an American living overseas, I was one of millions disenfranchised until the election laws were changed a little over a decade ago. Somebody had finally remembered the old pre-War of Independence slogan, "No taxation without representation!" Yep, ex-pats have to pay taxes. It was such a big thing to get back the right to vote that there's no way I'm not going to exercise it, even though it means reregistering for every election and mailing in the ballot well in advance of Election Day.

 

[rosiemac]

Yes l always vote here in the UK.

You get the odd person who say they won't because politicians are useless blah blah blah, so l usually remind them never to complain about our health service, education etc...in future because by not voting they dont have a say!.

We've got voting to do here in the next week or so for our Police service

 

[blueyedgirl5946]

Most definitely, I do here in the US.  In fact since early voting was implemented, I always go early and vote. I believe those who don't vote should not complain about what happens on a day to day basis until the next election.
 

 

[Winchester]

. I believe those who don't vote should not complain about what happens on a day to day basis until the next election.
 

  Always. It's too important not to vote. Pennsylvania does not have early voting....I really wish we did.

 

[nurseangel]

I'm on my way now to vote now. 

 

[kookycats]

We did the absentee ballots --much easier than standing in line. People who don't vote have no right to complain!

 

[cattybird]

Yes, we voted early this year so that we wouldn't ' t have the hastle for my sister to figure out when to get to the polls and for me to figure out how to get there.

 

[feralvr]

Oh Karen..... :lol3: Now I have to come up with another question for the day!!! :rofl:

We did vote early and I was surprised that we did not have to wait more than about 15 minutes. In 2008, we waited in a line for over an hour and a half.

 

[catspaw66]

Voting is a civic duty of all citizens.  How can people who don't vote complain about our government?  I heard one person saying "We need to change the laws, but I won't vote because it makes no difference."

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

I'm with everyone else here....if you don't vote, then you can't complain

.   We'll be voting later on today (after DH wakes up).  Luckily, our voting place is within walking distance, and usually there are no lines, since it's in the middle of a residential area.  Maybe because we go mid-day when everyone else is still at work

? 

I just can't wait till this whole thing is over and the phone stops ringing every 5 minutes with those political calls

 

[natalie_ca]

Everyone should exercise their right to cast a vote. There was a time where not everyone was allowed to vote, because they were "non persons."

One day the right to vote may be taken away if people don't exercise it. Where would we be then? Certainly not a democracy rule. And I sure don't want to live under tyrant rule like the communists have to.
 

 

[MoochNNoodles]

We always vote.  I need to look into voting early.  I went alone with both kids; one walking and one in a stroller.  Next time they'll both be of walking age!  I was able to go at a good time and get right in in and out.  It took me longer to get them both out of and back in the car. DH went before work.

 

[rad65]

I like to complain, so yes, I vote. Whenever someone starts arguing or complaining about politics, I stop them and first ask if they voted in the last election. If they didn't, I will honestly walk away from them without saying a word rather than listen to their literally worthless opinion on the topic.

 

[catspaw66]

I'm with everyone else here....if you don't vote, then you can't complain

.   We'll be voting later on today (after DH wakes up).  Luckily, our voting place is within walking distance, and usually there are no lines, since it's in the middle of a residential area.  Maybe because we go mid-day when everyone else is still at work

? 

I just can't wait till this whole thing is over and the phone stops ringing every 5 minutes with those political calls

I always vote early to avoid the lines.  I unplugged my phone yesterday to keep from getting the calls.  I told one caller I had already voted and she kept on with her spiel.  I enjoyed hanging up on her.

 

[aeevr]

What if you're a convicted felon - an innocent convicted felon. Do you have the "right" to complain?

 

[rad65]

What if you're a convicted felon - an innocent convicted felon. Do you have the "right" to complain?

I never said anyone is without the right to an opinion. I simply said if you don't vote that I don't place any value on your opinion. So yes, those people are more than capable of forming their own opinions, but if they feel like voicing them to someone then they should not come to me.

Note, all of this is talking about political opinion, not opinion in general. For instance, I would gladly trust a guilty convicted person's opinion on how to avoid being stabbed with a shiv in prison, but I would not listen to their opinion on who to vote for.

 

[speakhandsforme]

What if you're a convicted felon - an innocent convicted felon. Do you have the "right" to complain?

I never said anyone is without the right to an opinion. I simply said if you don't vote that I don't place any value on your opinion. So yes, those people are more than capable of forming their own opinions, but if they feel like voicing them to someone then they should not come to me.

Note, all of this is talking about political opinion, not opinion in general. For instance, I would gladly trust a guilty convicted person's opinion on how to avoid being stabbed with a shiv in prison, but I would not listen to their opinion on who to vote for.

I think she is referring to the fact that convicted felons are not always given the right to vote -- so they may WANT to vote, but they might not be able to legally.

Personally, I don't get the whole "no voting for convicted felons" thing. Yeah, they've committed crimes, but does it justify taking away their participation in the government? It's not as if there's a bunch of pro-felony candidates out there for them to vote for. :lol3:

Anyway, on to the question: Yes, I vote! I voted absentee in the 2010 midterms and I voted yesterday in person.

 

[mani]

 It's not as if there's a bunch of pro-felony candidates out there for them to vote for.

 

Love the logic!

We have compulsory voting in Australia.  But I would always vote no matter what.

 

[rad65]

Personally, I don't get the whole "no voting for convicted felons" thing. Yeah, they've committed crimes, but does it justify taking away their participation in the government? It's not as if there's a bunch of pro-felony candidates out there for them to vote for.

I can see why they aren't allowed to vote. They consciously chose to break some of the more important laws that govern the country they are in, so why should they be allowed to have any effect on the laws afterward?