Voting and the Recent Elections

[Thor]

I've noticed that a voting referendum I attended here in my county was poorly attended. I don't know the specific numbers of registered voters in my precinct, but I DO know that less than 100 people turned out to vote last November. I'm pretty sure that a good estimate of registered voters in the precinct is around 500, possibly more. That said, I looked at the recent Massachusetts election and wondered why in a state of some 6 Million people, why only some 2 Million people actually voted?? I was able to pull some old figures from the net and they told me that Mass has at least 4 Million registered voters. That means that roughly half the population could give a shit about their country and are complacent, if not derelict in their civic duties. I did read in the Dumpster that some people "couldn't get off work to vote". IMO, this is a lame excuse as employers are mandated BY LAW to allow time off for someone to go cast their ballot/ vote. Is the US and it's citizens going to continue to allow this country to be run by half or less of it's voters?? What can we do to insure that our country's citizens perform their civic duty ??

[NHSparky]

Bottom line--you can't mandate it.

[Thor]

Sure, it can't be "mandated". However, maybe this apathy is the reason our country is going down the tubes. :clueless:

The fact is that the citizens are tasked with this one duty and they're derelict in their duty. How do we put a boot in their ass and get them out to vote??

[IassaFTots]

Sure, it can't be "mandated". However, maybe this apathy is the reason our country is going down the tubes. :clueless:

The fact is that the citizens are tasked with this one duty and they're derelict in their duty. How do we put a boot in their ass and get them out to vote??

Self centered apathy is what it is.  Everyone is so concerned with their minutiae of life, that they fail to grasp a bigger picture.  They don't "see" anything in it for them one way or another.  I don't know how to put a boot in their ass.  I can tell you that begging and shaming them doesn't work though.  I've done both.

[thundley4]

Self centered apathy is what it is.  Everyone is so concerned with their minutiae of life, that they fail to grasp a bigger picture.  They don't "see" anything in it for them one way or another.  I don't know how to put a boot in their ass.  I can tell you that begging and shaming them doesn't work though.  I've done both.

That may be part of it, but also many people think that politicians are going to do what they want to do regardless of campaign promises.  Sort of like : why vote , all politicians lie.

[Chris_]

Sure, it can't be "mandated". However, maybe this apathy is the reason our country is going down the tubes. :clueless:

The fact is that the citizens are tasked with this one duty and they're derelict in their duty. How do we put a boot in their ass and get them out to vote??

Based on my purely anecdotal observations, the folks out there that are not interested enough to register and vote......we don't want them to vote.........there are enough ignorant, disconnected, and emotional citizens that DO vote, without adding a whole new tier of "stupid votes"........some things are best left alone........

Now if we were to start by placing civics back in a prominent position in our educational system, so that the number of folks with a modicum of knowledge and interest were to increase, I'd be in favor, but as it is......its rock that I'd rather not turn over......

doc

[DumbAss Tanker]

Not voting at all is a choice, too.  It's a free country.  So far, anyway.

[IassaFTots]

That may be part of it, but also many people think that politicians are going to do what they want to do regardless of campaign promises.  Sort of like : why vote , all politicians lie.

Well, there is that as well. 

[Thor]

Not voting at all is a choice, too.  It's a free country.  So far, anyway.

True, but just makes them derelict in their civic duty. We require three things of Americans, taxes, Voting, and Jury Duty. I could dismiss the tax thing. Jury duty, well, that has it's own problems. But as for voting, people get the time off of work to do that, by law and it doesn't really cost them anything.

[bkg]

Sure, it can't be "mandated". However, maybe this apathy is the reason our country is going down the tubes. :clueless:

The fact is that the citizens are tasked with this one duty and they're derelict in their duty. How do we put a boot in their ass and get them out to vote??

I think you're spot on.

The only reason people will vote is if there is something in it for them. That's what we've turned into. It was predicted, it's happening. Only when people have lost enough that they feel the impact will they start to pay attention and get involved.

I don't think not voting is dereliction of duty, though, at least not in it's purest form. Voting is expressing a choice.... so it not voting.

[Duke Nukum]

Get your children involved early.  Instill in them the privilege it is to be able to cast a vote.  Take them with you when you go to the polls.

The number one reason I vote is because my parents would take us to the armory when they went to vote.  I was awed by the responsibility and couldn't wait until I was old enough to cast my vote.

Then there is the other half that my parents didn't do such a great job with, and that is remaining engaged and aware of politics and the issues of the day. 

I remember news reports about the time of the 1976 election  that some very high percentage of Americans have no idea who the Vice President is.  Well, I reasoned, I could always be ahead of the vast majority just by knowing that little bit of information.

Of course, these days it is much easier to find information on both national and local issues but it is still harder keeping up with local issues.  And in many ways, what happens at the local level is more important than what is happening nationally.  Mostly because an individual has more power to effect change at the local level but the attention must be paid.

The number one reason I have learned to keep up with local issues is because I live in Madison WI where lunatics have been allowed to run the show while only about 12% of the population turns out for local elections.

[JohnnyReb]

I've noticed that a voting referendum I attended here in my county was poorly attended. I don't know the specific numbers of registered voters in my precinct, but I DO know that less than 100 people turned out to vote last November. I'm pretty sure that a good estimate of registered voters in the precinct is around 500, possibly more. That said, I looked at the recent Massachusetts election and wondered why in a state of some 6 Million people, why only some 2 Million people actually voted?? I was able to pull some old figures from the net and they told me that Mass has at least 4 Million registered voters. That means that roughly half the population could give a shit about their country and are complacent, if not derelict in their civic duties. I did read in the Dumpster that some people "couldn't get off work to vote". IMO, this is a lame excuse as employers are mandated BY LAW to allow time off for someone to go cast their ballot/ vote. Is the US and it's citizens going to continue to allow this country to be run by half or less of it's voters?? What can we do to insure that our country's citizens perform their civic duty ??

....and probably the largest percentage of those non-voters are conservative.

I've talked to a lot of very conservative people that bitch and complain about how the country is going but they won't register to vote or bother to vote if they are registered. The most common refrain is "Why waste my time, their going to do as they damn well please anyway."

Here's an idea....read carefully....

Everyone that "PAYS TAXES" should be allowed to deduct $100 from the bottom line of their federal income tax....$20 from any state income tax....$10 from property tax... "IF THEY SHOW PROOF" of having voted in the last election. "NOTHING" for those that have paid no taxes....I know... democrats would scream like the pigs they are because there was nothing in it for "THEIR VOTERS". .....

Talk about larger conservative voter turn out.....

[DumbAss Tanker]

True, but just makes them derelict in their civic duty. We require three things of Americans, taxes, Voting, and Jury Duty. I could dismiss the tax thing. Jury duty, well, that has it's own problems. But as for voting, people get the time off of work to do that, by law and it doesn't really cost them anything.

Forcing people to vote in the name of 'civic duty' when they don't like any of the choices is more tryrannical than taxation by a long shot, taxes are just the overhead to live and work in a society that has any infrastructure at all, as long as they're imposed with an even hand (Opinions of course differ widely about what that 'Even hand' part means, the one common element is that neither Conservatives nor Liberals think they ought to be paying any themselves).  On the other hand forcing them to pick between choices they don't like at all ultimately will come around to 'Well, you picked him, so shut up!' and 'He had the mandate for it, after all' when the unsatisfactory candidate does unsatisfactory things after the unwilling have to choose the 'Least worst of the bad.'

On top of that, there is a pretty strong case to be made that people who don't vote, shouldn't.   

[littlelamb]

i don't think you should bitch and moan about who is in the office if you don't get off your ass and do something. I know that it may seem like one single vote doesn't count but if enough people would let their voices e heard then maybe then we can get h right people in office the next time

[NHSparky]

Actually, Thor, my beef isn't so much with an apathetic populace as an ignorant one.  To quote Reagan, "Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so."

Getting people to vote isn't the issue--it's getting people to THINK and KNOW about the issues they're voting on BEFORE they vote. 

This is one of those cases in which a poll test might not be such a bad thing, if done correctly.

[Thor]

Dutch, just because someone doesn't like their choices shouldn't excuse them from performing their civic duties. After all, they could write in "Mickey Mouse" for what it would be worth. At least they would have voted. Perhaps a "None of the Above" category should be incorporated??

Sparky, true, there are many ignorant (IMO, "apathetic") voters. My ex was one of those. I could barely get her ass to the polls and when I did, she was F'n clueless as to whom to vote for. Most of the time, I just suggested to her to vote "Republican". It was sad, in a pathetic sort of way. At least I got her to cast a vote. IN 2006, she didn't even get her ass to the polls, but I was able to convince my daughter to go.