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Thursday, July 17, 2008

Wait a Minute, Are You Even Going To Vote?

posted by on July 17 at 9:25 AM

A couple of us were talking here in the Stranger offices yesterday, and the topic of non-voters came up, along with the perennial question: Who are these people?

But first, a different question: How many of these people are there among the Slog mob?

I have a guess at the answer, but I’m preparing to be surprised, shocked, slack-jawed, etc. (And yes, I know that by putting up a Slog poll on this subject I am delivering nothing except the percentage of people who will vote in an online Slog poll but won’t vote in an actual, consequential election. Still, I kinda want to know—and I also kinda want to meet and/or slap everyone who tells this blog poll that they won’t participate in what the politicians like to call “the only poll that counts.”)

So, forgetting any influencing or guilt-tripping that may have occurred during the above, tell me, honest to blog:

Will you be voting on November 4?

AND THEN, if you’re one of the people who says “No,” please explain yourself in the comments. Seriously, I’d love to hear why.

RSS icon Comments

1

"I live in a liberal city enough other people will vote."

Posted by Non | July 17, 2008 9:32 AM
2

i think our best chance to win is to get people registered en masse. if we can get southern black church folks to vote and get their neighbors into it, we can take any southern state.

Posted by um | July 17, 2008 9:33 AM
3

I'm a Washington resident living outside the State of Washington. Unfortunately, this has resulted in my being out of touch in local politics and issues, and I simply don't believe I should vote on issues where I'm uninformed. As to the whole presidential thing... I'm pretty cynical either way.

Posted by mike | July 17, 2008 9:35 AM
4

In a general election, it's the electoral college that makes the decision anyway, so it's not worth the vote. As we have seen in the past, someone can win the popular vote, but lose in the electoral college, and therefore lose the election.

I did the primary and caucus voting, and now, I'm done.

Posted by Homo Will | July 17, 2008 9:35 AM
5

November 4 is some ways off. The August 19 primary is more immediate.

Gregoire needs everybody's vote in the primary. We need to send Dino Rossi and the rest of the Rats a serious message that this is not their state. I want them dispirited, demoralized, and defeated well before November.

That goes also for the misfeasant, misogynistic Doug Sutherland and the smug, smarmy, self-promoting little frat boy weenie Rob McKenna. Strong primary showings for Gregoire, Peter Goldmark, and John Ladenburg, and follow-up votes for them in November will do wonders for Washington state.

Posted by ivan | July 17, 2008 9:38 AM
6

Homo Will, when do you suppose the last time an elector went against their state's popular vote?

Posted by w7ngman | July 17, 2008 9:43 AM
7

I'm still too Canadian to vote. Sorry guys. I gave money though. If McCain wins, I'll see y'all when I get drafted. Woo!

...oh wait, that's not funny.

Posted by bearseatbeats | July 17, 2008 9:44 AM
8

Can you please put a "canadian" box there. I hate to feel left out :(

Posted by ams | July 17, 2008 9:44 AM
9

I am only one person and my vote will not make a difference. I was told that since I chose to be gay I was not allowed to vote.

Posted by Pink party | July 17, 2008 9:45 AM
10

I get the "my state is going blue regardless" arguement, but why take the chance? Just vote! How long does it take to go in, sign your name, and press a few buttons? Half hour?

Posted by Mike in MO | July 17, 2008 9:45 AM
11

Does voting for fringe 3rd parties even count as "voting?"

Posted by jmr | July 17, 2008 9:45 AM
12

I will certainly vote for Darcy Burner & for Gov Gregoire, but president doesn't really matter in this state. I may leave it blank based on Obama supporting FISA, or I may vote for Obama, haven't decided yet.

Posted by DJSauvage | July 17, 2008 9:45 AM
13

Besides needing an absentee ballot and not having gotten any of them in previous elections, I honestly don't feel that any vote I cast counts or that any choice I make will or could change this country in a way I'd feel safe with. The problem isn't the candidates it's the institution and short of becoming an insider myself, I can't change that.

Posted by Michelle | July 17, 2008 9:52 AM
14

I'm not going to vote because I don't feel like voting.

Posted by Mr. Poe | July 17, 2008 9:52 AM
15

Register to vote online! They send the ballot to your address

https://wei.secstate.wa.gov/onlinevoterregistration/Registration.aspx

Posted by Jake | July 17, 2008 9:52 AM
16

Sign up for vote by mail at least.

Then it doesn't even take 30 minutes.

Also: you'll have the ballot, at home, for a couple of weeks or more, and you can decide whether to vote later.

Just get the ballot!

Posted by PC | July 17, 2008 9:53 AM
17

For the Canadian that gave money -- be careful if you don't yet have your greencard. This is specifically verbotten: http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/foreign.shtml

Posted by Juan | July 17, 2008 9:54 AM
18

Honestly, I'd vote if I backed the things that these people represent. But since I don't see much in the way of the things I look for, I don't vote. In regards to the Presidental stuff, Obama was my guy, I donated, but I'm sorry, him signing the FISA bill in pretty much signed away my 4th amendment rights, and therefore signed away my vote. I'm not voting for McCain, but at this point I'm not voting for Obama now either.

Posted by Homo Will | July 17, 2008 9:55 AM
19

I just graduated from law school and am definitely a big proponent of being involved and the like. However, I cannot keep supporting the lesser of two evils. The right to vote is also the right to abstain from voting. In Zinn's People's History of United States he mentions a bumper sticker that says, "If God had wanted us to vote, he would've given us candidates."

I believe in the system, but the marketing and packaging of "candidates" leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and I refuse to partake any longer.

Posted by j m | July 17, 2008 9:55 AM
20

"How long does it take to go in, sign your name, and press a few buttons? Half hour?"

If you vote absentee, it takes even less time - I see that one person above notes that she has to vote that way and has not received a ballot in the past (I don't know what to say about that) but you don't have too be absent to vote absentee - anyone can sign up to do so, you receive a ballot by mail, and send it back. Easy!

Posted by Bella | July 17, 2008 9:56 AM
21

Every time I sign up, it still doesn't show up at my door. I don't know what I've done wrong each time (I moved one year, but I updated the address).

Posted by Michelle | July 17, 2008 9:56 AM
22

Even if your state is a guaranteed blue, it still helps to vote: the magnitude of the result is important, too.

For example, it's better to say "an astounding 80% of the state voted for the good guy" rather than "a slight and unimpressive majority voted for the good guy."

Posted by mattymatt | July 17, 2008 9:56 AM
23

@15, Thanks for the link

Posted by Bellevue Ave | July 17, 2008 9:57 AM
24

@18 said "I'm not voting for McCain, but at this point I'm not voting for Obama now either."

I don't feel that I should vote for a candidate simply because I don't want his opponent to win.

Posted by whomsRU | July 17, 2008 10:01 AM
25

I am not voting because it really does not matter who wins at this point. Seriously, IT IS TOO FUCKING LATE PEOPLE!! WE ARE DOOMED DOOMED!!!!!

Posted by Andrew | July 17, 2008 10:06 AM
26

I'm Canadian. So I can't. But believe you me, if I could, I would.

I will definitely be voting in the next Federal and Provincial elections here. I live in Alberta, where we had a devastating 41% voter turn out in our last provincial election. Breaks one's heart.

Posted by JeniPeep | July 17, 2008 10:06 AM
27

@10 It's called the Free Rider Problem, and it's endemic to pretty much any democratic form of government. In any given society there are always plenty of people who would rather coast through life and let everyone else do the work for them.

My feeling is that if you don't participate, you have no right to complain.

Posted by Hernandez | July 17, 2008 10:07 AM
28

24 comments and not one convicted felon yet? C'mon, I know you are politically active and out there, but unable to vote because of that pesky unlawful detention with intent to bind and chloroform charge...

Posted by Ryan | July 17, 2008 10:09 AM
29

For those who don't want to vote for the D or R candidates, at least register your opposition by voting for a third party candidate or write in. No one pays attention to those who simply don't vote, but if every person who was opposed to the top two candidates took the effort to at least write in a candidate (even if it's Teddy Roosevelt or Mickey Mouse), that would at least register as a protest vote.

You don't vote, you don't have a say.

Posted by Kaz | July 17, 2008 10:09 AM
30

I'm Canadian and have been putting off getting my citizenship until I can feel proud of the country I have called home for most of my life, the good ol' US of A.

PS go Barack, if you get elected I'll put in my application right away!

Posted by high and bi | July 17, 2008 10:09 AM
31
Posted by chet | July 17, 2008 10:11 AM
32

@31

Nice.

Posted by Mr. Poe | July 17, 2008 10:13 AM
33

ECB convinced me Obama hates women.

Posted by Nope | July 17, 2008 10:20 AM
34

#18 and #24:

Disliking the candidates is a poor reason not to vote. There are plenty of other issues on the ballot that are worth voting on.

Staying home is throwing your vote away. Writing in an alternative candidate (or leaving the question blank) is not.

Don't use disenchantment with the frontrunners as a cover for apathy or laziness.

Posted by RDM | July 17, 2008 10:20 AM
35

I am voting Nov 6th st8 Democratic. For President I will write in "The Candidate who stood firm on FISA"

I can not support Obama anymore, not after FISA. And even though he will carry this state, I want the data miners to know that Obama lost a vote because he broke his promise on FISA.

Posted by Johnny | July 17, 2008 10:21 AM
36

I'm not a citizen. I'm not allowed to vote or claim govt benefits, but I am allowed to pay taxes (incl SS) and serve in the military. Your govt makes me feel so welcome.

Posted by blank12357 | July 17, 2008 10:22 AM
37

@4 and @19 - What they said.

Posted by winna | July 17, 2008 10:23 AM
38

If no one voted then we couldn't tell the world how great our "democracy" is working. I can see not liking it if you were forced to vote for one dictator. But it's never been like that here. The people in the U.S. who don't vote don't have a voice anywhere. You can whine and complain all you want on message boards, but that won't change the way things are being run. You either run for office yourself, VOTE, or shut the fuck up. Period. Don't go to message boards, don't talk about politics to anyone. Stay in the wonderful fantasy world you've made for yourself and your non-voting e-friends.
And keep trying to prove to the American people "Voting Doesn't Work". If you have a computer, you have no reason to say you can't stay informed. What do you want the candidates to do, kiss your ass and take you to dinner?

Posted by anothersouthparkism | July 17, 2008 10:26 AM
39

I don't vote in every little election, but I vote in the presidentials and in any one with a proposition I especially care about.

Posted by hm | July 17, 2008 10:27 AM
40

I'll add my voice to the absentee ballot chorus. Contrast:

1. Going to polling site to be greeted outside by a cordon of stinky hippies pushing the Dem candidates and suspiciously waxen crackers pushing the Repubs. Stand in line and overhear more than one lady in handwoven hemp say she's writing in Kucinich. Get to sign-in table and have to repeat name over and over to poll volunteer whose last cogent synapse was during the Carter administration. Navigate impenetrable voting technology (push pin, touch screen, whatever). Depart hating democracy.

2. Receive ballot by mail. Sit down in comfortable chair and mark choices. Sip coffee. Sign ballot. Seal in envelope. Affix stamp. Walk 30 feet to corner mailbox. Walk back home feeling good about something.

Capiche?

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | July 17, 2008 10:28 AM
41

I also think there should be a 'Canadian' box. Cuz I would definitely click that. On the fec thing I think I gave money to Moveon.org once; ooopsie. But that was years and years ago, and see what good it did?

Posted by Fe Man | July 17, 2008 10:29 AM
42

Anyone with any sense who lives in California must go to the polls this year. Do your part to defeat the anti-same sex marriage amendment. No excuses.

Posted by keshmeshi | July 17, 2008 10:32 AM
43

Has anyone ever tried voting from overseas? It's a major pain in the ass. Every year we have to re-register, by mail correspondence or fax (hello, 2008??), and then the odds that the application will be correctly processed are not good. Doing all kinds of paperwork backflips to ensure that my home state of California votes Democratic? No thanks.

Posted by SwissMiss | July 17, 2008 10:32 AM
44

@38 you are wrong, they do have a voice.

http://www.seattleweekly.com/2003-09-24/news/city-hall-the-port-of-seattle-and-media/#media

And keep trying to prove to the American people "people in the U.S. who don't vote don't have a voice anywhere". It's not true so stop being a weenie.

Posted by chet | July 17, 2008 10:33 AM
45

I usually vote but most of my friends don't. They don't follow politics and honestly I didn't either before I started reading Slog. There is hardly any political media coverage that speaks to women, minorities, or youth (the Daily Show and Colbert don't count). They know Obama is good and McCain is bad, but, really, 8 years of Bush would have little effect on your day-to-day lives if you don't watch CNN or read the NYT or Slog all the time.

Instead of spending time (a LOT of time) following politics and then voting, many of my friends actually act to make a difference by eating vegetarian and local, not driving cars, using sustainable products, etc. If you took a poll of people who actually act progressively, instead of taking part in a mostly symbolic vote, you'll find many many fewer people saying "yes."

Posted by girlgerms | July 17, 2008 10:37 AM
46

I'm not voting because I'm a modern metic

Posted by boyd main | July 17, 2008 10:39 AM
47

Gold Star for Democracy! American citizens born overseas and who have never established residency in a state may vote in the primary elections in the home state of their parents, but unless that state is one of only 16, they have No Voting Rights At All in the general election.

Posted by SwissMiss | July 17, 2008 10:43 AM
48

@4 & 19 & 37
Sounds like a cop out to me.

Posted by jean genie | July 17, 2008 10:45 AM
49

@30 - so why not become a citizen and do your bit to help make it a country you can feel proud of?

Posted by Levislade | July 17, 2008 10:45 AM
50

People who say the system is messed up so they won't participate: Your logic is seriously flawed. Not participating IS STILL PARTICIPATING. Your failure to vote has an effect on the outcome. The question isn't whether you want to have anything to do with this process, the question is which outcome you prefer. You must prefer one or the other, or you're just not paying attention. So, do something. Doing nothing is doing something, only for the other side.

In no way does doing nothing absolve you of responsibility for the eventual outcome. You are an ostrich.

Posted by Anthony Hecht | July 17, 2008 10:46 AM
51

I am Canadian and apparently it is wrong for non-citizens to vote in US elections. I do however vote in every Canadian federal election.

Posted by i love my hourlong commute | July 17, 2008 10:50 AM
52

I'll probably vote this november if I can get an absentee ballot or my voting place is close to me. In years past I've always had to leave for work before the polls open to make it to either Everett or Bellevue and generally after work all I wanted to do was sit on my couch and not think for the rest night or watch porn. Now that I work in the city and don't have to leave at the crack to get far away I'll probably have an easier time.

Posted by Little Red Ryan Hood | July 17, 2008 10:55 AM
53

Another vote for Canadian. Seriously, you need to do this poll over again with a third option.

Posted by Big Adventure Steve | July 17, 2008 10:57 AM
54

Another Canadian here, wow who knew so many were on Slog?

I gave Obama money too (bought a T-Shirt) but I had to have a genuine American buy it for me. (he's actually a libertarian who voted for Bush twice but is firmly on the Obama bandwagon now)

Posted by DavidC | July 17, 2008 10:58 AM
55

I don't feel that I should vote for a candidate simply because I don't want his opponent to win.

Spoken like a true asshole. That is exactly why you should vote. Have you been conscious for the last 8 years?

Believe me, I know the all the world's problems won't magically disappear if Obama wins. But the world WILL be better off than if McCain wins.

And this whole FISA thing pisses me off too. You are all such fucking crybabies. I didn't like it either, but I'm not going to throw a tantrum and risk 2-3 Supreme Court appointments over it. For fuck's sake!

Posted by Mike in MO | July 17, 2008 10:59 AM
56

I'm not a citizen, but do have a green card and did give money. Really wish I could vote in this particular election, I think it is extremely important this time.
If McSame wins, I won't be staying in the US, that's how much the Republican agenda scares me.

Posted by archer60 | July 17, 2008 10:59 AM
57

@50-you're missing my point. I'm saying, I do my part outside of the voting booth. My activism is my democracy. I'm involved in local, grassroots effort for change, because I think that can help and have an effect.

Voting in a general election that hopefully will encourage my elector to vote my way is an exercise in futility and doesn't affect change.

I am doing something, but saying that voting is "doing something" is delusional.

Posted by j m | July 17, 2008 10:59 AM
58

@45 I'll be thanking your wonderful friends as I'm herded off to a Halliburton-built concentration camp.

How on Earth are a bunch of clueless social drop-outs not eating meat going to guarantee my civil rights? It's symbolic to vote, but it's not symbolic for maybe half a dozen people to eat "local"?

The thing that scares me the most is that you're the self-admitted smartest one in your crowd -- and I don't doubt that for a second. Upon further reflection, tell your friends to stay out of the process entirely forever. They're too stupid to live, let alone vote.

Posted by whatevernevermind | July 17, 2008 10:59 AM
59

@45, "but, really, 8 years of Bush would have little effect on your day-to-day lives if you don't watch CNN or read the NYT or Slog all the time." I've heard the same comment from some of my friends too.

Posted by frightening | July 17, 2008 11:01 AM
60

@52 - it is very, very easy to get permanent absentee status and never have to worry about making it to the polling place again. Do it!

That link one more time: https://wei.secstate.wa.gov/onlinevoterregistration/Registration.aspx

Posted by Levislade | July 17, 2008 11:02 AM
61

i am a felon

Posted by alexe | July 17, 2008 11:03 AM
62

No, you still don't let Canadians vote :( Canuck Suffrage!!!

Posted by Derek | July 17, 2008 11:03 AM
63

@58 - are you kidding me with this?

The commenter never said s/he was the smartest of the group, and following politics doesn't equal intelligence.

Acting locally and voting with your dollar by making sustainable and positive choices is simply another way of participating. And telling someone to stay out of the process because they're too stupid or uneducated is the same mentality and historical rationale used to exclude people from voting.

"I'm smart enough to vote, but you, you're not. How can I tell? Because you act locally and don't want to read the paper everyday."

Posted by anti-elitist | July 17, 2008 11:06 AM
64

the question is which outcome you prefer. You must prefer one or the other, or you're just not paying attention.

That's simply not true. You can be very well informed, study things in detail, and come to the conclusion that the two "outcomes" are similarly bad, albeit for different reasons.

Posted by jmr | July 17, 2008 11:07 AM
65

8 years of Bush would have little effect on your day-to-day lives if you don't watch CNN or read the NYT or Slog all the time

perhaps this illustrates a problem with CNN, the NYT, and the Slog, and not a problem with the people?

Posted by jmr | July 17, 2008 11:13 AM
66

@57 - Doing other things is great, and yes, causes more direct, noticeable change. This has no bearing, however, on whether or not voting in general elections has an effect. It does. In GENERAL, a single vote doesn't decide the outcome, but the whole thing is a collection of single votes, so each has an effect. (Electoral College notwithstanding. They vote for who we vote for in almost every case.)

There's a simple test for whether what you're doing makes a difference: If everyone did what you're doing, what would happen? How about if just 20% of involved, concerned people decided not to vote? Would that effect the outcome? Of course it would. That being the case, you have a responsibility to do your tiny part to prevent that possibility. What does it cost you? Your moral high ground? You never had any. It costs you nothing.

Posted by Anthony Hecht | July 17, 2008 11:17 AM
67

I said no. I might, but I probably won't. Depends on whether or not I get my shit together in time to register (ps: I won't). Too bad, too - I have so many opinions...

Posted by Jesse | July 17, 2008 11:20 AM
68

@64 - If you think President McCain and President Obama are "similarly bad," I'd really like to hear how you come to this conclusion. And I mean substantively bad, not philosophically or ideologically bad. Based on everything we know about these men and their records, it seems abundantly clear to me that they are very different and would advocate many very different policies, not to mention appoint very different people to the Supreme Court. No?

Posted by Anthony Hecht | July 17, 2008 11:22 AM
69

This is not a functional democracy. The electoral process is a loosely scripted farce, and participating makes me feel like a chump. Politicians are puppets: they don't write their own speeches, form their own opinions or create their own policies. Some appear to be less evil than others, but sometimes the devil we know is better than the devil we don't.

"I don't know what's gonna happen, but I wanna have my kicks before this whole shit-house goes up in flames"

-Jim Morrison

Posted by nyc realist | July 17, 2008 11:26 AM
70

66 FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!

What does it cost you? Your moral high ground? You never had any.

word

Posted by Mike in MO | July 17, 2008 11:27 AM
71

I voted no. Despite living in Seattle for 8 years, paying taxes, owning a home, etc. etc. they still won't let us Green Card holders vote.

Posted by David | July 17, 2008 11:30 AM
72

No, but to be fair, Canadians can't vote, especially ones that still live in Canada, and always have.

Posted by Josh | July 17, 2008 11:33 AM
73

I cant vote in the US but do absentee voting in my country of citizenship. Vote you bunch of wimps cos 1) your choice of president significantly affects the rest of the world and 2)you can as in...you're allowed to....as in no one will kill/torture you if you do/don't.

Posted by bdb | July 17, 2008 11:40 AM
74

Oh wow, quoting Jim Morrison? That'll get you taken seriously! Rock on, you rebel!

Posted by Levislade | July 17, 2008 11:40 AM
75

I like the Canadian comment.

On my block alone, there are at least 40 non-Americans, mostly Brits, Aussies, and Canadians.

That's a good reason not to vote.

Posted by Will in Seattle | July 17, 2008 11:43 AM
76

I voted no because I'm not American. This internet thingy is global, remember?

Posted by Liz | July 17, 2008 11:44 AM
77

@17

I have a greencard, thanks. No worries mate.

@30

Yeah, I totally hear you. I'm elligible for application, but George McShrub hasn't exactly inspired confidence in me.

Posted by bearseatbeats | July 17, 2008 11:58 AM
78

@All the "electoral college is a farce crowd" "one man one vote" crowd:

Grow the fuck up. Are you serious? Really? Do you not understand how bad MOB RULE is? If we didn't have the electoral college, there is no way any president would care about anything outside of: California, New York, Texas, and Florida. Seriously, I love to spout about how awesome Seattle is, but guess what? People in Vermont matter. People in Ohio matter. And it's our job to make sure at least a little bit of their voice is heard.

So no, you populist jack-ass "winning the majority" should not determine the president. We have these rules for a reason, so that minority opinion can have a sway, and so that small places in our country have some bite in the election of our nations leader.

And BTW, most people who spout the whole "majority should win" bs are the same people who live a minority lifestyle. Which is odd to me. You don't like the regular "Lazy, TV watching, bud-light drinking, american idol watching" public, yet you think they should be the majority rules of politics? So confusing.

So yes, you should vote. People fight and struggle everyday to try and gain the freedoms we have. People fought and DIED for this country. I know it's hard for you to understand that sacrifice, but it was and has been great. So yes, "voting for the lesser of 2 evils" is a legitimate reason to vote. DO YOU WANT THE MOST EVIL PERSON TO GET INTO OFFICE?

Christ, I know that none of this will resonate, but I say it every 4 goddamn years.

Posted by Original Monique | July 17, 2008 12:00 PM
79

hey liz, maybe you should exclude yourself from replying if it's obvious you arent eligible to vote due to residency and citizenship requirements. The internet is global but it should be obvious that only citizens can vote (unless they are stripped of it)

Posted by Bellevue Ave | July 17, 2008 12:01 PM
80

too Irish to vote...have green card ,paid taxes for 20 years,do you know it costs around $400 to apply for citizenship but I gave Barry Obama $50

Posted by fancyfrancie | July 17, 2008 12:06 PM
81

Hillary lost the primary to an under qualified candidate who got lots of free press. Myself, much like ECB will be sitting this election out rather than voting for McCain. Hillary or nobody!

Posted by Holdout | July 17, 2008 12:06 PM
82

@81: You, are a moron. And ECB has said many times she is voting for Obama.

FAIL.

Posted by Original Monique | July 17, 2008 12:12 PM
83

I won't vote because I'm moving to a new state and won't have time to get familiar with the local politics in time for the election. While I find the idea of people discussing this on here to be rather fruitless, since you asked I will say that on the presidential level I won't vote because I don't like either candidate. That as well as the fact that the electoral college is a bourgeoisie institution (hey, look at me, I went to college!) that denies the common man his ability to be part of a direct democracy. The Electoral College doesn't go against the popular vote very often, but three times (1876,1888,2000) is too much for me. Not to mention that the idea of all our wishes being expressed in a two-party system is ridiculous. Parliamentry government seems slightly more democratic. People actually have to work together then. Wow, what a concept.

Posted by kurt | July 17, 2008 12:13 PM
84

@83: See: #78

Although I am so glad you brought up my 2 favorite things that your "type" always bring up:

"Direct Democracy"

and

"bourgeoisie institution "

/eye roll

Posted by Original Monique | July 17, 2008 12:24 PM
85

Monique @ 78, your comments make no sense. The mob rule you seem to fear is not in evidence in the presidency; it's in Congress where the Senate keeps things in check.

I don't buy the "little states matter more in the EC system line;" without the EC, the state boundaries would disappear. The EC makes the large states count for even more than they would without it. Really, no one is working hard for Vermont's 3 votes.

Posted by Matt from Denver | July 17, 2008 12:24 PM
86

@85: Meant Mob-Rule to determine president. And yes, congress can keep some things in balance, but the person who is president DOES matter.

How many EC votes did Gore and Kerry lose by? Hum...

Posted by Original Monique | July 17, 2008 12:31 PM
87

I love it when people get cranky when American-owned websites with primarily American readerships ask questions that pertain largely or entirely to Americans.

Posted by Heh | July 17, 2008 12:34 PM
88

@ 86, given that presidential elections always come down to two choices (selected by the activists of the major parties, not the people as a whole), it's still not clear how mob rule could be involved in who wins. Any election where one candidate receives a decent majority has also resulted in a result in the EC votes, so mob rule was not held in check there. It's only in close elections where the result in one state gave the EC victory to the guy who lost the total popular vote - again, not an example of keeping the mob in check.

Given that, can you explain why the EC system is better?

Posted by Matt from Denver | July 17, 2008 12:47 PM
89

83:

Moving is a poor excuse for not taking the time to learn the issues. This is more important than, say, updating the address for a People Magazine subscription.

Take the time.

If you want to take the easy way out, read the endorsements of local papers, or NGOs whose opinions you trust--or profoundly distrust.

For example: Like gun control? Then see who the NRA endorses and vote the opposite. Hate abortion? Do the same with Planned Parenthood. This isn't the best way to go about making a decision, but I refuse to believe that skipping a vote is better.

People act like voting is such a chore, but it's so easy, especially if you register absentee.

Posted by rdm24 | July 17, 2008 12:49 PM
90

I will vote, but my spouse may or may not. He argues that voting is a simply a way to retain the status quo, and that real change comes from activism (not eating vegetarian or living locally, but targeting politicians and companies whose actions and beliefs you despise and making their lives miserable). Of course, he's also not an activist. He just likes to watch. Activism and voting.

However, we live in California, and he's wildly in favor of gay marriage, so he'll probably get an absentee ballot (he'll be in Chicago at the time), vote down the constitutional amendment, and vote up his favorite presidential candidate in many years. I don't think he's ever voted for president, but he has voted on a number of California constitutional amendments in recent years.

Posted by Enuja | July 17, 2008 1:14 PM
91

I'm not a US citizen, so I can't vote =/. I'm on track to become one though. I voted against Putin in the Russian elections though =D.

Posted by Vasya | July 17, 2008 1:19 PM
92

I am a liberal and loathe McCain but cannot vote for Obama because (1) he is not perfect and (2) I disagreed with one of his votes. So it's ok if McCain becomes president and wages war against innocents, because then I'll still be pure.

Posted by kk | July 17, 2008 1:34 PM
93

Thanks for the pep talk @78 even if the Denver guy wants to pick at semantics; possibly he's jaded by the 20,000 Denver voters who were turned away in the 2006 election. Just vote, Matt. Obama's working for those nine Colorado electoral votes.

To the "not worth the vote" people - isn't it taking you more effort to read and comment here than mailing in your vote for all positions and initiatives? Just vote for LaRouche, Barr, Nader or some other fictional candidate and consider it a vote for democracy.

For a list of WA counties' election contacts: http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/auditors.aspx

Posted by OriginalFanOfMonique | July 17, 2008 1:39 PM
94

i'm in FL, so i sure as hell will be voting. i'd like people in even the bluest states to still vote so that the margin of victory will be as large as possible!

Posted by konstantconsumer | July 17, 2008 1:44 PM
95

@78: In fact, the electoral college and its extra 2 votes per state for the senators ensures that the 'Lazy, TV watching, bud-light drinking, american idol watching" public' in the smallest states have a greatly disproportionate impact on the presidential election, which would go away if the electoral college did.

Posted by Greg | July 17, 2008 2:02 PM
96

@ 93, where did I say I don't vote? I've voted in every election I was eligible for since 1988. I was discussing the EC which Monique seems to support, and which she brought up. If the last 8 years are only semantics to you, that's to be expected from someone who made the leap you did.

Posted by Matt from Denver | July 17, 2008 2:16 PM
97

I'm an anarchist and I vote! I don't think our democracy is functional, but there are some issues/candidates, esp on the local level, that it is important to vote for/against.

Also, it seems to me (generally) that the people who are eligible but who CHOOSE to not vote are self-centered privileged (straight?) white folks. It's really easy to say that whoever is president doesn't affect you if you are in that category; not so much for people who want to marry their partner, or who risk being deported, or who suffer from social service cutbacks.

Finally, it's really fucking easy to do - sign up for absentee, and if you don't want to vote for the lesser of two evils than write something in. I once wrote in "dog poop" for something, hopefully someone got a kick out of recording that.

Posted by asteria | July 17, 2008 2:37 PM
98

@89 You know, you are correct with that. I wasn't really thinking; I'll be there about 2 1/2 months before the elections. That's plenty of time. And usually I do use NGOs and such to help me vote. I must say that Washington State's guide to candidates and issues has been really helpful in the past.

Posted by kurt | July 17, 2008 2:42 PM
99

@30,36 etc:
I'm also not a citizen, therefore cannot vote.
@49:
It takes a little time (as in, months of waiting time, anyone applying now will not get their passport before Nov 4th), and a lot of money and paperwork to become a citizen. Just sayin'.

Posted by gavastik | July 17, 2008 2:43 PM
100

We voted for Hillary in the primary, but we'll be voting for Obama in November.

Posted by clintonsarmy | July 17, 2008 2:45 PM
101

i just don't feel right helping elect a person i don't think should win. i also don't feel right enabling a system i don't see working. i haven't registered because frankly i dislike our capitalist driven political system. i am utterly disgusted by what the american dream means today. i don't vote, not because i am lazy or apathetic but because i care so much it hurts. sure i can vote but it is not going to miraculously result in change. i can only control one person and that is myself and unfortunately the things that i care about and affect my life are in no way represented even at the local level. i tried to stay as informed as possible in regards to my city. call me self-centered if you would like but i want change things here in my neighborhood and in my city, where my community can reap the benefits and other community's can learn to do the same. idealistic maybe. but that's my story and im'm sticking to it.

Posted by whomsRU | July 17, 2008 4:25 PM
102

I used to live in Seattle, and now I live in Cambodia. I don't care about the local races in Seattle since I'm never going to live there again. I somewhat care about federal races, but McDermott and Obama are going to win anyway, and the mail system is too slow and unreliable here to make it really worth it. It takes about 6 weeks one way for mail to get here, and it has a high chance of disappearing altogether. There is no courier service to this part of Cambodia. Otherwise I would vote for them, despite the fact that I don't like either of them very much.

Posted by Christopher | July 17, 2008 7:15 PM
103

Why vote? Look back at the mono-rail. How many times did we vote for it? And those who didn't like the result just kept coming back and beating us up till they got their way.

Or, how stadiums are built with tax payer money even when they vote it down. Look at Phoenix a couple years ago, voted down and the county council decided it was not really something the people should decide but they (the 12 of them) were. They built it with tax payer money.

Do we even need to mention the Bush vs. Gore thing? Voting is no longer what historically it was meant to be. Voting now is done with the dollar. And those who have the most dollars, win. I don't like it but it is a simple fact.

Posted by Huh? | July 18, 2008 4:49 PM

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