NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm curious to get other people's views on whether they vote in elections, and:

a) Why people who vote think it's important; and

b) Why people who don't vote, don't.

its a lot of effort to go vote, so thank god for postal votes! i can be lazy and vote at the same time, from the comfort of my own home:)

i do think its important to vote - not particularly for ideological reasons, but largely just to keep the Tories out of office. thats worth making some effort for

b) Why people who don't vote, don't.

Because representative democracy is a sham, especially in Britain. And by voting you implicitly consent to being ruled.

Other reasons are that non of the parties represent a persons views or it is effectively a one horse race.

If you don't vote, you can't complain when something happens that you don't like, because you did not use what you had at your disposal to stop it from happening.

I always vote, in municipal, national and EU parliament elections. And in referenda when we have them (not often here).

I think it's a civil duty to vote and you diminish your right to complain about the government's actions if you didn't bother to use your right to have an influence on them.

I also work for the government, so am rather politically aware too. I guess I also vote for ideological reasons.

It seems that everywhere voting turnouts are going down (in the West anyway). Our last national parliament elections saw 20% not voting, the highest for 50-years.

a lot of ppl gave a lot of effort etc for me 2 b able 2 vote so i always do. y waste an opportunity to potentially change this country.

It's compulsory in Aus.

I would vote every time, even if it wasn't. I think it's important to participate and try & make a difference. We all whinge about the government from time to time, but if we don't vote?

"It's compulsory in Aus."

No it isn't. Getting your name marked off the electoral roll is compulsory. After that, if you don't want to vote, just put an unmarked ballot paper in the box.

You won't have voted, and you won't get fined.

One of the benefits of the secret ballot.

"It's compulsory in Aus."

No it isn't. Getting your name marked off the electoral roll is compulsory. After that, if you don't want to vote, just put an unmarked ballot paper in the box.

You won't have voted, and you won't get fined.

One of the benefits of the secret ballot.

True, you can always donkey vote if that's what you wish. :p Personally, I can't see the point of queueing to get your name ticked off, get your ballot paper, etc & then voting informal. Just my opinion.

If you don't vote, you can't complain when something happens that you don't like, because you did not use what you had at your disposal to stop it from happening.

That's a ridiculous arguement. Are under 18s (or whatever) not allowed to complain? It alsogives the impression that you think voting should be the only input the general public should have in a democracy.

Also, the only to stop the state doing what I find distasteful requires more that casting a vote for a party that had no chance of winning.

Yes on both but i also realise Democracy is Dumb!
Churchill said something like
"Democracy is Awful too bad its the best thing weve got!"

a lot of ppl gave a lot of effort etc for me 2 b able 2 vote so i always do. y waste an opportunity to potentially change this country.


Your only fooling yourself if you think your vote will change the country.

"True, you can always donkey vote if that's what you wish. Personally, I can't see the point of queueing to get your name ticked off, get your ballot paper, etc & then voting informal. Just my opinion."

Saves a bit of money. The cost in petrol of getting to the local school is much less than the AEC fine.

If you like. I just walk there & buy a couple of sausages from the parents doing the school fundraising thing, while I'm queueing up. Last election I got an excellent banana cake from one of the stalls.

If you like. I just walk there & buy a couple of sausages from the parents doing the school fundraising thing, while I'm queueing up. Last election I got an excellent banana cake from one of the stalls.
Did it have Frosting/Icing?

Yes, it had lemon cream cheese icing. Very nice.

I think it's important to vote and I do it for every election.

If you like. I just walk there & buy a couple of sausages from the parents doing the school fundraising thing, while I'm queueing up. Last election I got an excellent banana cake from one of the stalls.


Last election, I brought a copy of Angels and Demons for a dollar.


Still haven't read it though.

I have the nice opportunity of voting in two countries :)

I'd vote...if I was three years older! It sucks being too young to vote but having strong opinions on what's going on in the government.

Yes on both but i also realise Democracy is Dumb!
Churchill said something like
"Democracy is Awful too bad its the best thing weve got!"

"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."
I wouldn't call democracy dumb, and neither would Churchill. If you want to keep out (seriously) unrepresentative or oppressive governments, it's democracy or violence.
I vote because I approve of democracy (though I think it should be proportional representation), and to make my voice heard, but I think refusal to vote is a statement too, and I certainly don't see why it should exclude you from all politics.

Last election, I brought a copy of Angels and Demons for a dollar.


Still haven't read it though.

Your not missing much. The plot is pretty much the same as the rest of his books, esp Da Vinci Code.

Just as infuriatingly inaccurate though.

"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."
I wouldn't call democracy dumb, and neither would Churchill. If you want to keep out (seriously) unrepresentative or oppressive governments, it's democracy or violence.

Problem is, representative democracy here in Britain really isn't that representative. If the candidate you voted for loses, so do you. And your opinion doesn't matter.

Also, democracy is violence. Just publically mandated violence.

I vote because I approve of democracy (though I think it should be proportional representation), and to make my voice heard,

And how is your voice being heard?

but I think refusal to vote is a statement too, and I certainly don't see why it should exclude you from all politics.

Well at least we agree on something :)

No. I don't vote.
As I understand, I'm supposed to vote for the candidate who represents me/my interest. This is the candidate I vote for. None.

I vote because I feel it's important for everyone who's as wise and intelligent as me to make their voice heard. I just wish all the idiots would stay home on election day. They've screwed up the last two presidential elections. :D ;) :) :cool: :confused:

First time voting this year, though I am not sure yet for what party. But I certainly plan to use my vote.

Voting is a duty. People who don't vote, have no right to an opinion.

I dont vote as I am dissilusioned (sp?) with the politicians in my country. They spend too much time mud-slinging, etc to make any headway. One calls a crow black so the other decides it must be white. Also the fact that I would be voting for a postponed government doesnt really help

Ever since I turned 18, I vote for what I can after educating myself on the issues and the candidates, in Pennsylvania. Nothing beats voting.

I am not a citizen of the country I live in, and I do not feel it is right to vote for a government in a country where I do not live. I still get to pay taxes though :(

If you like. I just walk there & buy a couple of sausages from the parents doing the school fundraising thing, while I'm queueing up. Last election I got an excellent banana cake from one of the stalls.
Food! I wish there were foods available at the school I vote at! It would make voting that much more delicious.

Yes I vote and I think it's important.

Because representative democracy is a sham, especially in Britain. And by voting you implicitly consent to being ruled.

Other reasons are that non of the parties represent a persons views or it is effectively a one horse race.


You're going to be ruled whether you consent to it or not. Why not vote and at least have some small say in how people will rule you? The alternatives are even less attractive.

That's a ridiculous arguement. Are under 18s (or whatever) not allowed to complain? It alsogives the impression that you think voting should be the only input the general public should have in a democracy.

Also, the only to stop the state doing what I find distasteful requires more that casting a vote for a party that had no chance of winning.

I think you missed the point entirely.

If you don't vote then you don't have a right to an opinion; makes total sense.

If you have the energy to complain about what the present government is doing then you should have had enough energy to get off your butt and cast your vote. Take a chill pill.

Someone may have already made this point cause i didn't read the whole thread but thats what i think.

If you have the energy to complain about what the present government is doing then you should have had enough energy to get off your butt and cast your vote. Take a chill pill.

This isn't about energy. Not all non-voters are lazy

This isn't about energy. Not all non-voters are lazy
Once again point missed. Making analogies with energy doesn't make it "about energy".

I just turned 18 and you bet I'll be voting. Its my right to have a say in who runs my life, dam right i'll be suplying some input

Because representative democracy is a sham, especially in Britain. And by voting you implicitly consent to being ruled.

You are going to be ruled anyway, it's not an option. Anarchism is not real.

Because representative democracy is a sham, especially in Britain. And by voting you implicitly consent to being ruled.
I dont know how much of a shame it actually is, but to my understanding you have the 'grind priminister for an hour every week' show and that has got to be one of the grestest things to hit democracy.

I think you missed the point entirely.

If you don't vote then you don't have a right to an opinion; makes total sense.


Actually in a democracy everybody's supposed to have a right to an opinion.

I believe you're thinking of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, where dissenters and counterrevolutionaries were taken out back and disposed of.

It's compulsory in Aus.

I would vote every time, even if it wasn't. I think it's important to participate and try & make a difference. We all whinge about the government from time to time, but if we don't vote?
I dont agree with this either. You cant do 'protest votes' (ie. not vote cuz you hate all the candidates).

I have the nice opportunity of voting in two countries :)
How do you do that legally?

I am not a citizen of the country I live in, and I do not feel it is right to vote for a government in a country where I do not live. I still get to pay taxes though :(
Are tax rates high in Brazil?

simple! I can't vote! I'm underaged!

Actually in a democracy everybody's supposed to have a right to an opinion.

I believe you're thinking of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, where dissenters and counterrevolutionaries were taken out back and disposed of.
If you look closely at my post it mentions nothing whatsoever of of dissenters.

taking people "out back" (do you mean Australia?) and being dosposed of has nothing to do with expression of views of mandates of governments in power.

Where you get this stuff?

Perhaps i abused the word "right" to complain.

Of course you have a right to complain whether you vote or not.

No, I don't vote becuase I'm 14 and can't yet.

How do you do that legally?

Your a cigizen of two countries. Im like that too. Canada and Hungary. Im not up on Hungarian politics htough :(

taking people "out back" (do you mean Australia?) and being dosposed of has nothing to do with expression of views of mandates of governments in power.

"All the right Socialist Revolutionaries must be arrested immediately. A great number of hostages must be taken among the officers and the bourgeoisie. The slightest resistance must be greeted with widespread executions. The Chekas[KGB] and the other organized militia must seek out and arrest suspects and immediately execute all those found to be involved with counterrevolutionary practices. No weakness or indecision can be tolerated during this period of mass terror."
-Ivan Petrovsky, People's Comissar of Internal Affairs



You were saying?...

Yes, it had lemon cream cheese icing. Very nice.
Excellent they truely are the Gods of Cake!

You know whats really funny, due to the fact that us Americans are so lazy, many people were hoping it wouldnt rain on election day. Its pretty sad if you ask me.

Problem is, representative democracy here in Britain really isn't that representative. If the candidate you voted for loses, so do you. And your opinion doesn't matter.
Surely that's the same in any system? There'll always be people who aren't in agreement with the rulers.
Also, democracy is violence. Just publically mandated violence.
How so? Come on, no one needs to be physically hurt, and if you want real violence to remove governments, apathy is going to be an even bigger problem.

And how is your voice being heard?
As part of the numbers which demonstrate the support of who I vote for. I agree that it isn't a very loud voice, but nor should it be when it comes to the final choice of who's to be in government.

Nice to have a proper discussion.

Yes - Conservative

You vote and then your person doesn't win. It's very discouraging :(