Get out and vote!

elgecko · #1 11-02-2010, 09:05 AM

Fellow Americans, it doesn't matter which parties you identify with, what you believe, or who you support. What's important is that you get out today and let your voice be heard. Exercise your rights and cast your ballot today!

If you don't vote, you don't get to complain about anything till next election!

NOTE: This is NOT about politics!

sloasdaylight · #2 11-02-2010, 09:17 AM

+1.
Go vote.

jp58 · #3 11-02-2010, 09:22 AM

I voted and I got a sticker!

Bett · #4 11-02-2010, 09:22 AM

I just came back from voting.
First major election I got to vote in, last time I voted it was on the town budget.

Yerf Dog · #5 11-02-2010, 09:25 AM

Voted at 7am this morning.

It's our right and duty.

SteveC · #6 11-02-2010, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

Fellow Americans, it doesn't matter which parties you identify with, what you believe, or who you support. What's important is that you get out today and let your voice be heard. Exercise your rights and cast your ballot today!

If you don't vote, you don't get to complain about anything till next election!

NOTE: This is NOT about politics!

I agree, vote. I disagree with EVERYONE vote. Let me explain. I want everyone to vote, but only if they are EDUCATED about what/whom they are voting. An uneducated vote is worse than a non-vote.

And yes, if you don't vote, you shouldn't get to complain, but this is America, so you have the right to complain no matter what.

need4mospd · #7 11-02-2010, 10:06 AM

Vote early, vote often.

**Staccato** · #8 11-02-2010, 10:21 AM

Let's hear it for early voting! We swung the levers at the election office over two weeks ago...

40+ states will offer early voting in 2012. We're NOT talkin' absentee, it is early voting for anyone/everyone that is registered! Vote early next time!
To the undecided people, crawl back in your hole, and morph yourself into a new, informed, confident voter!

frianbisher · #9 11-02-2010, 10:28 AM

All I got was a lame sticker....

Mark Latimour · #10 11-02-2010, 10:33 AM

Re: if you don't vote you shouldn't get to complain.

What about if no candidate satisfactorily represents your views. Are you saying its necessary to vote for someone who you don't consider to be satisfactory in order to be able to voice your opinion about someone you consider to be even less satisfactory? Seems kinda odd to me.

sloasdaylight · #11 11-02-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

Re: if you don't vote you shouldn't get to complain.

What about if no candidate satisfactorily represents your views. Are you saying its necessary to vote for someone who you don't consider to be satisfactory in order to be able to voice your opinion about someone you consider to be even less satisfactory? Seems kinda odd to me.

Nearly all the ballots, at least here, have a write in option. The ones that aren't up/down ballots obviously.

Mark Latimour · #12 11-02-2010, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sloasdaylight

Nearly all the ballots, at least here, have a write in option. The ones that aren't up/down ballots obviously.

Nevertheless, isn't a reasoned choice not to vote for anyone just as much a choice as voting for someone?

Personally I think turning up to vote should be compulsory (like in Australia), but the idea that not voting automatically disbarrs you from complaining about whoever wins (or doesn't win) seems pretty silly to me.

James Hart · #13 11-02-2010, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

Fellow Americans, it doesn't matter which parties you identify with, what you believe, or who you support. What's important is that you get out today and let your voice be heard. Exercise your rights and cast your ballot today!

Voice be heard... you mean 'flick the switch' between the 2 men (or women) that the 'Party' has chosen for the masses to pick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

If you don't vote, you don't get to complain about anything till next election!

You have no right to dictate what anyone complains about...

I will continue to complain about the corrupt two-party system this great nation has devolved into for as long as it remains that way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by George Washington

"They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests."

elgecko · #14 11-02-2010, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

Re: if you don't vote you shouldn't get to complain.

What about if no candidate satisfactorily represents your views. Are you saying its necessary to vote for someone who you don't consider to be satisfactory in order to be able to voice your opinion about someone you consider to be even less satisfactory? Seems kinda odd to me.

If no candidate satisfactorily represents your views, then leave that section blank (i.e vote for carrots). That's your right!

Mark Latimour · #15 11-02-2010, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

If no candidate satisfactorily represents your views, then leave that section blank (i.e vote for carrots). That's your right!

Perhaps the US system is different from those I am familiar with, but what is the effect of leaving it blank? Is it any different from simply not turning up to vote?

elgecko · #16 11-02-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

Perhaps the US system is different from those I am familiar with, but what is the effect of leaving it blank? Is it any different from simply not turning up to vote?

For that particular race, yes.

elgecko · #17 11-02-2010, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hart

Voice be heard... you mean 'flick the switch' between the 2 men (or women) that the 'Party' has chosen for the masses to pick.

You have no right to dictate what anyone complains about...

I will continue to complain about the corrupt two-party system this great nation has devolved into for as long as it remains that way.

Then vote for every 3rd party candidate you can find. That's your right.

James Hart · #18 11-02-2010, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

Then vote for every 3rd party candidate you can find. That's your right.

and it's also my right to forfeit my vote.

sloasdaylight · #19 11-02-2010, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Latimour

Perhaps the US system is different from those I am familiar with, but what is the effect of leaving it blank? Is it any different from simply not turning up to vote?

Ballots here have a lot of different options on them, a ballot during the Presidential election can also have a School district Superintendent on it for example. There are also amendments to local constitutions and charters on our ballots, so there is a significant amount of local politics that one can, and in my mind, should, be interested in and affect.

Soverntear · #20 11-02-2010, 11:03 AM

ok not to be a dumba** but what's this vote for?