November 1, 2008
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Is abstaining a legitimate use of your vote
I’m going to let you in on an email conversation that my family recently had. Since my siblings and I own our own domain, we have a couple email lists set up so we can easily contact the whole family (I’m one of seven siblings, plus lots of our own kids, so this helps).
We got to discussing for whom we were voting in this election on Tuesday. Here is my first reply:
I’m still a little up in the air on this. I will definitely NOT be
voting Obama, but I’m not sure if I’m voting Republican or 3rd party -
or abstaining which – if done intentionally and purposefully – is
another legitimate use of your vote.One of my sibs disagreed that abstaining is a legitimate use of your vote. Here is my reply to that:
As I said, I think it can be if it’s done purposeful and intentional. Lazily abstaining is wrong.Here’s
where I am. I won’t vote for Obama for many, many reasons. Foremost is
because I disagree with his policies on way too many issues. I also
think he is too overwhelmingly inexperienced to become President.But I also think the Republican party has abandoned their base.
They’ve become Democrats that pander to my demographic during the
election season because they think they have my vote in their pocket.
I’m considering third party candidates while also deciding whether to
vote for McCain/Palin.By witholding my vote from the Republicans (if that’s what I end up
doing), I’m conceding a vote against Obama yet sending a message to the
Republican party that they better get back to our shared roots and
values or they’ll lose voters like me. But I’m not voting for a third
party candidate merely to say I voted.I guess what I’m saying is that while I’ve voted against certain
candidates in the past, I’m beginning to think that that’s not the best
thing to do this year. It’s kind of like tough love to a political
party.
(Btw, Obama’s vote of “Present” 129 times in the Illinois Senate is pretty much the same as intentionally abstaining.)
So what do you think? Who’s right? Is abstaining legitimate or is it a waste of a vote?
And do me a favor — recommend this post so we can get a lot of people in on the discussion. Thanks!
Comments (93)
there is nothing legitimate about it. it is simply a cowards game that does nothing at all. Oh but it gives you an out when whoever wins screws things up.
@trunthepaige -
So, my dear friend Paige, for whom do you vote if none of the candidates meets the standard? The least of the evils?
Isn’t that like enabling a dysfunctional family member? Do I give the Republicans my vote, regardless of whether I like the direction the GOP is heading? Doesn’t that just make them take me for granted and then head in any direction they choose? (Pretty much all the proposed candidates this year lacked one thing – there were no true conservatives.)
This year, a vote for anyone but McCain is a vote FOR Obama. Sure you can vote third party, but you might as well vote for Zippy the Wonder Horse… they have the same chance of winning. McCain is the only possibility of defeating Obama…and Obama is SO bad he MUST be defeated.
All that being said, if Obama does win he is what we deserve. My pastor has said for years that if God doesn’t bring down judgment on the USA, He will owe Sodom and Gomorrah an apology.
Whoever has won on November 5th, we have to remember that God is still in control.
@Singing4sDad -
Isn’t that what they said last time though? A vote for a third party is a vote for Kerry?
@SpiderDad - I look at it as ….say you have a stick of dynamite and a cherry bomb in your house. You can only get rid of one of them. Do you get rid of the one that will destroy your family or just a little damage. If there was a third party that rally stood a chance, I would say go for it. But in this election, a vote for a third party is most certainly a vote for Obama. I’ve never cared for McCains policies, but I like what I see in Palin. I think she will hold him acountable to some conservative issues that someone else might not be able too. But as I always say, I’ll be trusting in God and not any man, weither it’s Obama or McCain
Unless there is a vote “none of the above” deciding for none of them, doesn’t help anything. Yet how can you have a lesser of two evils? isn;’t evil evil? I would say either McCain-Palin, or look into the Constitution Party. (To me, Bob Barr of the LP is not much better than most gop)
Now, why would I say McCain? Well, as much as I am for voting third parties, and will continue to vote that way often, the truth is I am not sure we can afford to let the democrats have this round. Its one thing for a candidate to do great harm to America. It is another entirely for one to destroy beyond restoration. Basically I am saying that I believe Obama’s core promise to America. That being, that he’d bring us change. Change we cannot afford(and I don’t mean economically) to have.
He does make me question my whole theory on you can’t vote for a lesser evil, thats for sure.
I don’t know what to think. I don’t like the choices, but in the end, I will vote.
Hello…wandered over from a UnworthyofHisGrace…. I agree that abstaining is NOT a good use of your vote…that is something akin to saying….”I am going to use that steak that I bought for dinner tonight by leaving it in the freezer”.
I also think that voting for a third party is not a good use of your vote…to me that is just a waste of your vote, no third party nominee is going to win an election and so your vote had absolutely no impact on the election at all. I think that you need to “pick the closest to your target”…and vote that way. Neither of these men are perfect…neither has God’s ideal position on every issue but one of them. is a lot closer than the other…and it it up to us to figure out which one that is and cast our vote with them. And THAT is my 2 cents worth!!
Ruth Ann
This year it seems to work.
For one thing the “spend like there is no tomorrow party” seems to be wearing a Republican hat. The republican congress was disgraceful between 2000 and 2006.
Palin simply isn’t qualified for vice -president (I’m starting to wonder how is she should be governor of a state.)
A true conservative has to be worried about McCain’s positions on everything from Global Warming to Immigration.
And honestly the Republican’s haven’t been exactly appealing to the small business small government voters that were their backbone for so many years.
Perhaps a good shellacking will teach them to act like Republicans.
Paige recommended your site – that’s how I found you.
I know everyone wants to vote FOR someone, but I think there is nothing wrong with voting to keep a dangerous guy out. If you were looking to hand management of your company over to someone you probably wouldn’t say, “Well I can’t decide so I’ll let someone else pick.” And, you would probably do what you could to keep out the guy who wants destroy everything you built your company to stand for. Right?
This is a big deal and I know the choices aren’t the greatest but keep in mind, you aren’t just voting for one or two people. You are voting people into office who will bring with them a whole slew of other people who will have a lot of say in our nation. Who do you think will bring the people who are more likely to the right thing? If you think Obama and the people around him are dangerous then do something to keep them out.
A friend once told me, “You can’t complain about what you are willing to put up with.” – ie: if you don’t vote, you can’t really complain about what happens as a result of the election.
@Curse_of_Greyface -
Palin is the best governor I have ever had & I have lived in five different states. Visit my site to see a couple blogs on her. She is more qualified than people think. Her politics work for people. I don’t think she has “god status” like some of the Obama supporters seem to think thier leader does, but she restores some hope in the system for me.
By witholding my vote from the Republicans (if that’s what I end up doing), I’m conceding a vote against Obama yet sending a message to the Republican party that they better get back to our shared roots and values or they’ll lose voters like me.
Well…that sounds really noble and all, but the Republican party won’t get that message. They are more likely to think people just didn’t get out and vote.
I believe we must band together to keep Obama from being elected. If you don’t vote at all, or you vote for a third party candidate, you might as well be voting for Obama. This election is as much a “defensive” one as an “offensive” one. We, as Christians, need to show Obama that we detest his pro-death, pro-socialism stance.
And even in you don’t particularly like McCain, I believe Sarah Palin stands a good chance of changing his mind on a few things, such as drilling in the Wildlife Refuge.
Another thing I’ve been reading is that people don’t like McCain for things such as his beliefs on global warming and immigration. Honestly, for me, those things take a back seat to the more important issues of abortion and socialism. We can deal with those things a little later down the list. Obama, if elected, will sign into law, the Freedom of Choice Act, removing the restrictions on abortion that we have tried to hard to enact.
@SingingMom -
Romans 3:8
@Allen_Oz -
Instead of trying to start another argument with us, why don’t you just answer the question?
@Pamcake318 -
Do you live in Alaska?
@Singing4sDad -
If you can’t find a right choice, you shouldn’t be voting. When you can’t find confidence in a leader, you shouldn’t follow them, nor should you allow them to lead. Anyone who says otherwise is just trying to be coercive.
Pick a person to vote for. An abstained approach to the whole proccess is pretty much useless. It doesn’t matter if you agree or disagree 100% with the people in the race, but if you DO vote, at least you contribute to your country’s democracy.
@SpiderDad -
Yes I do. Homer Alaska.
@Don_Cauchi -
Choosing between the lesser of two evils is still an allowing of evil. I’m not saying the two men at the top of the totem pole are evil (their policies are in my opinion) but if someone didn’t see a good option, abstaining must be the only course of action.
@Allen_Oz - Not really. The the person running for president have personal policies, but the party policies remain unchained (for the most part). You’re essentially electing a figurehead of the party, not for the person in particular.
Just because a president gets elected doesn’t mean he has a sure mandate to impliment his policies.
@Don_Cauchi -
And if the parties themselves stray from their original purpose like the republican party has, they need to be discarded and replaced with something else.
I am probably a much different voice here than most people. Unlike Pastor Brian, and many of the other voices I have read here, I agree much more with Senator Obama than with Senator McCain and A LOT more than with Governor Palin. I am far from being conservative in my political beliefs in most things. I don’t think Senator Obama is perfect, but I do believe he will do a better job as President for people like myself, and like most of yourselves, than would Senator McCain. But that isn’t the question.
In a democratic republic, the power for change lies with the people. Anyone who encourages others to not vote (I’m not necessarily accusing you of this), disenfranchises themselves and those who might agree with their discontent. If you, and a large group of fellow Republicans, are unhappy with the way the party is headed, then action, not intentional inaction, is the way to change.
A good comparison could be this- a friend of mine is incredibly cynical with the current political system. She says that you would never see her, or her many radical friends, at the polls because it is a waste of her time. My answer to that approach is that her inaction is the reason nothing changes. If people are concerned, change only happens when people make it happen. If you can get enough people together for a protest, you can get those people to the polls and enact real change instead of working against a system that has built-in avenues for change.
And I don’t agree that voting for a third-party candidate is a wasted vote. That mentality is exactly why a third-party candidate WILL never win. If everyone broke the idea that they have no power, and just used their vote the way they wanted it to be, than third-party candidates would have a much larger stake in the political system.
I guess the moral of this whole disenfranchisement thing is this: Inaction could be a good strategy in some cases (sit-ins, strikes, etc), but in a case where your inaction does nothing but allow those who take action to have control, it is an unwise strategy.
@Allen_Oz - The problem then with the 2 party system of government is that you can’t get rid of one party, because the majority usually do not vote independant.
Its a tough call, I know, but using the vote for something is better than missing out on the chance to make history.
@ChasingtheHorizon -
Hi Mary! It’s late so I’ll only comment on one part of your note, though I appreciate it all. Part of my problem with this is that I don’t really like the third party candidates much either. I disagree with the Libertarians on the moral issues, and I’m not too sure I trust the Constitutional party. Their hearts are in the right place, but dismantling some of our key institutions right now doesn’t seem safe. We’re in a rather precarious situation.
You know I’m anything other than un-opinionated, so I’m a bit frustrated. :-
It would be nice if we could vote to do away with the electoral college. Maybe then a third party would have a chance at winning. The Presidential outcome would probably change quite a bit. It’s funny to me how many people don’t even know about the electoral college. Lots of people I’ve talked to think the President is elected just by popular vote.
I am surprised by the number of people who have expressed the sentiment of not voting. NOT ME BABY!
@Don_Cauchi -
Oh I’m voting, I just sympathize with someone who doesn’t.
@Pamcake318 -
It’s actually not the electoral college’s fault. Electoral college is part of our checks and balance system and came about before parties existed. What really keeps third parties out is that the demopublicans actually put up different rules and requirements for third parties in every state. The deadlines are earlier in most states for the signatures a third party candidate requires to make it onto the ballot.
I was going to go with the lesser of two evils, but McCain just isn’t ‘less-evil’ enough for me. So I’m going with Bob Barr. I’d like to see 3rd party candidates have a larger voice in future elections. I’m tired of the (apparent) Rep / Dem dichotomy that forces the voting public to choose between the (often disappointing) incumbent administration and its only alternative. This can lead to lazy and unreflective voting habits.
As for not voting — well, one could do that. But unless your non-vote is officially recorded, it will simply go un-noticed. It would be nice to have a “None of the Above” or “Present” option on the ballot. In lieu of that, I think a non-vote shold be followed up with a letter to the editor of the local newspaper. Or, at the very least, a post on Xanga. : )
interesting…..
abstaining is a definite option. i have read up on the elections, more than most of my peers, and i have thoughtfully decided to vote for neither obama or mccain.
to say that’s lazy is true in many cases. but definitely not always.
Abstaining is a cop-out masquerading as a rational protest. Given that you research candidates on your own, there will be a 3rd party candidate who represents you quite well–unless you’re a Marxists. Abstaining is simply a lazy product of pseudointellectualism.
I have never thought about this issue from your point of view.. you present interesting points but I’d have to think about it further to be able to give a clear answer I guess.
Interesting…yah…I’m AGAINST Obama…but I also don’t believe (this is my belief, okay) that a woman with young children at home should be president (aren’t there enough distractions for the president without that? and what is her duty as a mother and blah blah blah…again, just my opinion…so I’m not voting for president…and my family just doesn’t get that…sigh. I’m intentional about my not voting, with the understanding that i don’t really have the right to complain after the fact, either.
I would have to say no, withholding your vote isn’t a legitimate use of a vote. In my opinion that is more of a cop-out. Yes, you may not agree with everything that the candidates are for, but simply not voting isn’t the way to handle it. You should have an equal say in who is going to be our next president, at least get your opinion out by going out to vote! If not, why are we called American?
some people have larger problems than elections, I could vote but I sort of have a parent phobia, don’t laugh…its terrible, I really think its ignorant of some people to spew hate for the non voters, as the church people do to Obama. Case and point everyone has a situation, respect it.
@ChasingtheHorizon -
Amen!!! I know I’m going to catch flak for this, but to be honest I really don’t care much at all. That being said, let me explain to the vast majority here why you are all wrong. I voted independent this election. Why would I waste my vote you ask? Well to be honest, I didn’t waste my vote. To be quite honest, I think Obama is the slimiest piece of garbage on the face of the planet and is not fit to run for any office, let alone the president. McCain isn’t much better. I’ve heard a lot of talk about the lesser of two evils, but to be honest that is just a cop out, an excuse. There is no such thing as the lesser of two evils. Evil is evil is evil is evil is… well you get the point.
The moral of the story is this: Voting for a third party candidate is not a waste of a vote. In fact it sends a clear message to the one who gets elected that they had best work their butts off if they want to stay in office for more than one term.
Abstaining is a completely different issue. My opinion is, if you don’t vote at all then you have no right whatsoever to bitch, moan, groan, or complain about who gets elected because you were either to lazy or too stubborn to get off your couch to go vote.
I am planning on voting this year (the only thing that will stop me tomorrow is some sort of unforeseen disaster!). I did not vote in 2000, though, and it was because I thought both main candidates were both bad choices. I don’t think there is anything wrong with not voting if you have done your research and just don’t have a clear conscience about either of the two main candidates.
I recommended an entry by a Xanga friend of mine a few weeks ago. Consider reading it before you decide the question in context is legitimate or illegitimate. i believe it is a legitimate form of passive resistance. Not only do you have a right to vote, you have a right to not vote if you do not agree with the candidates of choice. Its a testament to the failure of true democracy in the two party system. but we are after all a “republic” and not a democracy as people claim. Christians get as overzealous as the liberal bent people have gotten on recently. Reactionarily voting based on a past presidents mistakes does is not really voting on the best interests of the country and neither is going on a frenzy to vote for a candidate because he is supposedly “christian”.
read this. http://www.xanga.com/JerichoRoad/679708487/item.html
I will also add that getting involved in state and local government will serve to advance your cause more than voting once every 4 years. You civic duty starts from the bottom up, if you want to achieve anything. people have no right to preach down to other people when all they do is “get up off their ass to vote” once every 4 years.
I’ve been struggling with this as well. I plan on voting for some state issues, so my trip to the polls won’t be a complete waste of time, but I can’t bring myself to support either of these jokers. I also happen to be in the only state in which 3rd-party candidates aren’t even allowed on the ticket. (Oklahoma in case you’re wondering). Sorry, no solutions from this guy…
like a couple of people said before, unless there is a “none of the above” choice on the ballot, abstaining from voting isn’t really showing anybody anything. that reminds me of when kids get upset and say “FINE! I just won’t go then!” what are they really proving? they’re not hurting anyone but themselves.
and if you truly feel that voting for a third party is a vote for the candidate you don’t like, then not voting for anyone would be doing the same thing! besides, I think that rationale is silly. a vote for a third party is a vote for obama? well wouldn’t that also mean a vote for a third party is a vote for mccain as well?
if you really don’t like obama or mccain, look up your state’s ballot and do some serious research on the other candidates on your ballot. palin isn’t the only woman running, obama isn’t the only minority running, and mccain & biden aren’t the only older men running. try to look at nonpartisan sites on ALL of the candidates (including obama and mccain) so you can try to get the most unbiased information on the candidates as possible. then go make an INFORMED decision. make good USE out of your vote rather than stubbornly wasting–I mean, not using, your vote.
and on another note, for you religious people (I am Christian, btw), BOTH obama and mccain believe in God. so to say that one isn’t a man of God is just a lie. and if you’re claiming to be Christian, you shouldn’t bash or judge anyone. you are supposed to love everyone. it’s God’s position to judge people when they meet Him, not yours. also, obama’s grandmother just died, so we should all say a prayer for her.
This is why I have always stated that we should have a “None of the Above” on the ballot. It would allow us to actively show that we do not support any candidate that is running while still allowing us to vote. The only problem is that I’m not sure what course of action we will need to follow when “None of the Above” actually wins.
Well, depends on who you’re trying to please. You have to remember that lesser of two evils is better than waiting for a perfect choice, which doesn’t really exist. In other words, are the consequences worth it?
of course it’s valid to abstain. people are absurd about voting. It’s also not the case that just because you didn’t vote means you have no right to complain, a phrase so many people say. That’s absurdity. If you live here you have a right to complain about whatever you feel like. Voting is a choice just like any other.
I do think governments should encourage people to show up and vote though through various incentives programs (even paying people). It should just be possible to check a box to say I vote “abstain” on all ballots. You should also be able to vote “no confidence” in all candidates, as well as to write in a vote.
“Vote for the one you hate the least,” is said frequently in my household…
I see nothing wrong with abstaining if you don’t like either person. But I am an Obama supporter, so what do I know?
If I were to abstain intentionally, then yes, I do believe that is a legitimate use of my voting rights.
Just as silence conveys the clearest messages, so does inaction convey the clearest sentiment.
By which I mean you’re showing your obvious dislike for both policies presented.
(If you’re just being lazy, then shame on you)
However, that’s just on a personal level.
If you know that none of the candidates meet your approval, which is something you will know almost right away… bring in a new candidate. Don’t complain about the other two or three, bring in your own. Use community organizers to help raise funds on the grassroots level. Don’t be cowards in thinking that they can’t win. Remember that neither party today existed in the beginning. Not voting because you don’t believe in the candidate is just as lazy as not voting because you’re too tired. It’s an excuse. This is America…we’re supposed to work for what we want..right? That’s what your party apparently preaches. And there is nothing in Republican ideals that says “liberal”. We really need to get over this fear of liberals and conservatives. You need both in order to have a balanced nation.
Giving your vote to a candidate you don’t like is stupid, so why do it?
But then again, I think voting in general won’t do anything so long as the electoral college remains.
Yeah, but it seems to me that if you are so adamately opposed to Obama being elected, then you should vote McCain/ Palin. Regardless of how you feel about McCain, if you decline to vote, vote third party, or vote write in, you are only helping Obama’s cause. Your vote can be used to help ensure that the most inexperienced presidential candidate of our times is not allowed in the oval office. Stay the course. Vote McCain/ Palin. I think they really will instigate real, positive change! This election is way more important than you making a political statement. What good will you making a political statement against the republican party do you, when Obama is elected and he spells the end of our economy as we know it!
@SpiderDad -
I love this topic and while I had so little time, I very happy others have taken up the slack.
Congratulations this is a really interesting subject and I’m glade to see it featured.
I will be back latter
Just about any other election I could understand your view, not this one though. Obama is just way too scary and there’s too much riding on it. 2 Supreme court justices and the course of our country, not to mention all the shady alliances he has. It could take a generation to reverse. Please vote McCain. If you’re fed up, write a letter.
P.S. Let’s not forget, if Obama gets in, he will be unchecked with a far left congress. Not good.
I think they are equally dismal choices. I don’t want any of the consequences that are likely to come from either candidate. I don’t have a preference on which way my life is made worse by these men who couldn’t care less about me. Who parade around and make bogus promises for my vote, but will never know my name. I won’t vote because I don’t want to vote for a person for President unless I believe they will be a good President. Besides which, it seems people forget we have a few things called Congress and Senate that are supposed to be a check and balance for the President and his cabinet. o.o Amazing stuff there. One man alone doesn’t lead the nation, but you would think from the way people act that the President gets to have the country go in whatever way they want. Every President promises to lower taxes, every President promises to make us independent from oil, every President promises we will prosper and do better with them. I have yet to find a single person who can tell me a difference between having Clinton and Bush in office besides the war. One thing, one difference they can actually quantify, yet it’s life or death if a certain person is in office? o.o Seems pretty crazy to me. So no, I won’t vote unless I believe in a candidate.
@SingingMom -
I think global warming and immigration are a great deal more important than worrying about the ever-looming threat of socialism. John McCain himself has said that Barack Obama is not a socialist, nor does he practice socialism, nor will he bring socialism to this country.
@Singing4sDad -
That’s how I feel. Any third party vote is a vote for Obama. Unless you are voting for like, Nader and in that case, that’s taking away a vote for Obama because I honestly don’t know ANY republicans who would vote for Nader. Plus, I don’t even know if he’s running. I don’t live in Oregon anymore and that’s like the only place that ever votes for him.
To answer the question of the blog, I don’t think we should abstain from voting just because we can’t decide. I don’t like McCain, but I dislike Obama even more. I have to look at my values and see which one is closest. In this case, while McCain is still way off base, he’s still closer than Obama.
@whitetrashpoet - You are certainly welcome to your opinion. But there are many opinions from people who should know, that global warming is a “the sky is falling” issue.
The top of my list is abortion.
Obama’s positons are pure socialism, no matter what people want to call them. Take from the rich and give to the poor. Spread the wealth.
abstaining from voting is not a good choice. i hear a lot of people saying that one or both of the candidates doesn’t line up with their views.
the question people are asking, in this instance, is “what candidate best represents me?” that’s a fair question, but if neither candidate does, don’t abstain from voting entirely. either find a third party candidate you do like, or pick whichever candidate you think would be best for the overall health of america.
I fully agree on the matter of intentional, or moral abstaining when it comes to casting your vote. If you truly believe that neither–or any–candidate would make a good president and help this country then you have a moral obligation not to “vote for the lesser of two evils”. That is a waste of a vote, and a slight on what it means to actually have a say in one’s own government.
Rec’ed for the discussion factor…
To me, there was really only two choices on who to vote for. Realistically, nobody else stands a chance of winning it, so we’re stuck with whomever is elected for the next four years. Better to have a bit of a say in it. I really don’t think either major party would “get” that message anyway. They’re more likely to write it off as a few loonies that they didn’t have a chance of getting votes from anyway.
I feel that it’s impossible to agree with everything that your candidate of choice believes in…that is unless, of course, you are running for president.
We are all different, and because of that it’s almost impossible to agree fully with a candidate.
I believe that unless you don’t vote at all, your vote is not a waste because you’re showing yourself and your country who you think will do the best…out of who is running. It’s not a “the lesser evil” it’s, in your opinion, who will do the best out of the people to chose from.
you know, im in the same boat as you, in a way. there are many reasons that i till not be voting for obama in the upcoming election, but then i also refuse to vote for mccain. everyone keeps saying that abstaining is like wimping out or whatever, but in reality its not. if we were going to abstain just because were too lazy to go to the polls then yes you would be correct, but thats absolutely not why people are choosing not to vote. personally i would rather not vote at all than vote for a person that i am completely 100% against. think of it this way, if this new president fucks us all over like the last dumbass did, at least i wont be responsible for it.
Send a message to the republican party to DO BETTER!!!!!!
The reality is that one of them will become president whether you vote or not. Which do you think will do a better job? If you don’t know, then fine, abstain by all means, but if you’re abstaining because you don’t like either, then I don’t think it’s meaningful. You may think that either will do a bad job, but as long as you believe that one will do better than the other, you ought to use your vote to support him.
I don’t feel like my vote counts for anything especially with the way votes are counted. I don’t want to vote, i’m not going to vote. Also not you or anybody else needs to explain themselves over WHY we are not going to vote.
I don’t want to vote for McCain, but Obama scares me for what MIGHT or MIGHT NOT happen. it’s up in the air with Obama and like you said i’m not going to vote just to say I voted.
I agree with you.
…a spoiled ballot sends an entirely different message.
I do think that abstaining can be legitimate, but I strongly encourage you to vote this time. We just can’t risk having Obama in the White House. Perhaps McCain isn’t your idea of the ideal candidate, and you think that the Republican Party has lost touch with its constituents, but refraining from voting for McCain can’t really help. Please consider voting tomorrow!
It is not legitimate. You are given the choices of candidates and that’s what you have to work with. It’s the same every election whether you like the candidates or not. If you didn’t like any candidate ever, then you would always abstain, and there is no point.
I don’t believe in voting in you don’t feel comfortable voting for anyone running. The vote for the “lesser of two evils” is the truly wasted vote.
I think voting for a 3rd party candidate is exactly what this country needs to start doing!
Otherwise we are stuck. I mean really, when there are 7-8 parties running on the same ballot and the only ones people know about are the ones ran on 4 prime-time stations in the world.
Give me a flippin (for kinder words) break!
So much for educated democracy.
Conservative or Liberal? There is alot more to life than just those two choices.
It’s like saying you can have meat or pasta for the rest of your 80 years on Earth. Nothing else!
I love pepparoni pizza! I vote for that. And so do a bajillion other tax payers.
Please, I beg you, come and read my last post. Cliff Stafford
Just an opinion, but I would say not voting at all is a vote for Obama. It’s a tight election, the polls are looking in Obama’s direction, although those may always change, by not voting, Obama’s likelihood of getting elected increases, it’s one less vote for McCain or an independent.
I also really don’t think that by not voting you make any stand. Neither the democrats, nor the Republicans are going to go through and check off every person who voted and then call up the ones who didn’t and ask them why so that they can change their policies in the future. McCain and Obama are not going to look into the voting record and suddenly notice that so many people didn’t vote this year that politics must be changed (in fact it appears that more votes than ever before are going to be coming in, and one less vote is not going to be acknowledged as a reason to change government policies).
Lastly, doesn’t really connect to the rest, but I feel like if you don’t vote, you can’t complain about our government. If you did nothing to change it, then you can’t really complain about the way things are. It’s the same way as if you failed a college course because you hadn’t taken any of the tests and then whined about how unfair the teacher had been and how you were making a stand against her unfair and hard material by not taking them. You can’t complain about something when you don’t try to change it first. So please be responsible and vote tomorrow. Your one vote could really make a difference! But not voting at all is not likely to make a huge change in politics.
http://www.xanga.com/mykelee79/680900616/elections-2008.html
I am stuck with your dilemma too. I dont like Obama’s policies and Mcain seems to be a liberal conservative. While abstaining would be a legitimate choice, this presidential campaign is a lesser of two evils. Almost definitely it will be Mcain or Obama and anyone not Mcain is a vote for Obama, so you might as well vote for Mcain.
The people who should NOT vote are those that are just following the word of the media and their friends. Basically the Obama Kool Aid sippers. Unless they feel Obama truly can lead this nation with his policies, then i do not think they should vote.
i think it’s legit and not a coward’s way out. you’re still taking a part of the democratic process and doing your civic duty. plus, even if you are voicing your displeasure, you’re doing it with nonviolent and peaceful means. i think a coward’s way out would be trying to destroy the government or something along those lines.
and as a side point, it’s been done in other countries too: in france, people would put in their vote for a party, but then null the ballot by writing on it as a way to voice to their displeasure. it might be weird to have people wait all that time just to void their ballot, but at least they go out and vote in the first place.
it’s interesting that you wrote about this, since i myself have been very undecided. the reason for my displeasure with the candidates are completely different from yours, but i am also thinking of leaving my ballot blank.
try http://www.VoteSmart.com you can find ALL of the candidates running in your state besides McCain and Obama
I agree that withholding your vote is an acceptable choice if done per the motives you describe. I think, though, that voting 3rd party sends a stronger, similiar message: That you’re unhappy with both major partys.
As for the “everyone must vote” mantra that’s pounded into our heads by organizations suh as Rock the Vote, etc… I thinks they’re doing as disservice to us all. They imply that the act of voting is more important than politically education yourself. It encourages ignorant, uninfomed voting, which is more dangerous that non-participation.
It’s your vote, it’s your right to do what you want with it. Not voting is better than voting someone into power that’ll screw the country up more than it is.
It is foolish to either refrain from casting your vote or doing a write-in that you know can’t win. No canidate is perfect, but make a check list of pro’s and cons in the order of importance and come up with the one who comes out on top. If everyone would go beyond the media (which is biased and withholds important imformation) and do their own research on the canidates I think it will become clearer as to who you should vote for.
You live in a country where you have the right to not vote, that is to say, no secret police will come and make you vote. If you decide not to vote, then you don’t vote.
I wish you would, but you have the right to waive your right.
@Allen_Oz -
Around here, a vote for anyone else was a vote for Bush, not Kerry. lol.
Moral of the story is: fuckin vote. The end.
@XlovingXheartX -
were called Americans because we vote?
I gotta go with Paige on this one (although, clearly I will go about my disagreement more diplomatically than she . . . as would pretty much anything less forceful than, say, an M-1 Abrams).
You see, a republic – and a democratic republic especially – relies upon the active voice of its citizenry to collectively guide it. When any portion of that citizenry chooses to remain silent through abstention, then the republic is deprived of its full conscience.
Does that make any sense?
Depends on the dynamics. Other countries have a “vote of no confidence” and that is very effective. If, say, the 45% of the USA that isn’t voting showed up to vote and voted no confidence in any of the candidates running, that would send a clear message that a large section of people find our current leadership options unacceptable.
Well, not voting is certainly your right. But I feel it’s a mistake. And personally, I feel its irresponsible. While McCain is certainly not perfect, I am so against Obama that I have to cast the vote that will keep him out of the white house. Honestly, if you’re as against Obama as you say you are, then you will want him to stay out of it as well.
I don’t mean to insult. But abstaining from voting isn’t teaching the Republican party anything. If anything, I say vote third party if you want to teach the Republican party something. But they really aren’t going to pay attention to the non-voters, while they may turn an eye to the fact that their past voters are suddenly voting third party.
But that’s just my opinion.
Abstaining is just a waste. If you don’t vote, even if you’re choosing not to vote, you’re just blithely accepting whoever gets in. A vote for the lesser evil is better than nothing.
Contrary to many, many of the comments on here. I’m actually with you on this. I don’t like either candidate (or choice of VPs) for many reasons. I think either way, things will be messed up. I don’t really want to vote for someone I’m not 100% (or even 51%) behind just to say I voted. And I also don’t want to vote 3rd party just because I don’t support the others but want to vote. I have voted in the past, but this year I just can’t decide on a vote. There really should be a “none of the above” option.
Vote It Forward.
As the election day in the U.S.A. unfolds, we the people see only two possibilities brought to us by our sponsors: NBC, CBS, ABC, and, PBS. For Christ’s Sake, there has got to be more options than just 2 in this whole wide world of dEMOCRACY. In fact, there is.
I say, very adamantly, vote it forward. Yes, realistically not very many uneducated voters will actually decide to elect a third or fourth party candidate. This is unfortunately comparable to a multiple choice question. You can write in a vote such as: your dad, or your congressman, or Popeye. They would all make fine presidents, but would the super-delagates (?) vote for them?
I believe, as a dedicated anarchist, that if we the people were to begin voting for someone we really want and not just the A or B candidate we might actually develop a societal balance. There could idealistically become a true democracy. Instead we are left with A.) Blue or B.) Red. So which color suits you most? Choose something that goes with your eyes or your skin tone. Now if you were to go to a store that offered only blue or red suits, you would leave and go to a store that offers more choices. Not now, we are not there yet.
However, if we are to “vote it forward”, say, vote for a third or fourth party candidate. Then maybe in the next election we might develop a more ‘popular’ third or fourth party candidate. I hope to one day see President: A, B, C, D, …, or NONE. on the election ballot. How many people do you think would vote for NONE? No-Government would be a likely candidate if a majority of people were released from their popular idea of fear and control.
Maybe, we could count the ‘abstaining vote’. The vote where we count the people who do not vote from the populous figures. We could count them as ‘None’. That might surely draw more ‘we the people’ to vote for something. In fact, that could be a vote forward for “I don’t want any”.
My kids gorgeous?
OH DONT YOU KNOW IT!!!
My eldest tiff just finished her very last assignment this morning (we both got up at 5am .. me for moral support) She will be graduating next week after this week of testing. Its an end of an era for her that just .. well .. takes my breath away. She is going to be hopefully getting into university to study speech pathology, but well also take a gap year as they call it here. It means that she will be in the course, but taking a year off. I think its a good time for her to find herself and learn about the big world out there. Did i tell you that she is coming to Thailand with me next year on a missions trip? Man i cant wait to get there! I see pics of the kids and i just melt every time!