Did you vote?

[pax]

Anonymous poll. Just curious about the numbers.

Ummmm -- Please don't use this thread to debate about Repub vs Dem vs Lib, k? I'm just curious what percentage of THR members voted in this off-year election.

Thread can discuss reasons you voted or chose not to vote, not who or what you voted for.

pax

 

[Steve H]

Yup..........did everything I could to get rid of the good old boy network in Southern Utah.

 

[Tiny in Ohio]

Absolutely. Shame to see it did little for the GOP though.....

 

[hoji]

I wonder if the numbers here support the national numbers?
I doubt many here would admit to not voting though.

 

[pax]

hoji ~

Well, the actual poll is pretty much anonymous.

I expect that some under-age people will explain they didn't vote because they are under age. Probably some people couldn't because they were out of town or out of the country, or unable to vote for some other practical reason. And I know there are more than a couple of "won't vote on principle" sorts here, too.

pax

 

[Sindawe]

Did I vote? Of course I did. In my view, if I had not voted then I'd have little room to complain about the way government is run. And I do so love to complain about the government.

 

[Stickjockey]

yeah, I voted. Not much good, but I voted.

 

[Third_Rail]

You didn't include an option for those who couldn't vote due to any number of legal reasons.

 

[Big Calhoun]

Line item voting. I didn't cast for state offices as I'm still learning Texas politics. I don't like voting just for the sake of voting...my mother-in-law (and wife, unfortuantely) do that, they just vote down the party line.

 

[pax]

Sure I did. That would be no ... with a reason posted in the thread if you feel you need to explain why not.

pax

 

[thexrayboy]

You bet, I have voted in every election since 1976. Can't complain if I don't vote.

 

[GTSteve03]

Sure did. Voted in the Primaries too.

 

[MountainBear]

I was out of state, or I would've been counted in our majority. I knew my candidates, and my issues, but was unable to do anything about it.

 

[pax]

Line item voting. I didn't cast for state offices as I'm still learning Texas politics. I don't like voting just for the sake of voting...my mother-in-law (and wife, unfortuantely) do that, they just vote down the party line.

Calhoun ~

Good post! I do line-item voting more often than I should, but less often now than a few years back (it's just so much easier to do the research than it used to be -- God bless the internet and keep it holy!)

I habitually skip local school-board elections because my kids do not attend the local public school. I also often skip races for judgeships, not because I don't think they are critical (they are among the most critical on the ballot, IMO), but because even in this day & age it is annoyingly difficult to find any meaningful information about the judgeship candidates.

Personally, I think one thing America needs is a campaign to encourage people not to vote in ignorance.

pax

 

[Ohio Rifleman]

I voted, though it didn't do much good, it seems. One of the first things I did when I turned 18 was register to vote. I was really mad because I missed the 2004 Presidential election by a matter of months. I'm 19 by the way, and probably in the age group with the lowest voter turnout.

 

[Monkeyleg]

"I also often skip races for judgeships, not because I don't think they are critical (they are among the most critical on the ballot, IMO), but because even in this day & age it is annoyingly difficult to find any meaningful information about the judgeship candidates."

The information is right in front of you: pick up the phone and call the judicial candidate.

There was a race for circuit court here a couple of years ago. I called the candidates to ask them questions on a number of issues, one of which was the subject of gun control.

One candidate was hesistant to respond, saying that the issue had nothing to do with judicial matters. I told her that I understood that, but thought that it would provide insight into her beliefs.

She then answered that she thought that only those who had experience in the military or as police officers should be able to own guns.

Gee, do ya think I voted for her?

 

[cosine]

Yes, I voted.

 

[RealGun]

You have to wonder how many will admit that they didn't, given the opportunity.

 

[Kaylee]

Voted in the general election. I was out of state for the primary, and wish in retrospect I'd gotten an absentee ballot as I really don't like the candidate that ran... turned into a real "okay he's a scumbag, just notas dangerous as the other scumbag" kinda race. Bother- last time I make that mistake.

 

[Big Calhoun]

I know with my situation and the various state and local offices, I simply do not have enough background information on TX politics to know what questions to ask. As I talk with folks at work and that I meet at random when going for coffee, I learn more and more and feel confident that I can make an informed decision next go round. But as for this time, I would have felt like I was cheating the other people in the state who (hopefully) have more knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting Texas.

 

[chaim]

I voted, I've voted in every election since I turned 18. What I didn't do this time (not enough time) but wish I did, something I've done in all but 2 or 3 elections since I was 14, is volunteer.

 

[larry starling]

Yes and I voted Republican.....

 

[tyme]

Can't complain if I don't vote.

This sentiment is very similar to, "if you don't vote for one of the two major parties, you're wasting your vote." That says I have to vote for one of the two major parties even when they both suck. Your sentiment says I have to vote my conscience -- 3rd party -- even when we all know 3rd parties in large elections almost never have any chance of winning (because of the nature of plurality voting).

Even with a decent voting system (Range Voting or a good Condorcet variant), the chance that my single vote will decide any important election or issue is vanishingly small. However, if we had such a system, I would take it on faith that voting is my duty as a citizen, even though the expected benefit of voting is not worth the time it takes to vote.

As it is, I vote mostly for amusement.

 

[NewShooter]

Sure did. I would like to think that I at least made a difference at the state level.

 

[distra]

If you don't vote then you can't complain about who's in office. These midterm elections are just as important as presidental elections. Being in a state that saw a Democrat(Lemont) get spanked by a Independent (Lieberman), I'd say others had the same opinion. It's funny how some people are one issue voters, I still can't believe Simmons lost to Courtney after all Simmons did to save the Sub base and Electric boat