Do You Choose Not to Vote?

I DO vote, but I'd like to say, the right to NOT vote is as important as the right TO vote. We live in a great place with many many freedoms.

:)

I have actually never voted. ever. I just have never been interested in that type of stuff. I got a "D" in government class in high school and I just totally hate anything that has to do with that type of stuff. It just doesn't interest me. Yes, my husband bugs me about it and yes there are some things that I feel strongly about like abortion and gay marriage, but I just have no interest in voting for them. I don't want to listen to speeches and debates. It honestly bores me to tears, lol! I cant stand it. Sorry!!

If you are not voting because you are not in your home due to Sandy, then please find out how to vote. Normal restrictions on where to vote have been lifted in many affected states. Please don't let the hurricane stop you from casting your ballot.

Voting time locally is running 40 minutes or less.

Edit:

Also, remember that ballots have a lot more on them than who gets to be President. Jim at Home, are you and your wife totally divided on everything? Seriously? You don't agree on ballot questions or who's running for Senate or who should be on the Board of Ed, either?

Shane, have you seen this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYQhRCs9IHM

Being informed does not have to mean watching all the debates. Debates make me twitch. Find your own way, like using isidewith.com, to figure out who best fits your opinion.

How can a female not vote considering we didnt always have the right to vote.

While I DO vote, I just feel it's pertinent to point out that not all states allow independent or write-in votes. For example, in Oklahoma, there is no write-in option and 3rd party candidates don't make the ballot (because there's no primary for them).

Also, I agree: yay for a decrease in social networking politics!! (I expect it to continue for a couple of days while the supporters of the losing candidates lament the course of our future.)

My government and economic teacher in high school told us that if we did not vote we did not have the right to complain about what our elected officials did. Cause we did not care enough to take the time voice our opinion when it counted.

So glad you posted this question. I think its a disgrace for people NOT to vote. We are so blessed in America to have the right to vote and the opportunity to vote easily. There are tons of polling places, the option to vote by mail and there is NO valid excuse NOT to vote.

It really makes me mad that some don't vote because they don't want to take time out of their day to go to the polls. Then the complain left and right about the state of our country.

If you want change, you have to make it happen. VOTE!

I would never "not vote". If you don't vote, you can't complain. I for one LOVE to complain, therefore...........................I vote. :)

I vote. Even if I don't agree with the 2 main parties, I have at least used my voice to vote for someone else.
During the primaries this year, I first stopped at the school here because it made sense: 2 miles from my front door. I stood in line, then found out I wasn't listed there. They told me to go to some headquarters place, so I went there (10 miles away) and stood in line. Then found out I was registered, but because of the address on my drivers license, I was to go to a church elsewhere to vote. I stood in line again. It was a nice little civics lesson for my son who was with me, on the IMPORTANCE of the actual right to vote, and that we don't want to waste the right.
Today: I remembered what happened during the primaries, and checked my registration card that I got in the mail a couple months ago, and went where it very clearly stated to go. Precinct __, address ___. I waited an hour, with a 2 year old in tow. We got up to vote, and they don't have me on the list. I show them my card and license, she sends me to stand in line for the lady with a computer. My turn comes, and she says "Oh, you're supposed to vote at the school by your house". (ha)
I didn't get mad or have attitude with them, they are just volunteers and doing their civic duty better than I was, since I didn't volunteer. But it was a little annoying. But I wanted to show my 6 yr old son that this IS an important right to exercise, so we went to the school and waited another 90 minutes to vote. Then, to make up the wait to the boys, we had no choice but to share a banana split and play at the park. Would I have had such a good voting ethic if my son wasn't with me though? Um....I'd like to think so, but I don't know.

My wife and I agreed not to vote. She supports one candidate and I the other, so we figured our votes would cancel each other out.

I can't imagine not voting.

I have taken time off to go vote even if it meant my pay got docked for it.

I often vote third party. Even if the candidate doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of winning, I believe that it sends a message when third party candidates get votes.

I have been sans vehicle and either availed myself of a neighbor's willingness to drive me, public transportation, a taxi, a bicycle, or shoe leather to get to the polls.

Jim - my ex and I often voted for different candidates, effectively "cancelling each other out" but we each still believed that our vote counted on its own merit.

So your employer is required to give you time off, how many people can afford to lose a couple hours of pay?

I took today off because I wanted to hang out with my kids, kind of laughable really, they have been playing with friends all day, o well. So if I had to work today I would have had to get in there at six and wouldn't be done till seven, I know, I voted at six, well seven, you get the point. So if I had to work I would have been late. I could go after work as if I want to stand in a line for a couple hours after being stuck on 270 for an hour.

I vote in every election, even those stupid ones with one issue on the ballot. I suppose I could look down at those that don't make the time to vote. It is just that vote is valuable to me, who am I to say it should be as valuable to everyone else.

When in my younger and dumber phase as I remember it.. I didn't vote.. I had no interest.. but NOW... years later, I realized NOT voting was a huge mistake.. I mean afterall, we women didn't always get to vote... Also, while I may not always like both candidates, I usually like one even less... therefore, I will cast the vote for their opponent..
Either way, voting is essential in our household. .Even my ten year old gets involved and has been watching the debates and reads political history.. He just loves it... I believe if a kid can have this much passion for politics, surely I can go and cast a vote.. and surely, other adults can get out there and vote..
but hey... that's just my opinion

I vote. Every time. People around the world are still fighting and DYING for this right. And people are 'bored to tears' even though they 'feel strongly about things like gay marriage and abortion' so they don't vote. I am ashamed of how low our voter turn out is when I see video of people braving bullets to vote. Whah, whah, whah - I had to wait on a little line. boo hoo.

We are setting an example for our children by voting or not voting. If you don't vote because you don't like the candidates - um - get involved - work for the candidate you like, donate time or money, make phone calls.

I don't plan on voting this year, I haven't really payed any attention to all the political stuff going on so I feel it's best to have people who are aware of whats going on to cast their vote. If I vote I may do more harm then good.

I voted. Hubby had every intention of voting, till he woke up this morning and realized his 12:00 flight was actually at 10:30. He went by the polls but the line was over 40 minutes long so he couldn't vote without missing his flight. Missed flight = no job, so he didn't vote because we need his job more than the candidate needs his vote (Texas is not a swing state, lol)

I choose TO VOTE. It is a responsibility, a right and a privilege. I couldn't let others to choose for me even if my choice doesn't win (I hope it does!). It is just an act of irresponsibility not voting. It is not my future only, it is my kid's future. Happily, my husband and I support the same candidate, if this would not be so, still we will VOTE. No excuse for not voting.

if you dont vote, you dont get to complain.

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Jim at home dad - what about all the other races that are on the ballot?

I think less of people who do not vote. If you don't like the candidates, it is your responsibility to vote for someone you believe in more than them. We always have the option of writing in a candidate. Period.

First, every vote does NOT make a statement. There are two options...Obama or Romney. Voting for someone else is a wasted vote, and it doesn't give you a platform to teach a lesson or prove a point.

I am not voting this year because there are so many things wrong with both sides at this point I honestly can't get a foot behind either one of them.

My mom told me she wasn't voting this election. Her reasoning: "I don't like either of the main parties' candidates."

So I said "vote third party."

Nope. Because she says that is just a vote for one of the two main candidates.

Argh.

For those who didn't vote, because they didn't like either presidential candidate - there were several pages of other races to vote in (U.S. Representative, State Representative, State Senator, State Board of Education, Sheriff, Railroad Commissioner, many judges, etc) and - in Richardson - even a proposal to change how our mayor is chosen. It was more than a presidential election. When you vote, you CAN only vote in the races that you want to and leave the others blank - you are not required to vote on everything on the ballot.

Before an election, you can always find a sample ballot online, before you go. Look at it, and ask yourself if you want to let others choose for you on ALL of the things on there before deciding to skip voting. So many of those other things on the ballot are decided by such a small number of people!