Don't forget to vote!

[Raggit]

Hey Americans,

remember that our general elections are on November 7th, and that your vote counts.  For those of you too lazy to hover your mouse over the computer clock, that's tomorrow!

I don't care who you vote for (though I certainly have a preference  ), just so long as you vote.

Remember, you don't have a right to complain about how much things suck in America if you don't vote! 

[Nikolas]

Interesting topic. (I don't live in the States)

So if I may ask what percentage of people DON'T vote? IS it too much. I know that in the UK the percentages are rather bad...

The thing is that here in the UK, elections day is nothing but an ordinary day, were additionalyl you have to run to vote as well. So it is rather tiring.

While in Greece, it is something of a celebration. Everything shuts of, no schools, maybe for 2 days, people gather to the homes to see the results overnight. things like that... So Greece loves voting, more than UK at least.

Other than that what raggit says is right in theory... Go vote people, otherwise don't complaint!

[Buckethead]

There are too reasons why I can not vote and say that everything in the US sucks:

1, I'm only 16 so I can't vote yet.
2nd I don't even live near the US so I can't vote for things there.

But I guess you're right. If you live in the US and you are 18 (I presume that's the age to vote) You should vote. You shouldn't say ' bleh, I don't agree with what happens now' if you didn't vote. 

[SSH]

Since Greece has compulsory voting, and the US and UK don't I don't think you can really compare their attitudes to voting. I don't think you can say that people who don't vote can't complain, as it depends on whether they would vote for "none of the above" if that was an option (as I believe it is in Russia).

In a two-party system, such as the de facto in the UK and US, it is quite easy to see someone's reasons not to vote for either choice. And a vote for any other parties is known to be wasted...

In the UK, all the parties canvassing, focus groups, campaign money etc. is concentrated on marginal seats. I have never had a politician of any ilk come to me and ask my opinion. Sometimes I have voted and sometimes I have better things to do.

[Nikolas]

SSH, mainly in Greece there is also a two party system (although more exist), since the percentages are something like 30%, 29.5% and the rest between 0.5% and 5% (the communist party ) It is compulsary but none really cares if they vote or not.

Ok it isn't fair exaclty, but when I hear you say that "you have better things to do", you can understand that there seems to be a problem. Not that I don't understand it. Just that when the elction were here inthe UK, I just never got that indeed there were elections. There is more advertising to quit smoking, to stop drunk driving and other stuff (school education for example), than "Hey! we got elections here! Make sure you vote!".

That's what I'm saying

[Minimi]

I thought that here in Holland there is a pretty high rate of voting... i think it was something between 80% and 85% of the population

[Pumaman]

Really, there are two good reasons to vote:

(a) if you think the government is doing a really good job and want to keep them
(b) if you think the government is doing a really bad job and want to get rid of them

If you don't really care either way, then there isn't any point.

[evenwolf]

The voting turnout in the U.S. is around half of all voting aged americans.

I voted in the last presidential election (for Kerry)  and during this election period I suppose I can contribute to who is the governor of Texas.   

Have you guys heard of Kinky Friedman?   He doesn't really have a chance, but he's a jewish cowboy running for governor of Texas.   He's pretty novel:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RcRz_-NLWS4

[Erenan]

I write-in Chuck Norris for every position on every election. I even write-in Chuck Norris on all the propositions.

I'll probably vote, if for no reason other than to keep my absentee voter status.

That lousy Phil Angelides. Can't even moonwalk properly.

[LimpingFish]

In my 12 years as a registered voter, I have never once cast a vote. But then, I don't live in the real world. Luckily.

[Radiant]

I thought that here in Holland there is a pretty high rate of voting... i think it was something between 80% and 85% of the population

No, I'm afraid not. We had an excessive turnout for the European Constitution Referendum, which was massively rejected mainly because of dissent with the present government, who admittedly pulled some pretty dumb manipulation to get people to vote in favor. For instance, they put up a poster of the holocaust and said "if you don't want this to happen again, vote for the constitution". Not a good idea.

We do have a grand total of twenty-seven parties at the moment (out of seventy-five!! attempted parties, but the remainder didn't get enough signatures to be allowed to run in the election), about half of those are serious and the other half are tiny fringe groups and/or new runners with some wacko platform.

[Vince Twelve]

I voted already.  Too bad my state is always waaay republican so that they never even bother reading the absentee ballots...

[Kweepa]

The voting turnout in the U.S. is around half of all voting aged americans.

That's for presidential elections. It's usually lower for midterms.

Have you guys heard of Kinky Friedman?   He doesn't really have a chance, but he's a jewish cowboy running for governor of Texas.   He's pretty novel:

For god's sake, don't vote for Kinky. He's a funny guy and all (I love his books and music, and he talks well), but he's just splitting the vote and making sure that Rick Perry is reelected. Vote for Chris Bell instead. Last numbers I saw were Perry 40%, Bell 30%, Kinky 20%, Strayhorn 10%. So if all Kinky supporters came to their senses and voted for Bell he'd win easily.