Election Day: Have You Voted?

[jcb231]

Have you all seen the series of voter ads elderly-skewing periodicals and organizations like AARP have been running? I was at the doctor the other day and thus stuck reading old people magazines and I noticed the ads.

They're interesting....they tell you NOT to vote if you don't know the issues. I think it's called something catchy like "kNOw vote"

It's a good message I think, but one that has rarely been stated to the mainstream....lots of old people (my grandparents used to be on that list) bote blindly....they just march down to the polls and vote, without knowing a single thing about any of the candidates or issues. That's equal to not voting....might as well just stay home and save everyone's time.

With all the "Rock the Vote" type campagins out there, it's really refreshing to me to see someone start an ad campaign based on informed voting rather than blind "It's my duty!" drudgery.

[jcb231]

Originally Posted by kenjib

Both of these are true to some degree, but the people who do these things rely on voter apathy. It is a very important tool to them. The fewer people vote, the easier it is to manipulate the system.

You should look into why, historically, our legal system gives us the right to trial by jury by our peers and how fundamentally important this is. It might change your opinion on this obligation you have toward the society that gives you so much in return.

I've never been called up for actual jury duty. There's sort of a weird loophole where I live.....I live in let's call it Town A.

Town A is in Town B township, yet I'm on the mailing list for Town A Township, and thus when I get it I never have to go because I don't live in Town A Township. Town B Township thinks I live in Town A Township, so they never call me up either. It's a weird little lost overlap that my neighbors and I enjoy immensely.

I'm not knocking jury duty, it would just be difficult for me to do and be able to work freelance as I do and travel around a lot. If I had a typical 9 to 5 I'd be happy to go and would inform my local townships of their errors. A paid day off? Great!

The only times I would scramble like mad to get out of jury duty would be if I knew it was going to be a long sequester the jury type case that pretty much ruins your whole world for weeks on end. Then I'd be working my best to get out of it. Ditto for a capital punishment case....I believe in the death penalty for certain crimes, but I would never vote for it myself (good old catholic guilt!)....thus I would know that I'd drag out the whole process and should probably find a way to excuse myself by telling the judge that during the selection process....even if I thought they were guilty as sin I'd vote not guilty because I'm not going to be the one that kills somebody. My two cents.

[monkeyfish]

Too young, can't vote.

[reapersaurus]

Actually, voting uniformed is much WORSE than not voting, since you are more likely influenced by

a) whoever's the incumbent, regardless of worth.

b) whichever side spent the most on their campaign.

Not voting is not a crime, and it's not a shirking of your citezen responsibilities.
Voting when uniformed is more of a slap in the face to the citizenry, IMO.
And remember - you don't have to vote for every race - just vote for the ones you know something about.

[bushi96]

I vote. If nothing more than to cancel out some liberal hippy's vote out there. It helps me sleep at night.

[Nooblar]

I cast Magic Missile!


...oh wait...


Um, I'm heading out the door to vote now! I'll vote in THIS poll when I get back

[InfinityMax]

I voted. If you're concerned about being an uninformed voter, check out the League of Women Voters. They usually have a very informative (and non-partisan) list of who and what is on the ballot. I check them every time before I vote - it's great to know who you're picking for governor, but it can be tough to figure out who you want for district judge, and ironically, that person is going to have a lot more influence over your life.

[Tiberius]

I voted as did my wife.

[Nooblar]

[Oogie_Da_Bruce]

^^^^^^^^ What he said.

Originally Posted by Nooblar

[skyknight]

Good job OOg, now where the heck have you been???????

[Agent Minivann]

I voted three times today. No I didn't hack the voting machine, I voted in the cave, at the local elementary school and in this poll.