How can any American citizen of age NOT vote?

[Bertha Venation]

Putting aside mental incapacity and physical incapacity with no one to help (there's a whole other thread -- no one to help), how can any eligible American citizen not vote?!

It's incomprehensible!

On another MB several months ago -- a local community board, http://forums.somd.com/ -- someone told me he doesn't want under- or uneducated people to vote. He thinks that big registration drives, especially in low-income areas, are stupid. He thinks these people shouldn't vote because they're not smart enough to understand what's at stake. (I'm paraphrasing from memory; it may not be that exactly.)

I couldn't reply. I was flabbergasted at this attitude. You don't have to have an education in order to understand what is at stake in an election -- especially this one!

I talk about the election at work with just about everyone. Non-office staff (janitors, cafeteria workers, etc.) often say something like, "oh, yeah, there's an election this year. Maybe I'll go vote." I get the impression that these good folks aren't exposed much to talk of the election -- as opposed to office staff who can't get away from it, seeing that the firm I work at is among the top (big $$) lobbying firms in DC. Responses from office staff have varied. Most have a strong opinion one way or the other and plan to vote. But some reply thus: "I'm not gonna vote this time, I don't have time to follow it all" or "I'm not gonna vote this time, I'm too mad at both of them" or "I'm not gonna vote this time, I am so tired at the end of the day that I can't stand to think of standing in line. I just want to go home" or a hundred other excuses.

For the able and eligible, that is all their reasons for not voting are: excuses.

I'm astounded after every election to hear that vast numbers of people simply didn't show up. I've been voting for twenty-two years and I don't ever remember hearing of a turnout greater than 35%.

I will never understand this apathy. As long as I live, I'll never understand it.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I don't understand voter apathy either

but the attitude that certain groups shouldn't vote isn't new. Poll taxes were common in the South until about 40 years ago.

Anyone who doesn't vote doesn't realize how many people GAVE THEIR LIVES to give them the right.

[Monte Carlo]

2. Its that politics has no power over me, and that I have no power over it.

I know because I felt that way for a long time. My life and the big stage show going on on the TV and in Congress were in seperate galaxies.

[Bertha Venation]

3. That certainly gives me something to think about.

It's not really apathy for some folks, then; it's believing that nothing you do is going to make a difference? Or that nothing politicians do harms you or does you any good? If I'm off track, please help.... thanks.

[Monte Carlo]

19. It's the sense that what's going to happen will happen no matter what.

Some politicians are harmful, some are good, but _I_ have no effect upon how things turn out. It's all been scripted out, so what's the point? If there's a problem, someone will take care of it for me (or not). The glacial speed that our gov't moves feeds into this.

[Bertha Venation]

20. Thank you

I'll be coming back to this for days.

[Berserker]

4. Voter apathy

is a huge problem. I have many friends and family members that say to me whats the use of voting. And no matter what I say it does not seem to change their minds. All I hear is it does not make sense to vote when 2000 turned out the way it did. You can win and the loser takes the job. And that our votes don't count because of the fucking electoral votes anyway. And I have to admit they have a point but I will never not vote.

[Momgonepostal]

5. The two dumbest opinions I've heard about not voting are:

1) I knew a very educated, bright woman who said she would never vote because she didn't want her name to show up in the jury pool.

2) A freeper I used to post with on another board thought people on public assistance shouldn't be allowed to vote. She said they had too much of a vested interest in how tax dollars were spent.

:crazy:

[Bertha Venation]

6. don't allow people on public assistance to vote

That was another of Mr. "don't let the uneducated vote"'s points. :eyes:

Don't get me started on avoidance of jury duty. To me that's almost as unacceptable (when there is no valid reason not to serve at that time) as not voting.

[wuushew]

8. Where do juror lists come from?

I was under the impression that many states are using driver license names because of voter apathy. In any case serving on a jury is a civic responsibility as well, one necessary to ensure a just society.

[Momgonepostal]

14. You are right

I'm not sure how long CA has been doing it that way, but someone mentioned to this woman that she'd better give up her driver's license, too, if she wanted to really avoid jury duty.

I imagine different states or even counties have their own methods.

[MuseRider]

12. Point #2

you HAVE to be kidding! My oh my.

[AngryOldDem]

7. Some don't understand election law in their states...

...and there are others who are only too happy to keep them confused. I have a friend who has done some voter registration drives come across some ex-cons who have been under the impression (from their parole officers) that they permanently lost their right to vote upon their convictions. Once they know otherwise, they are thrilled to re-register and can't wait to vote.

[Nikia]

9. Some people are under that misconception

I live in Wisconsin and had to print out the election laws regarding restoration of voting rights for ex cons once they have completed their sentences to give to a coworker for her husband and another for a coworker. Both had been eligible to vote for over ten years, but had been told that they couldn't vote because of their past convictions. Both felt bad that their voting rights had been taken away, they thought, for life.

[tXr]

10. I have actually heard it stated

on the local (conservative) talk station here in Houston that voting doesn't matter, that you might as well not vote, and since the election is already bought and paid for, your vote doesn't count. I think this is a very insidious allegation cleverly (or so 'they' think) designed to further disillusion and disenfranchise voters by cultivating in them an attitude of hopelessness, defeat, and acquiescence to an increasingly authoritarian, interventionist government, which is exactly what those in power want.
I may be mistaken, but I believe that, at least here in Texas, juror lists are now drawn from the list of licensed drivers, due to the fact that so many people were letting their voter registration lapse and/or not registering to vote at all to avoid jury duty.

[MuseRider]

11. Some of it seems to be

because Government and Civics are no longer taught in a lot of schools and it is taught poorly if it is. Unless a kids family happens to be politically involved or at least conscious many kids simply do not know how or how important it is. I have seen this with my kids friends and it is sickening. Thankfully lots of kids are educating the other kids because they were raised to think it was important.

My kids used to laugh at me when I would refuse to go to a certain restaurant because of their anti gay hiring policies or I would not eat certain things for other reasons. No Walmart, etc. They thought it was stupid because one person would never make a difference. They do not laugh anymore, they have learned. They will always vote and consider it very important and hopefully they will influence their peers.

We have done a lousy job educating our citizens. We have done a lousy job supporting citizens who must struggle to vote. At this point I am not surprised that so many feel left out and no count.

As for those who know better and don't vote, you got me. I can't figure it out either.

[Nikia]

13. Some people are not happy with any of the candidates

I don't mean any personal offensive to my state's current Democratic govenor, but when I reminded my best friend to vote for govenor in the last gubentorial election, he stated that he didn't plan to vote. When I asked him why he said "Because my two choices are Satan or Hitler." Some people feel that neither party offers candidates that they would choose so they choose not to vote. I think that usuaully one candidate is better than the other, but having the resources or campaigning skills to win an election does not necessarily make a person the best candidate for the job. There are better people who are out there who don't have the desire to put themselves through a campaign, do not have the moneterey resources or fundraising skills, or might not have the media appeal that the candidates for higher office usually have.

[cally]

15. I think the ballots are too complicated

I always vote. I don't think many folks know that you don't have to vote on every issue. I live in Cali and the initiatives are confusing. I always vote on the initiatives but often do not vote for the local judge or Water board.I think many first time voters are overwhelmed by the confusion.

[bunkerbuster1]

16. A sobering thought about voter potential

If all of the qualified-to-vote African Americans in Georgia were to register and vote as they typically do, Bush would be toast there.


/bb

[Droopy]

17. You nailed it with your last sentence: apathy.

A lot of people think it really doesn't matter who's in charge. They think all politicians are liars and don't really care about the outcome of elections. Because of this attitude they never really take the time to study up on the issues and realize that there is a big difference between the two major parties.

[camero]

18. It's the media and the candidates themselves

On Kerry's side they see constant worrying about the Swift Boat ads. Nothing on the increasing rate of poverty, unemployment, the environment, no calls to bring the troops home (which is in direct contradiction to his actions in the 60s where he stated he would not defend Nixon just because he was a "war president" and came out against Vietnam after having fought in it), the rising number of uninsured, and the rising cost of health care.

He should stop worrying about what happened 35 years ago and worry about the deteriorating conditions here at home and the immorality of the IWR.

On Bush's side they see a war on the poor and lower middle class, infantile behavior ala Purple Heart Bandaids, Zell from Hell, Ahnold
making out truth-tellers to be "girly men", Gitmo, Military Tribunals, the slightest hint of dissent being labeled "terrorism", and the use of terrorism laws ala Patriot Acts to go after environmentalists and Muslims who the evidence against them can't hold up in a real court of law.

As for the forum, the poster has definitely drank the kool-aid and more than likely couldn't pass the test that he/she wants the poor and so-called "uninformed" to take.

The media with their one-sided corporate coverage of the conventions and non-discussions of the real issues facing America as well as voting days not being national holidays where people have off work, are also contributing to voter apathy.

People are getting disgusted with politicians of all stripes and rightfully so as long as corps decide who gets to run.

[genius]

21. It's the Democratic Party's fault. They treat children like the enemy

You should see how they go after children who try to attend Democratic meetings. They treat them as totally worthless animals.

[barackmyworld]

23. that's unusual

many young people volunteer at the phone banks in Boston. Even 7-year-old kids help by separating rolls of stickers into sections of 10 stickers! We have many 12 to 14 year-olds on the phone banks.

[genius]

24. In Southern California, kids are treated really badly by the Party

Most of the officials in the Party structure in OC literally hate children and they are very open obout their contempt for kids. Most candidates are great and they give kids lots of opporturnities. But the Party here is strongly anti-kid. At one emergency session of the State Central Committee, a young girl was shoved by Party security and children were escorted out of the L.A. Convention Cernter in the worst part of L.A. while their parents were inside last year. Parents had been told their kids could wait in the lobby but then had to locate them after the special session.

[dolo amber]

22. What if there's no one

who represents your beliefs enough to deserve your vote...you're just supposed to give it away? :shrug:

I've been having this argument a LOT lately...you can't believe that voting is both sacred AND disposable...I'm tired of throwing my vote away on *the lesser of 2 evils*... :(

[Yupster]

25. I saw a bumper sticker

"I never vote
It just encourages them."

I also have a client close to 80, who was in the Garman navy in WWII.

Whenever I talk about voting, he makes a rasberry sound and waves his hand disnmissively. He's never voted. Says they're all the same.

Odd since he grew up under the Nazis.