How Do You Vote When You Don't like Either Candidate? *Spin Off*

I don't politics at all. It's VERY interesting to me to see other people's reasoning or opinions on things.

It's been bad in the US since 1990 - we really haven't had good choices. I've had to hold my nose to vote for the last 8 to 12 years. I wasn't a Bush fan but damn, I'll take him back over 0bama any day of the week!

Clinton needs to take her nasty a$$ back to Arkansas or New York and retire. Permanently.

Trump cracks me up. He speaks his mind. He's NOT PC. But he doesn't have any military experience. He's been on top and he's on the bottom. He can really piss people off. Funny, he's been in the limelight for over 3 decades and just NOW people are calling him a bigot, racist and all the other stuff....why now?? Because he is saying something that is pretty close to the truth? Or is it because he's NOT PC?

What will I do this election? I will most likely vote Allen West as a write-in. I need to go with what I feel works for me and my family.

I think I'm going to write myself in this election....seriously, yes!

And Lincoln must be rolling over in his grave....wonder how many RPM's he's up to now

I have lived overseas and saw citizens who had NO say in their government. I NEVER want that to happen in the United States. I vote in every election! I have instilled that in my kids as well. There is a certain responsibility that goes with being a citizen of the United States and voting is the biggest responsibility.

I agree about plugging my nose and voting for the lesser of candidates. However, this election cycle has been something else.

Those that feel Trump is evil and can't elect him under any circumstances, that is how I feel about Hillary Clinton. So I will declare my candidacy for President of the United States. =) Vote for ME!! =)

-Moderator Comment-

Some members may be wondering to which question this question refers. It refers to another member's earlier posted question in which they advocated for Presidential candidate Donald Trump and asked if voting for Trump might somehow ultimately relate to their children's safety. This question however has now been removed. While the original question as asked, was deemed allowable -the subsequent SWH was not. In the SWH the member who originally asked the question used offensive language and called out another member in a critical fashion. Consequentially, as per MP guidelines, the question and all associated responses had to be removed -as was explained to the member who asked the question. I just wanted to provide an explanation to those who were wondering what was going on or what happened to the original question being referenced by this question. .

Thanks all.

-M.
Moderator

This is an interesting question. My general thought processes on candidates is the same whether it pertains to local elections or national ones:

I think of it pragmatically: we are hiring someone for a job. So, aside from a candidate's platform, I also look at a simple requirement: does this person have the qualities one needs to work well with others? Is this someone *I* would want to work with or have in my office break room? Does this person have the self-possession and discretion not to shoot their mouth off, causing their employer potential lawsuits for harassment?

I realize that some may see this as a low bar, however, I shouldn't vote for someone I don't think I would be able to work with. Why inflict that dynamic on others, especially heads of state of other countries? I don't want someone to glad-hand other officials, but someone who can say "no" politely. Someone with a filter who doesn't have to walk back every other comment they make, someone who takes the time to think before they speak. Someone with good listening skills.

In short, again, someone I would want to work with who I think could do the job effectively. I do think we need to look at a President as our face to other nations and I choose to be an informed voter on local and state politics--states actually have a great potential for change and a lot of power-- which generally have more of a direct impact on myself and my family than the President might.

Oy vey. You sure you want to go down this road?

I separate out the skills that are needed to CAMPAIGN well vs. those needed to ADMINISTER well (which is the job of the President). So as thrilling as it is to watch a great orator or natural campaigner, that's not the main part of the job. I love a great State of the Union speech as much as anyone, but it's one night a year vs. someone who's going to really work and who understands the job the other 364 days.

I think we have to look at the system that gives us this situation now - the big money, the lobbying, the disastrous Citizens United decision, and the reality that ANYONE who rises to the top did so because of compromises made and, sadly, deals done. And that includes members of House/Senate/2 major parties who are super delegates and control the votes.

I compare that to parliamentary systems (Britain, Israel), where lots of parties have to make deals and concessions with each other to get one person elected Prime Minister. It's not perfect either, and definitely "politics makes strange bedfellows" but at least there are some shared goals. And blissfully, the election season is SHORT and then it's done, and they get down to the business of governing. We have a preposterous 2 year campaign season with virtually no one doing any work except actually running for office.

I'd like to see caucuses eliminated, since they utilize very few people and mostly those who have tons of time on their hands - that eliminates working class people who have 1-2 jobs and just can't spend days and days in the caucus process. I'd like to see more open primaries since we only have (essentially) 2 parties - so I'd like to see independents/unenrolled voters being able to vote and to have same-day registration - obviously they have to choose one ballot (Republican or Democrat) and they can't vote twice, but they'd be part of the process.

I'd like to see Election Day NOT be on a stupid Tuesday (a holdover from agrarian societies) but include on-line voting and weekend voting, to accommodate those who work 2 jobs or are disabled, those who observe a Saturday vs. a Sunday Sabbath, and more. I'm sick to death of voter ID laws which are in response to a total non-problem (we have voter apathy in the US, not voter fraud!) and which disenfranchise the elderly (and we had a whole convent of nuns who couldn't vote because they don't drive!) and those who live in cities and don't have a DMV near them. I'd like to see post offices (because they are quasi-government agencies and there's one in every zip code) be places of registration. The GW Bush Justice Dept. did a full investigation and found fewer than 100 "violations", most of which were legit voters who were just in the wrong precinct. Let's face the truth that undocumented workers and criminals with active warrants just aren't racing to the polls to hope they get caught. And let's let those who have paid their debt to society become full and functioning members of society - let them participate.

All that said - I vote for the person who will get the job done that needs to be done. If we have a candidate who doesn't really want the job, just wants to get elected and have a big audience, then we'll have worse gridlock than we have had with a do-nothing Congress. I'm sick to death of the hate speech, and I'm sick to death of conspiracy BS. I'm sick to death of people who don't like Bill Clinton rejecting Hillary Clinton - WHO CARES about their marriage? If she and he worked it out, it's not our business. If Trump is awful to Melania, who cares? (Okay I care - but it's not presidential criteria.) I'm way more worried about "tell it like it is" BS and hate speech. And I care about women and gays and fewer guns and people who really know what the Constitution says instead of what they saw in a commercial, a debate sound bite, or a Facebook meme.

There is no perfect candidate. This is not an acting job for which there will be an Academy Award. This is real life. It's about what the person will do for 4 years, not what they say when they play to the cameras before they have the job. So like any good personnel director, I care a lot less about someone's interviewing skills than their past performance. And I really am not interested in anyone who subscribes to conspiracy theories and has no grip on reality.

It's very easy to pick one faux pas or one disastrous decision and say, "That's a deal breaker". Sometimes it isn't. But I think people usually pick the candidate they want and then throw in all the reasons why the other person is unqualified. And it's hardly ever that simple. I am married to a wonderful if imperfect man who maybe pissed me off 10 or 25 years ago. I can vote for a qualified if imperfect candidate if I think that person has a track record and a grip on reality. I can't vote for someone who's unhinged and who really truly doesn't want to DO the job, just HAVE the job.

I'd like to see all the outrage get focused on the SYSTEM that gave us this situation. I think Bernie Sanders' campaign has told us the average person with little money has been left out of the process (not just voting, but national government). I think Trump's candidacy, on some level, has said people are pissed off at the do-nothing Congress - unfortunately, it has fueled and fertilized the hatred and bigotry against pretty much everyone. On some level, if people understand that LOCAL politics breeds people who can be bought by special interest money and then allowed to rise to the national stage, we'll have a shot at possible reform.

I just responded to a similar post on a friend's FB page, I'll just copy what I said there:

I hate being in a position where I feel I am "forced" to vote for one of 2 candidates I don't support. I would like to go out & make my vote count, voting for a 3rd party candidate, if for no other reason than if enough of us do so, it will make a statement that D & R aren't the only choices out there people are considering. This may be the presidential election where a 3rd candidate garners enough votes to break into double digit reporting at the end. And the impact of that action may not count this time, but it may finally turn the tide for future elections.

Also, to everyone making their considerations - if you truly aren't going to vote for president, please go out & vote anyway... there are downstream ticket elections that need your input locally, don't let other people make those decisions for you! And if you feel the need to vote for one of the top two presidential candidates, be aware of the appointment impacts they will have in office. It's more than what they get up & say they want to do - they will be appointing supreme court justices, heads of state, etc. which will have long-lasting impact on government beyond the decisions of the president. One side or the other - most people aren't happy with either, but if you are going to choose between just those two, choose from the broad brush of what they represent.

Hope this helps some of your decision making! T. :)

I believe that since people fought and died so I would have the right to vote, I have a duty to exercise that vote. First I look at whether the candidate believes in the rule of law (generally a given but not so this go round), whether they believe in freedom of the press, whether they believe in science and whether or not they seem to be dumb as dirt (I have a really hard time voting for stupid) . Then I look at whether they will change the supreme court in a way that I believe will be harmful because court appointments last way longer than 4 or 8 years.

I have zero understanding of how anyone could be undecided this time. Neither does the rest of the rational world.

I believe that since many people have fought for my right to vote (including our military and suffragists), i am obligated to exercise that right. And I will, even if it comes to choosing the lesser of two evils.

How do I decide? I try not to get caught up in cults of personality which are put forward by both major parties and instead since there are certain issues that are really important to me, I will use those as my guideposts.

I don't love any of the candidates and am embarrassed that it has come to this. That said, not Trump, never Trump, anyone but Trump. The man is both evil and unqualified. Really, we can't elect him, period. So for me, the choice is easy. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure that a prick like him doesn't take office.

I vote for the party ideology even if I don't like the leader.

Go to isidewith.com and see where your ideologies fall in regards to the candidates. Then vote with the candidate that most matches your policy ideas. I really never like a specific candidate completely but I usually vote for president based on the things presidents actually control: foreign policy, political appointees, and what types of laws they would be likely to veto. Considering the next president might be able to appoint 3-4 SCOTUS justices over 8 years, I am going more based on general political spectrum viewpoints rather than personality or likability.

I agree with Beaver Canoe, as well as Diane B regarding the voting reform. Though I consider myself to be a middle-of-the-line progressive, I will take into account the candidate's experience, knowledge, and stance on various subjects. I may have in the past voted Republican if I felt that candidate was the best choice, but the new Tea Party Republicans are too radical and extremist for me. My point is, I am open-minded enough to vote for someone whose party may be different from mine if we share a similar ideology and approach. That being said, I am not a fan of either candidate this year, but again, I will vote for the one whose party ideology matches my way of thinking the most. Any party that wants to take away someone's rights does not match my ideology, for example, nor will I vote for someone who rants and raves about things but has no clear plan on how to carry things out, or refuses to talk about the issues and just talks about random stuff. Those are distractions and sadly, most people fall for it because they are looking at the superficial, not looking deeply, the same way a handsome guy may do something stupid and you don't notice it because you're so focused on his looks. I also won't vote for someone who says incredibly stupid things or displays their ignorance on a constant basis, which would not only create issues down the line because of the elected's lack of knowledge, but it would also be an embarrassment coming from our future head of state. Not to mention, we'd be the world's laughingstock and may end up in unnecessary wars we'd later regret.

for me, it's either or. third party will never win. so, again, for me, it's between trump and clinton. i personally like what trump has done this past year. he went from not being considered, to beating all the other republican candidates. how? people voted for him. is he the best person to be elected? um, no, but neither is hillary. i like trump because i believe he will tacke the economy issue. i don't like his rants, but i think he does that to generate response, whether positive or negative. that's his personality. do i think he is racist? no, his two wives are naturalized citizens. he hired people from all walks of life, shape, color etc.
i am nervous about the email-gate re: hillary. why? because it makes me nervous to think why didn't she just give everything when first asked, and why did she think she is above the law to continue using a private server.
i know exactly who i'm voting for this november.

I feel like that's what we have this time around for sure. I know and love people on both sides of the arena, so I hear it all. I know which one I will vote for, but that's not a discussion for here. Am I super excited about it? Nope. But those are our options. I think writing in a candidate or voting for a 3rd party is kind of pointless, only because it really will be Clinton or Trump.

I look at the issues most important to my family and vote with who aligns most closely with them. That's all we can really do.

I vote my conscience every time. I've voted for a third party candidate in the past for president, I've written in candidates, too. For the PA delegates, even though we could vote for 10, I voted for the 5 that supported my candidate only. It's the principle of the thing for me.

I do my research. I see what they have done. If they foundations and who gives money to that foundation.

I don't like any of the candidates. I don't like feeling like I have to hold my nose either.

I will most likely do a write-in.

People really have no choice but to vote for who ever they feel is the least worst.
Or you can write-in a candidate.
Sometimes they win but it's rare.
Strom Thurmond was elected in 1954 to the United States Senate in South Carolina as a write-in candidate.
It's not really anyone s business how I make up my mind.
No matter what anyone promises - they generally don't have a snow balls chance in heck to actually make it happen.
They only thing anyone in the government can agree on is to do what ever they can to stop anything from happening at all.
When people eventually get tired enough of it, they'll vote in a fascist dictator and that will be the end of our republic and then there will be no more voting.
I once worked with one woman who was actually proud that she reached the age of 58 and has NEVER EVER voted in her life and never will.
It kind of makes me mad but then she's a bit of an idiot, so maybe it's a good thing.

as i said in my response to the last political post,Bernie Sanders and if he is not avalable then i am writing in mickey mouse. the politics in this country are a joke. and the presidential canidates are a joke as well.

There is an old quote: "politics is local". I find the one major issue that resonates with me and go with the candidate who best speaks to it.
ETA: Diane B. there most certainly is voter fraud. As it is, folk can early vote by mail. I do not want to see online voting, etc. On election day we can come in late and leave early to vote.

There are more than two parties. And in case you weren't aware, way back when, the Republicans were originally a third party.
When I don't like either major party candidate, I find a third party candidate I like, and vote for him/her. It doesn't matter that s/he doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of winning. It sends a message to both major party candidates that they have been weighed and found wanting.

The only thing that sets my mind at ease is researching. Yes, I watch/listen/read both Fox News and MSNBC (Shocker!). I also get my news from a few other places. It is time consuming, but I listen in the car on my commute and that helps. Listen long enough and you'll get a good idea of what's going on.

A candidate's history and prior actions speak volumes. Also may want to take into consideration that one candidate has been under investigation for years now, by people who have unlimited funds and unlimited motivation to find wrongdoing...and consider what they've found. Those are just two examples. Then put that together with their platforms and your personal beliefs, and the decision will come to you.

I think politics is just like religion - there isn't a one-size-fits-all. But you have to decide where you stand and where your line is. What is most important to you. For what it's worth there are quizzes online that help with that. Some are goofy but some of them are really helpful.

I like Bernie. If he runs as an independent I will vote for him. I like that he understands that if Americans don't have education or don't have help they won't ever be able to get out of poverty and get jobs where they can support their families.

I like that he says we need free education. Financial aid is free college for some. If they put more money into financial aid where more can get in school, whether it's barber school, beauty school, learning to fix cars, build houses, etc...or getting a college degree. They will be able to be more productive in society and be less of a drain on the system.

I like that he says we need more money for health care. Obama care didn't help many. Not nearly enough. Putting more money into health care to help people get their medical issues fixed where they can reenter the workforce is good for everyone.

Getting people out of poverty by getting more jobs in America is good. Getting our veterans and homeless families off the street is good for America. Do you know any family that lost their home through the Obama years? I do. They lost jobs, homes, credit scores, families split up, and more.

We need help, we're in a crisis and are going downhill quickly.

I don't like Clinton. I don't have a thing against women in office. I will gladly support a woman for president when she's not a manipulation lying crooked person who should be under public investigation. Public so we can see the evidence against her as they find it so we can not say there was any sort of coverup or anything like that.

I don't like that Trump is loud and crass and saying dangerous things. BUT those who want the flood of people entering our country illegal, they're going to vote for him. Those who want foreign people to stop terrorizing us, they're going to vote for him.

I know some of my friends are seriously considering a coin toss for this election.

For me it always comes down to who has the closest to my personal philosophies and also lines up with my deal breaking topics. For this election it is easy for me to choose one of the candidates over the other because the thought of one having access codes to nuclear weapons frightens me to levels never known before.

Thanks for the question. Great reading all the responses.