Why Don't You Vote? Do You Hope Your Children Will?

Well I am the wrong one for this. I absolutely vote and I absolutely have my children educated about this and want them to vote as adults. I consider someone has ZERO right to complain about ANYTHING in the country if they don't take the barest minimum step of VOTING.

The last election I was pregnant, terribly sick, and on complete bedrest. I was told by my doctor, I would not be allowed to vote. Seeing as how I couldn't move without puking, I didn't have a choice. I had always voted, but it wasn't a physical possibility at the time. (I probably would have passed out, or something. My pregnancy was very high risk.)

I DO vote. This election, there is LITERALLY not one person I want as president. Not even a write in candidate. I can't pull a candidate out of thin air, so that's how it is. I am more conservative, but I would be willing to vote for any party, if I thought they were a better candidate. I don't really care about parties, personally. I really don't know what to do with this election. I am sad (and scared) there is not one person who I conscientiously feel I can vote for. I'm hoping by election time, that something happens to make a candidate feel safe for my vote.

Yes, I hope my child will vote. I will express to him how important it is, to use this freedom.

I vote, but some of them slip by me. We have all sorts of ballot initiatives and local elections. Some of those don't get my time and attention. The National and State elections I am much more attentive to. Oh and I don't worry about my kids not voting. I have an Uber Patriotic involved bunch.

Michelle R. You may not be an idiot for not voting, but you are not doing your duty as a citizen. Being uninformed, and seemingly proud of it, is pretty sad.

I agree with the posters who said if you don't vote, you have no business complaining about the state of the country.

Buck up. Do your homework. Use your brain. And make a decision. Voting is not only a right and a privilege, it's a duty.

ETA, 2: Our children go with us. We talk about the issues at hand and what we are voting on. Our kids ask questions about some of the bonds that we vote on and how that will affect them. Even though both my husband and I are Conservatives - we differ on issues. We debate things as well. So our boys get to see us debate but still get along...

ETA: how sad that people don't vote because the vote would go to "the other party"!!!
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I vote in EVERY election - county, state and national. It's MY CIVIC DUTY to vote.

I too am bothered by number of people that said "NO" to voting. In my book? you don't vote - you don't have a right to complain. You can write in a candidate, you can even write NONE OF THE ABOVE - but voting is how your voice is heard.

You don't know enough about a candidate or an issue on the ballot - RESEARCH it!!! LEARN!! Learn BOTH sides of the story. Don't just follow a news program - doesn't matter which "side" it promotes - the truth is out there.

Weigh your convictions against that of the candidate(s). Do they align with yours? What's their voting history? You can check it out at Thomas' - otherwise known as the Library of Congress.

Bottom line in my book? You don't vote - you don't have the right to complain.

Put up or shut up. Make your vote count. Let your voice be heard.

You can scrub away all the excuses. For me the bottom line is simple - laziness. My vote may not matter and my voice may not be heard but you can bet I will be down there excercising my right and my civic duty. Failing to act is an act unto itself. If you don't vote, you have still effectively voted.

This is one of those freedoms people handing over willingly for any excuse. We must remember we give up our rights and freedoms one at a time until there aren't any left. The shackles of tyranny are built one link at a time until it's too late to protest or make changes.

I vote. I believe that it is one's civic duty to vote. (Unless your religion procludes it.)

Voting, and studying one's voters pamphlet, and staying informed on the state of the nation is our responsibility as citizens.

And as Cheryl O. so nicely put it: if you don't vote, don't complain. Voting is your chance to have a voice. If you choose not to use it, don't come whining to me. I am not pretty about it. Think about all the countries where people have to rise up-- even sacrifice their lives-- so the citizens can have the power to vote.

Great question.

What we do not appreciate, we stand to lose.

"Not voting does not mean that I count less, that I cannot disagree about somehting or that I am stupid like a lot of you seem to feel."
Actually it does mean that you count less and have less of a right to legitimately disagree. To boil "voting" down to a single presidential election every four years shows your short sightedness. Local elections, state elections, propositions and bond issues affect your life and your children's lives in profound ways.

Voting is a very small price we regular citizens pay for freedom. Isn't it the least we can do for all the benefits of living in a free society? Many of our fellow Americans pay a much steeper price.

I vote, in every election, and I bring my two children with me. We make a big deal of it and have ice cream afterward :). My four year-old can describe the democratic process as well as most of the adults I know, and we talk about why we chose one candidate over the other(s). My husband and I are not on the same ends of the spectrum politically, so my kids also are exposed to discussion/debate about the issues. They know we can disagree and still get along.

I have to say that I was also dismayed to read that so many claimed they would not be voting.

Also, I'm constantly alarmed by how many people don't know that you don't have to fill out the entire ballot. You can vote in just one race, or you can leave blank the ones you don't know about. I hear from so many people, "well, I would vote for XX, but I don't know anything about the other races, so I don't vote." It's not an exam, blank spaces don't count against you.

I do vote each and every time. I feel like if I don't vote, I have no right to complain - and I like to complain!

I do talk to my children and grandchildren about voting. I tell them the same thing - if you don't take the time to learn about the issues and you don't go out of your way to vote, then you have no right to complain about the issues. I try to stress to them how lucky we are to have a democratic society and they should stand up and be counted!

I always vote. And my vote counts.

I do get demoralized, though, when we have the technology to do away with the electoral college process and actually have one vote mean one vote.

And rulings like the Citizen United ruling, which basically make it a no-holds-barred money dump make me sick to my stomach. One of the worse decisions I'm aware of.

But I vote in every major election.

Personally, I feel that citizens should be required by law to vote--they can vote for no candidate, but I feel that everyone should vote even if they hate both candidates (create an option that basically says "I decline to choose" or something). In some countries (Australia, I believe, is one), citizens are required to vote, just as much as they are required to register for serving on jury.

I know many people who don't vote - most tend to be partiers, a little nuts, not pillars-of-society type people. My feeling is that when non-responsible peopel don't vote it's jsut as well - they wouldn't make appropriate decisions anyway. But I completely understand where you're coming from - Legions of people around the world would die for the opportunity to vote in a democratic election to select their government leaders. We have become too far removed from history to really understand the awesome prividelge & responsibility we have. Maybe if we understood those who've fought and died for this freedom we'd take greater advantage of it.
My husband and I vote for every election - from school board to president. There are times out votes cancel each other out - usually we vote similarly. I know my kids will vote becuase they've grown up watching us vote and seeing our minor political involvement.

These are my thoughts on voting. I do vote and will always vote, if I'm 90 yrs old and in a wheelchair I will get my self to the voting booth.

If you don't vote you are doing nothing but surrendering.
And if you don't vote you have NO RIGHT to complain about politics because you did nothing to keep what ever you are complaining about from happening.

Hi Queen-

I absolutely vote!

And, because of the many views/perspectives of my kiddos, some of the most wonderful conversations/debates occur particularly around our dinner table...even from those of my kiddos not old enough to vote.

From my perspective, the 'right' to vote is not merely that...It is, in MY opinion, an obligation!

Best Luck!
michele/cat

I always vote. Always, always, always. Haven't missed an election since I turned 18. My husband used to be hit or miss on voting. Until he met me :)

As for our child, my husband and I talk about politics in our house on a daily basis, and she hears it. I have a sneaking suspicion that she'll also grow up to be a regular and steady voter, as well.

I vote in every election.
I don't think it accomplishes much, but I try.

I vote in every election, including off-year elections. To me, voting is both a right and a responsiblity. I'm fortunate to live in a country where women are allowed to vote and also think we owe a debt to women who came before us who fought for our right to vote. I don't take that for granted. With my right to vote, I wholeheartedly believe it is my responsbility to seek as much information as possible and to filter it beyond what a talking head with a bias wants me to think.

I think people who do not choose to vote because they do not educate themselves about issues and candidates probably are doing a favor to those of us who do. Every right has a corresponding responsibility, and it's a voter's responsibility to be informed.

I vote. My husband votes. We tend to ALWAYS vote for the opposite sides. I like to tell him I'm not voting, I'm just cancelling him out. So the real question is which side will our son be on. His dad's or the right (well, actually left) side?

I always vote. I take my child with me and always have. I talk to her about how important it is and that many people have fought and died to protect our right to vote - we can not honor them if we do not vote (I feel it is dishonorable not to vote). I email everyone in my contact list every election and tell them the same thing.

That being said, I also wasn't initially thrilled with what ended up being our choices. Then, I did what I tell all my friends to do...I educated myself on the person - rather than letting the media edit the person to their liking. What I found might surprise you...you should check it out for yourself too... I'll post something that resonated with me - but again, you should do your own research as well.

This is who Romney is:
Mitt Romney Working Background:
• After high school, he spent 30 months in France as a Mormon missionary.
• After going to both Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School simultaneously, he passed the Michigan bar, but never worked as an attorney.
• In 1984, he co-founded Bain Capital a private equity investment firm, one of the largest such firms in the United States . As a venture-capitalist, Romney’s first major business deal involved investing in a start-up office supply company with one store in Massachusetts that sold office supplies. That company, called Staples, now has over 2,000 stores and employs over 90,000 people.
• In 1994, he ran for Senator of Massachusetts and lost to Teddy Kopechne Kennedy.
• He was President and C.E.O. of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
• In 2002, he was elected Governor of the State of Massachusetts, where he eliminated a 1.5 billion deficit.
Some More Interesting Facts about Romney:
• Bain Capital, starting with one small office supply store in Massachusetts, turned it into Staples; now over 2,000 stores employing 90,000 people.
• Bain Capital also worked to perform the same kinds of business miracles again and again, with companies like Domino’s, Sealy, Brookstone, Weather Channel, Burger King, Warner Music Group, Dollarama, Home Depot and many others.
• He was an unpaid volunteer Mormon missionary in Paris for over 2 years.
• He was an unpaid volunteer campaign worker for his dad’s gubernatorial campaign – 1 year.
• He was an unpaid intern in his dad’s governor’s office for eight years.
• He was an unpaid bishop and president of his church for ten years.
• He was an unpaid President of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for three years.
• He took no salary and was the unpaid Governor of Massachusetts for four years.
• He gave his entire inheritance (from his father) to charity.
That’s a grand total of 28 years of unpaid service to his country, his community and his church. Why? Because that’s the kind of man Mitt Romney is!
• Mitt Romney is one of the wealthiest, self-made men in our country but has given more back to its citizens in terms of money, service and time than most wealthy people.
• And in 2011 Mitt Romney gave over $4 million to charity, almost 19% of his income….
• Obama gave 1%
• Joe Biden gave $300 or .0013%
This is real character and integrity
More Mitt Romney Facts:
• He will show us his birth certificate
• He will show us his high school and college transcripts
• He will show us his social security card.
• He will show us his law degree.
• He will show us his draft notice.
• He will show us his medical records.
• He will show us his income tax records.
• He will show us he has nothing to hide.
Romney, Here’s what we know:
• We know what religion he is, and that he won’t desecrate the flag, bow down to foreign powers, or squander my money on vacations.
• We know he has the ability to turn this financial debacle that the “Spending President” has gotten us into.
• We didn’t know that when Obama said he’d give us change, he meant nickels and dimes, and he would get the big bucks.
• We won’t like all the things necessary to recover from this debt, but someone with Romney’s background can do it.
• I also like the fact that he can and will talk to 3rd graders WITHOUT a TELEPROMPTER!
But, on the minus side, He never was a “Community Organizer”, never took drugs or smoked pot. Never got drunk. Did not associate with communists or terrorists. Nor did he attend a church whose pastor called for God to damn the US .

BTW Michelle R - how do you make a major purchase? If you can take the time and go to the trouble to research what kind of car to buy or appliance to buy - you can surely figure out who to vote for. Not voting is shameful.

of course i vote. i got that right in 2008 and so i only got to vote once, but i am ready for the next one. come on elections!!!!!!

Yeah, I couldn't believe how many women said they were not going to vote! WHAT?! Get out there and educate yourself about the candidates, get out and educate yourself about congress and the house. Understand that it's not just the president that makes the rules, it's all the OTHER people that we vote into office. And if you don't want to vote then I don't want to hear one single PEEP from you about universal healthcare, immigration, 99%, abortion rights, women rights, reproductive rights, taxes....none of it. You have a voice. Use it.
L.

Thank you for posting this! My parents educated my brother's and I about how our government works and to use our RIGHT to vote. I vote every chance I get! IF YOU DON'T VOTE, YOU CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON. Let your vote be counted and your voice heard! It is your RIGHT, don't take it for granted.

I will definitely be voting! I feel the same way you do in regards to both candidates but my choice will be carefully weighed.

Thank you for sharing about your inlaws. It sounds like they are people of honor and courage and their story is an inspiration to not take for granted the liberties that we are accustomed to.

I vote but I'm dismayed by the number of people who don't. They feel their vote doesn't count, they're "too busy", they aren't informed enough or they just base their decision on the commercials & sound bites. We have a very low voter participation rate, one of the lowest among democracies.

People are much more willing to say "I don't like this candidate" or "...that candidate" and so they opt out because things aren't perfect. People are very unwilling to study any issues in any depth or from independent sources. News magazines, for example, which publish articles on "both sides" of an issue, show declining readership, while internet rumors and sound bites help people make their decisions. We really don't teach much in the way of civics anymore so people make up things and place blame when they don't realize it's constitutionally impossible. They no longer understand the role of the 3 branches of government - in fact, a majority cannot name them. And yes, most people could not pass the citizenship exam that your husband and so many others proudly took. The latest travesty is people outraged over "voter fraud" as if non-citizens and those assuming the identities of dead people are taking over the country - this outcry is largely from people who don't vote. Despite a study during the Bush years on this issue that showed practically no voter fraud over a 5 year period, thousands are being kept from the polls this year.

So I'm with you - and with most of the other posts so far. No one gets to weight in or complain about anything if they didn't study the issues and cast their votes, and that means in local elections as well. Local boards (school committee, finance board, selectmen, town councils) are where the state reps get their initial experience, from which come our state senators and our national representatives. So don't think those local elections don't matter.

I always vote. And nothing will hold me back this elections; ABO. And yes, as usual, my kids will go with me. We hype up voting and how as Americans we are so lucky to vote, so I expect my kids will vote too.

Unlike Mrs O, I am proud of our Country and will be even prouder when Mr O is out. I have Hope for a major Change for the better.

I wonder if the ones you read here who fuss about the candidate and say they won't vote are just bellyaching right now, Mom. Maybe on voting day they really will go cast their vote.

Sometimes people say stuff like that, and then think better of it later...

Dawn

I vote in every election. If there is an election, I'm voting! When our kids were growing up, we would discuss the process before going to the polls, standing in line, we would discuss the candidates. When I went into the election booth, my kids were with me and they saw our elections in action! My children enjoyed this and we would watch the results that evening. I have always told my kids no matter what, their vote counts!

Yes, my kids will be voting. My son will vote absentee since he is living in another state attending college and serving our country in the National Guard.Our daughter lives here and will vote as well. I remember in 2008 standing in line with them and talking about the candidates. I am so proud of my kiddos! They are great adults! Most of the time!!! =)

I vote in all civic, provincial and federal elections. I take my kids to the polls with me so they can watch the process. I introduce them to the candidates that I vote for in our riding. They would both recognize and know by name our City Counsellor, our MLA and our MP. My ten year old also knows who the leaders of our federal parties are. I do expect that they will be future voters.

I always vote. It is very important to me to have a voice and use it. I really wish more people voted. Yes, I hope my kids vote. I will teach them about it and encourage it. That is the only way good change can come about -----

I vote. Every single little election there is, no matter what. I do as much research as I can prior to elections, which is hard sometimes.

I believe in voting SO MUCH that I give my daycare parents a rebate on tuition if they bring in the voting stub - 10% off a week of tuition per parent. Some people can save almost $40 just by voting. And every year I remind them before the registration deadline of this perk. Every year I have at least 2 families (out of only 7 or so) that don't bother at all. I tell them I do not care, nor every know, how their ballot was filled out, just bring me the slip of paper that shows they voted.

So, I do not get it either. I try to tell them how important EVERY election is, but it falls on deaf ears apparently.

We explain to our kids that the smaller the election the MORE it impacts us. I started the discount when our school had a referendum, and over the years I have gotten a few to vote that otherwise wouldn't. I'll keep putting my money where my mouth is!

I definitely vote because I know from my own parents history of coming to the U.S what its like to live in a repressive atmosphere where you have absolutely no say in anything. I believe that you need to have your voice heard coupled with the courage to leave your mark (whether the other party may win or not). For women I think its especially important since there are candidates that want to dictate to you what you should do with your body and how much you should earn in the workplace. We as women work hard whether it be at a job or staying at home and I would like a candidate that represents me and protects vital programs like medicare and social security. Not voting is not an option as we move forward because we have too many factions wanting to hold us (women) back. What about those candidates in your own state/city that can make a deep impact in your way of life? if you don't vote you have no say in what happens to you and your family locally. My wish is that those women that don't vote rethink and take action. As for my son I know he'll vote as he has been coming with us when we casted votes since he was a baby. We talk openly about the President and politics and now that he is almost 8 he asks questions (of course we make our answers very simple to understand).

No clue...sorry...I vote.

Both of the examples given are lame, imo.

I also think that if you are not involved enough to vote, you're not involved enough to have an opinion on elected officials, right?

ETA: Sorry--forgot about the "children" part....
My son is very very interested in American History, government, etc. He knows it is important to vote! It's a right and a privilege to do so! He's 9 and he can't wait! I hope he always feels this way.

My neighbor below can kiss my butt...I have the right NOT to vote as well.
Not voting does not mean that I count less, that I cannot disagree about somehting or that I am stupid like a lot of you seem to feel.

I don't know how anyone can make any decision with all the BS that flies around about everybody. How can you use the internet for it? How do you know what is the truth and what is a lie? If I havent taken some kind of course on politics how can I make a truly informed descision?

I feel it I would be doing my country a disservice if I were to vote like so many voting for someone because of the color of their skin or just because the candidate said he was christian. Yes I have heard many many many say that is why they voted for this or that person. Heck someone else HERE said they didnt like how someone looked so they couldnt vote for them! AND SOMEHOW I AM THE IDIOT FOR NOT VOTING! AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

If I do try to get some understanding of things it starts yelling matches, I have heard too many of those in my life , so I stay away from discussing religion and politics!

ROFLMAO

ETA
Actually, I dont complain about the state of the country
I mean I do not feel anyone should be judged harshly because they dont vote or educate themselves on political issues. You have no clue what goes on in their lives that probably keeps them from spending energy on those things. I have a right to decide what I will participate in.

I have voted every election, but will not this one. It has nothing to do with the candidates, it has to do with geographic's. My state always goes to whoever the republican candidate is. The problem is how our system is set up.

You have swing states where votes are extremely important. Then you have states where who will get the vote is a given. I am in a state where the vote is a given.

Until/unless voting becomes about every individual vote, and not about delegates...my vote, in my state means poppy wash.

I do vote most of the time. Granted I have only had the last few elections to really made an educated vote. Before I was too young ( old enough to vote but not mature enough) to really pay attention to the "big picture" of what was going on around me.

For presidents... the last 3 times I have voted.

For locally, I don't always. That is because up until recently everyone who has been voted in has been great.. and I didn't really pay close attention to the local ones.. the state/ county yes but the town elections no. But because of the last set of changes locally ( our town) I will pay better attention and you better believe I will be in there to get everyone who is in there now out! I figured out the hard way its important to have a choice in who gets in to make rules/ changes for all of us and know what they are really about even in a small town of 500!

I have voted exactly once in my life. I have no desire to vote, especially when I don't have an opinion about the subjects or already know that in my area a specific candidate is already likely to win. I could educate myself to maybe have an opinion, yet i don't feel the urge and likely never will. i could try to fight the tide and help the underdogs of elections, but that's not what i generally do.

oh and i don't complain about politics or have discussions so heated that it takes over my lives. do you as you want. vote. i can choose not to and be just as comfortable with my choice.

However you vote, this election will be decided by women. Both parties are vying for our vote, with the Republicans especially aware that during the last election women supported Democrats by a fairly wide margin. I agree with many of the posters that during this election there isn't much to choose from, but it is still fundamental that we vote. We are all moms-this is about our children's future!!! Think of the decisions the new president will make regarding healthcare, the supreme court, the war in Afghanistan, the economy, the environment. If you care about any of these issues, you should be voting in November!