But I am wondering what reasons may be for someone not voting. Do you have friends that don't vote, and if so, what do they give as a reason? I'm genuinely curious. I won't debate the reasons (and please, other responders, please don't), just want to try to understand.

Moni

I wouldn't have done what he did but proud that voted and didn't let me or anyone else sway his vote.

I appreciate your passion, but I think we need to accept that the right to vote is just that....a right. The second that it becomes a punishable offense NOT to vote is the second we evolve into a full fledged police state.

We cannot make an individual be a good citizen. All we can do as parents, teachers, community leaders, friends, and neighbors is to set a good personal example and to educate those who are interested. My parents were politically informed. We held mock elections in school, government classes were interesting. My brothers and their families are all voters. My SIL, a citizen of England, joined our ranks after many years of living here. Her primary reason for becoming an American citizen was so that she could vote. :-) And complain!

I can think of numerous reasons though why someone wouldn't bother...

Also there are plenty of people who vote who have no idea what or whom they're voting for or any knowledge of the issues.

People refused to take the ballots, or mark them so that they couldn't be counted, as a way of revolting.

A lot of young people don't vote and politicians here are trying to cater to the young university aged kids.

But honestly? the older I get, the more I understand those who choose not to.

Voter fraud is rampant--all those who have multiple names and addresses to collect duplicate benefits often vote multiple times, to vote for the candidate most likely to give them a raise (more welfare benefits). There's not a dime's worth of difference between the 2 major parties, and no 3rd party candidate has a chance these days. Your vote DOES NOT count in the presidential election--you're only voting for the electors who are not even bound to vote the way the popular vote went (they do, of course, but they don't really have to). Absentee ballots aren't even counted unless the election is close. In our state, the questions aren't binding--the goverment can overide the popular vote with the stroke of a pen--and does. And while I like jury duty, I certainly can understand those who have jobs for whom it is a real hardship to be called up every year, two at the most--we only have to serve once every 2 years, but we get summons much more frequently than that--and then you have to deal with digging out your proof that you served recently. It's hard for people who are already strapped for cash to then lose that pay every couple of years.

I can't imagine not voting, but it's getting to be more and more a waste of time.

I am glad he did not vote.
I don't like that some people feel they NEED to vote even when they are uninformed and feel pressure to stick with party lines or vote with a particular demographic. (gender, ethnic, social class, etc)

I believe that many, many people vote based on "groups" they fit in without really understanding much more than the last ad they saw. Campaigns bank on "commercial education" and pressure to "get out and vote"

I congratulate him.

Sue

Lots of people die in service for our freedoms.

For me, it is morally incomprehensible that people do not inform themselves, and vote.

I guess jury-dodgers think they will never be plaintif or defendant in a jury trial.

How long does it take to educate yourself about candidates and issues? Longer than watching a ball game or a movie? Longer than doing a puzzle or reading a book? Oooh, but it's so HARD! LOL

The election yesterday was not solely for President. Are we saying some people don't like ANY of the candidates for ANY office? How do you suppose they get to BE candidates? (Yes, people vote in something called 'primaries'.) Aw, that's too much WORK! Fine, be happy with choices made for you by others who are not too busy -- and who have vested interests of their own.

I always vote, but I know some people who choose not to vote, and it has nothing to do with them being uninformed. Most of them are more informed than most people I know who do vote. Unfortunately, plenty of uninformed people vote. I wonder how many people vote ONLY based off what they see on tv/radio and don't even read the pamphlets or the opposing viewpoints?

A lot of people believe our system is flawed and corrupted. We only have two choices, and those two spend millions and millions of dollars trying to get elected. They all take money from special interest groups so they make some of their decisions based on what big corporations tell them to do. Politicians don't do the right thing all the time because of this, or upcoming re-elections, or deals made with people that we have no knowledge of down here being the common citizen.

If you aren't rich or don't pander, you don't make it to the final two. Simple as that. I'd like to see a ballot where we have ten choices and we all receive the same pamphlets telling us what they're about and that's it. No commercials, no phone calls, no selling us the candidates.

I can understand why some people don't want to take part of a system they feel is completely corrupt. That's their right too, being an American. Someone shouldn't have to vote for what they feel is the lesser of two evils if they don't want to.

I've voted for third party candidates before too. I didn't care if some people thought I was throwing my vote away. I voted for who I felt was the best person for the job and I felt that was the right thing to do.

We have many freedoms that people choose or choose not to excercise. Could be personal reasons, could be laziness.

I choose to vote, to carry a gun, to practice my religion.
You may, by virtue of the very same freedoms my SO fought for, choose not to.

That's why they fight. So you have choices.

Maybe some just don't feel that they have a pony in the race. Think?

Voting is a right, and as such, it is one's right to NOT vote. Punishment for not voting is anathema to America and everything it stands for. Like others have said, I wish the misinformed would not vote, but it is still their right to do it.

So I'll bring this back to the original request:
"But I am wondering what reasons may be for someone not voting. Do you have friends that don't vote, and if so, what do they give as a reason? I'm genuinely curious. I won't debate the reasons (and please, other responders, please don't), just want to try to understand."

I've worked a number of campaigns and elections in various capacities over the years and after talking to people, door knocking, fundraising, fielding questions and other things I've heard a number of reasons WHY people don't/won't vote. Other than being incapacitated, hospitalized at the last minute or something like that, I can't think of legitimate reasons but that's not the question. Some of the reasons I've been given include:

- Some say they feel "it won't do any good"
- Some say they feel that voting for a 3rd party or a write in would be a waste so they won't vote for anyone
- Some say they feel afraid of jury duty, IRS or other retribution.
- Some say they feel it's not a duty to vote.
- Some are "too busy" watching TV or things.
- Some say they feel they don't have the time to vote and that the law that says they get time off to vote isn't effective or they don't want to utilize it.
- Some say they feel it's a protest.
- Some want to disavow any responsibility and this affords them the opportunity to say "Don't blame me - I didn't vote for him/her"
- Some don't believe that if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.
- Some don't want to stand in line to vote when they could stand in line to spend money somewhere.
- Some don't know that they could vote. (For instance, in MN you can register at the polls)
- Some feel exempt from those who feel if you don't vote, don't complain.
- Some feel there's fraud and legitimate voters can't offset it.
- Some don't know how they feel on an issue or candidate so they don't feel they should vote. Some don't know how to become more informed on it.
- Some listen to the churches, emails and other political groups who tell them not to vote
- Some get so angry with the political ads and posturing starting years before the election they become so numb they won't vote because of that.
- Some say they don't like the "tone" of elections so that's why they won't vote.

I know there's more but can't think of them right now. I really think a number of these should be discussed, in another thread.

Though I've resisted, I have to ask, Azzalea, do you have any documentation to back up the claim "Absentee ballots aren't even counted unless the election is close."?

Voting for neither candidate, but rather a write-in or other party is a clear signal that NEITHER of the two party candidates is acceptable and is as valid a vote as any. One that your son has every right to, thank god. To say it was a throw away, is ignorant.

I don't think voting for a 3rd party candidate is throwing away your vote. I think it's making a statement that this % of people aren't satisfied with the Republican or Democrat and want another choice. You are taking away a vote for the top 2. In a close race, mabe the local ones, that would matter. In this day and age, an independent doesn't have a chance, but I think each year, they gain a little support, so maybe one day who knows?

In the American democracy, you 'cut off your nose to spite your face' when you vote for someone with no chance of being elected. Usually, a vote for a third party candidate dilutes support for the major candidate most like him. Your vote effectively aids the major candidate who is least like your third party candidate.

Ron