Americans only: How likely are you to vote in the November general elections ?

[Tender Branson]

I'm curious what the likelihood to vote is right now.

 

[Tender Branson]

Last option for me (not a US citizen).

But if I were, I'd definitely vote.

 

[Gozaburo]

I've become completely disenfranchised with participating in any kind of democratic electoral process.

If the past 8 years have taught me anything, it's that the average citizen lacks the intellect to process the abundance of information necessary to make an informed decision about governance. I would happily give up my voting rights to be led by an aristocratic elite instead of suffering the humiliation of standing in the voting line next to an "equivalent" citizen who is grossly overweight, unwashed, loud, uneducated, etc. and can hardly make decisions about governing themselves, let alone the most powerful state in human history.

 

[TypicalRussian]

I second Gozaburo. Democracy is gay af

 

[Ginger Ale]

I've become completely disenfranchised with participating in any kind of democratic electoral process.

If the past 8 years have taught me anything, it's that the average citizen lacks the intellect to process the abundance of information necessary to make an informed decision about governance. I would happily give up my voting rights to be led by an aristocratic elite instead of suffering the humiliation of standing in the voting line next to an "equivalent" citizen who is grossly overweight, unwashed, loud, uneducated, etc. and can hardly make decisions about governing themselves, let alone the most powerful state in human history.

Can you do it for me then?

 

[Port & Starboard]

I'm curious what the likelihood to vote is right now.

I'll vote in person for my local and state candidates. Jen Kiggans (R) gets my vote to represent my district in Congress.

I'm writing in "foghorn Leghorn" for President.

 

[Mycroft]

I've become completely disenfranchised with participating in any kind of democratic electoral process.

If the past 8 years have taught me anything, it's that the average citizen lacks the intellect to process the abundance of information necessary to make an informed decision about governance. I would happily give up my voting rights to be led by an aristocratic elite instead of suffering the humiliation of standing in the voting line next to an "equivalent" citizen who is grossly overweight, unwashed, loud, uneducated, etc. and can hardly make decisions about governing themselves, let alone the most powerful state in human history.

You should move to Colorado. Nobody in Colorado ever has to stand in line with anyone to vote.

I vote at my kitchen table.

 

[Peter]

I'm not American so can't vote but I always vote in the UK.
My mum ran a poling station for about 20 years so I feel obliged to vote now.

 

[Along Came Jones]

I will vote for candidates for all local, state and federal offices but not for the current candidates for the offices of the President and Vice President.

 

[VySky]

I would hope if someone plans NOT to vote that they keep their opinion of things to themselves

They have no voice.

They are the tree that fell in the forest.

 

[Big Brother]

I've become completely disenfranchised with participating in any kind of democratic electoral process.

If the past 8 years have taught me anything, it's that the average citizen lacks the intellect to process the abundance of information necessary to make an informed decision about governance. I would happily give up my voting rights to be led by an aristocratic elite instead of suffering the humiliation of standing in the voting line next to an "equivalent" citizen who is grossly overweight, unwashed, loud, uneducated, etc. and can hardly make decisions about governing themselves, let alone the most powerful state in human history.

The aristocratic elite understand you 100% clearly and have already rigged the entire system into a political establishment that functions without regard to the 99.99% of the rest of the country, affectionately known as the deplorables. The only thing they ask of you is that you help them defeat any threats to their system.

 

[MaryP]

I would hope if someone plans NOT to vote that they keep their opinion of things to themselves

They have no voice.

They are the tree that fell in the forest.

That's what I always told my (adult) students: Voting gives you the right to bitch!

 

[Bok Tuklo]

I would happily give up my voting rights to be led by an aristocratic elite …

Good news! That already happens. And you didn’t have to give up anything.

 

[Tigerace117]

I've become completely disenfranchised with participating in any kind of democratic electoral process.

If the past 8 years have taught me anything, it's that the average citizen lacks the intellect to process the abundance of information necessary to make an informed decision about governance. I would happily give up my voting rights to be led by an aristocratic elite instead of suffering the humiliation of standing in the voting line next to an "equivalent" citizen who is grossly overweight, unwashed, loud, uneducated, etc. and can hardly make decisions about governing themselves, let alone the most powerful state in human history.

The last thousand years of European history demonstrate, quite clearly, that the “aristocratic elite” is not, in fact, any more competent at running the state— and often times are substantially worst at doing so— than the average democracy is.

Just look at the years leading up to the French Revolution for a case in point.

 

[MaryP]

I'll be voting via mail-in ballot and will vote straight Dem, whoever it is. No vote for president is sure tempting, but no vote for president is a vote for Trump. He'll probably win, anyway, but I'll have done what I can.

 

[NewfieMom]

That's what I always told my (adult) students: Voting gives you the right to bitch!

Bad teaching. That was The First Amendment.

 

[MaryP]

You should move to Colorado. Nobody in Colorado ever has to stand in line with anyone to vote.

I vote at my kitchen table.

I think New York might also be a state where you can request a mail-in ballot for no reason. At least they're mailing me one, and all I had to do was call them saying I was disabled. No proof required. Or maybe it's because I'm over 65? Dunno, but that sure was easy.

 

[MaryP]

Bad teaching. That was The First Amendment.

Disagree. Personally, I think the First Amendment is highly overused. (Is that one word or two? It looks funny.)

 

[MaryP]

It's interesting that DP has posters who never vote. I should think if I were that cynical, I wouldn't follow politics at all.

 

[Bok Tuklo]

It's interesting that DP has posters who never vote. I should think if I were that cynical, I wouldn't follow politics at all.

Not voting while being emotionally involved enough to participate in a political message board isn’t cynicism. It’s petulance

 

[NewfieMom]

Disagree. Personally, I think the First Amendment is highly overused. (Is that one word or two? It looks funny.)

Just kidding with my post. But I don't see how the free speech rights granted by The First Amendment can be "overused". I think they are misunderstood. Many people appear to think that "free speech" means that no one can contest what they say. In reality, free speech only gives one the right to speak. It doesn't grant one the right to hold his position without other people disagreeing with it.

 

[Mycroft]

I think New York might also be a state where you can request a mail-in ballot for no reason. At least they're mailing me one, and all I had to do was call them saying I was disabled. No proof required. Or maybe it's because I'm over 65? Dunno, but that sure was easy.

I don't even have to request a mail-in ballot. All voting in Colorado is done by mail/drop boxes. It's been that way for around ten years.

There are a limited number of polling places open on election day for those who prefer to vote in person.

 

[Big Brother]

Just kidding with my post. But I don't see how the free speech rights granted by The First Amendment can be "overused". I think they are misunderstood. Many people appear to think that "free speech" means that no one can contest what they say. In reality, free speech only gives one the right to speak. It doesn't grant one the right to hold his position without other people disagreeing with it.

Does the First Amendment cover politicians who lie?

 

[Juin]

I've become completely disenfranchised with participating in any kind of democratic electoral process.

If the past 8 years have taught me anything, it's that the average citizen lacks the intellect to process the abundance of information necessary to make an informed decision about governance. I would happily give up my voting rights to be led by an aristocratic elite instead of suffering the humiliation of standing in the voting line next to an "equivalent" citizen who is grossly overweight, unwashed, loud, uneducated, etc. and can hardly make decisions about governing themselves, let alone the most powerful state in human history.

Your concern is an ancient one. The early Roman Republic had to grapple with that. The articulation by ancient Romans as to what weight to give a citizen had an eye as to what dangers a full blown democracy- the rule of the "equivalent" citizens, grossly overweight, unwashed, loud, uneducated, etc. and could hardly make decisions about governing themselves, let alone the most powerful city state in human history- posed to the Republic.

They set up a fine system that gave due weight to the worth of the citizen. The totality of the weight: the person, his social rank, education, material worth, service in the Legions. Not just all I have to do is is be able to breathe and I have equal shares in the corporation. Maybe they saw gomint business not unlike a corporation. You buy shares. And to buy shares you have to be worth more than just being alive. Those with the most shares called the shots.

Democracy was a bad form of government. A democracy was like a corporation where if you could breathe you had a share. And everyone had equal shares. The equivalent" citizen who is grossly overweight, unwashed, loud, uneducated, etc. and can hardly make decisions about governing themselves, let alone the most powerful state in human history, being the vast majority called the shots in corporate decisions.

 

[Juin]

I'll be voting via mail-in ballot and will vote straight Dem, whoever it is. No vote for president is sure tempting, but no vote for president is a vote for Trump. He'll probably win, anyway, but I'll have done what I can.

True. It's impossible not to make a choice. Even the act of not choosing is still choosing. Not voting is still voting.