I have a question and I need answers from ordinary folks not double talking politicians. I read a response to a discussion about candidates running for election. The response said as the person did not like any politicians they would just not vote. As American citizen, by choice, I take the presidential elections very seriously. I dont like a lot of the people running but I like some a little more than others. This person said that one vote wouldn't matter. My vote may not elect my choice (it didn't in the last one!!) but am I deluding myself thinking that my vote counted for something??
[question posted by whiteheather39]responses and comments:
In Singapore, voting is compulsory. If you don't vote, you will be punished by the law. That's how "neat" things are here. We are quite a one-party system here - you might have heard. There is one dominant party and a few scattered oppositions who are honestly not too impressive. So I vote. If I don't like the ruling party, I vote for the opposition. Here, it is a given that they will win (most of the times at most places). But what's more worth noting is by what margin they win. So by this, they know how pleased we really are of them. But of course, if the opposition is tipped to win and I don't want that to happen, I won't "play" with my vote. I will cast it the right way. :P [lordwarwizard]
If very few people bothered to vote then any numpty can get elected, and your stuck with them and their policies until the next election. That's what happened in the last U.K. & Scottish Elections, when less than 50% of those elegible actually voted. By voting you are showing your support for the candidate of your choice, and if that candidate gets enough votes, then gets elected, the bigger the majority then the more legitimate the candidates election is, especially if more than 50% of those eligible vote for 1 person, the big problem is that a lot of people don't bother to vote because they think their vote doesn't matter. You also have to remember that it is only fairly recently that every citizen in the U.K. got the right to vote (and probably its the same in a lot of other countries as well). There are many countries when no-one gets a vote, or can only vote for one person. It's your vote use it wisely. [Eskimo]
Your vote should count! However, when it comes to the US presidential election, it is the electoral votes that count - your vote only counts when it coincides with the electoral votes! And electoral votes are moved by big businesses and lobbyists. With most other US elections, special interest groups/lobbyists/pressure groups are what often determine the results! Sad, isn't it? Well, at least you are given the notion that you vote means something (although residents of Houston, Texas, living on Richmond Avenue just found out the plain truth about elections and voting in Texas - oh, Metro (city transportation) decided they will put the metrorail on Richmod Avenue, although presented and voted proposition to the public was to extend metrorail on Westpark! [Netsbridge]
I think that if you believe in what you are voting for it makes a difference. Whether your candidates win or lose you have still added to the statistics. Politicians still have to take the opposition into consideration. A close vote means he has to work on things that are acceptable to both sides. Often the elected member is held is check by colleagues of the opposite party, it is supposedly the reason for the two party system. I think everyones vote is important because it is one of the things that makes us a democracy. [sumofalltears]
You may think that your vote do not count because it's just one vote anyway but if a lot of us thinking the same way then let us gather and count ourselves, then, you will find out that our vote, individual vote really count! [senses]
I agree with everyone else.. We all need to vote one way or the other regardless if "our" guy/gal wins.. If nobody voted think of the mess we would have.. Not a thought I can personally live with.. So I vote and hope the good guy/gal wins for better or worse.. But bottom line I took a stand and voted for what I think and believe to be right come what may.. Tammy [Tsferrets]
By the way just as an add- It really irks me when those same people don't vote and then sit back and whine about somebody doing them wrong song, they had a chance to vote and "POSSIBLY" make a difference but were to lazy to try.. Really tears me up.. Thats a whole nother band wagon so I won't even start.. Tammy [Tsferrets]
I live in Canada and, obviously, we have the vote here as well. I feel that we are so lucky to be able to go to a voting booth and have a free vote. We don't have someone pointing a gun at us telling us that we have to vote for a certain person and we are not in some country where the people don't even have the right to vote. How can we possibly take those rights for granted? And...as a woman, we haven't even been allowed to vote for that many years actually, so I would never take it for granted. I have lectured people when I have heard them say that they can't be bothered voting, because I feel so strongly about it. If we take our rights for granted, bit by bit, we will end up losing them. As for not liking the candidates, there was one time when I felt utter disgust with all the candidates that were running. I still went to my polling station. When I received my ballot though, rather than put an X by a name, I wrote a note on the ballot that I was spoiling the ballot because I didn't feel that any of the candidates truly represented the Canadian values but that I wasn't about to sit home and stay quiet. Then I folded my ballot and handed it in. I used to wonder about the spoiled ballots...now I know. [bluebird1956]
Btw, I should mention that I have only spoiled my ballot once. Usually, I favour one candidate over another and vote that way. Regardless, though, I have NEVER stayed quiet. [bluebird1956]
Hmmm I don't agree with that idea that one vote doesn't matter. The more people that think that like, then all those one votes do indeed add up. And I prefer to vote for someone I dislike a little less than I dislike the other candidates LOL! I get quite miffed when I hear people slating the elected candidates and then say they didn't vote themselves, they wasted their vote, they could have used it to increase the vote for other candidates. I hope you do vote again, I certainly will be voting when it's time here... [anonymili]
you know what, even if the candidate you wish to vote for has the slightest possibilty of winning the election, don't be affected because as a good citizen, you know that you have voted for the right candidate. though he/she doesn't win, your vote for him/her is a good contribution to the society. [angelofdeath]
True, it is virtually unheard of (except in a few exceptional cases in history) that one vote makes all the difference. However, that does not mean your vote doesn't count. Think if *everyone* said "I am not going to vote because one vote isn't going to make a difference..." that just defeats the purpose of letting the people elect their leaders. I personally don't think those who don't vote have much of a right to complain about what's going on since they did nothing to exercise their voice when they had every right and every opportunity to do so. What is important is that you know what you believe in and where you stand so that you can make the best choice (I know people who vote only because they like the candidate's name, gender or just one issue they support and that is not a well-educated voter to me - it's important to know what each candidate stands for and what their intended plans are should they be elected). Bottom line is that everyone's vote counts. It doesn't guarantee a favorable outcome for all concerned (which is impossible since we have one half of our population on one side of the political spectrum and the other half on the other) but the purpose is to give each citizen *equal opportunity* to have a voice. [skydancer]
Well, I don't know how's your country voting system goes. But, I have to let you know that, in Singapore here, everyone who is age 21, you have to vote and it's very serious if you are in Singaopre and you are already 21 years don't vote; You will go to jail. Even if you are in other country, and you stay there, still holding the Singapore's citizenship, you have to vote. This is our voting system. I'm just wondering, if you guys don't vote, then if you guys had a good President, but don't really know how you guys feel, what's the use of asking you to vote, in the first place??? [chrischan17]
Heather I really do not know if it does I ask myself that Question to but they always say it could be your Vote that makes the Difference so I really don't know Hugs to you [gabs8513]
Your one vote might mean meager to you, but have you considered if all people think that way? Your vote counts, whether you believe that or not. And even if your candidate won't win, you still get to exercise the right that our forefather fought hard for. Go ahead and vote! [kheyanne]
Of course yes. Your vote counts. If you won't vote your points will be counted twice to the opponent. So better yet vote so that you points will remain in the party you are voting. [crycutie]
I often find myself voting for the lesser of two evils. That's not the way I'd like it to be but I still vote and I believe it counts. I was raised believing that if you don't vote, you lose your right to gripe about it when the other guy wins. In some countries you can lose the right to vote if you don't exercise it. Did you know that in America only 40-60% of the electorate usually vote. That's a disgrace....I'll bet a lot of people in a lot of the world wish they had the ability to vote and Americans throw it away. [irisheyes]
The best way for me to comment on that is to look at the election in Florida.If 10,000 people had decided their vote did not count so none of them voted,would it have meant victory or defeat for the President?When a major turn-out at the polling booth is around 35 %,is that any indication of what the people want?100 voter posibilities and let's say 40% vote means you now have 40 voters.If the winner gets 40% of the votes,that means s/he receives 16 votes.So out of 100 eligible votes,the winner received 16.Yes,your vote does count. [lonewolfnan]
Every vote counts. Voting is compulsory in Australia, which I agree with. I understand voting is not compulsory in the US. This favours the wealthier party with the wealthier supporters. [jennybianca]
I felt like that the last election I voted in for they had gave us wrong info and it really didnt matter which one we picked it ended out the same like they wanted stopped smokeing in bars of all places! Plus more places only place that ya can smoke now is on the Casino floor grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr [Lakota12]
i think it depends, in some countries like china , we do not have fair vote, whether you vote or not does not make so much difference, can not change the outcome, but in some countries like US, there is democracy, you vote does count!!!!! [cooldude1981]
That is what people say when they cannot be bothered putting the time and consideration into elections! If your vote made no difference then why did so many people sacrifice their lives and liberty to ensure that working class people and women got the vote? You are doing the right thing sweetheart ! xx [mummymo]
Every single vote counts. What if that one vote elect a candidate over another party that would be great.. Yeah, election is one thing one should not take lightly because we are choosing our future leaders, who is of great benefit for the many... [chase07]