My Vote Doesn't Matter

[Countesia]

Unless you live in a deeply corrupted state, dictatorship or straight up anarchy, your vote matters in the sense that you were able to walk up to that ballot and choose who you wanted without threat to your life. You expressed your political beliefs via vote.

Also, different voting systems work better than first past the post. Ranked voting is much more representative when you break it down.

it's a suggestion box. those in charge are under no obligation to take it seriously.

Thats not entirely untrue, but unless you live in a country with a seriously corrupted government, that isn't the case. And just because the candidate you personally voted for didn't win, doesn't mean the system is objectively flawed.

[Crysuko]

it's a suggestion box. those in charge are under no obligation to take it seriously.

Thats not entirely untrue, but unless you live in a country with a seriously corrupted government, that isn't the case. And just because the candidate you personally voted for didn't win, doesn't mean the system is objectively flawed.

unfortunately, I do live in a hopelessly corrupt country

[Gepanzerberg]

I personally don't, but that's because:

• I've no idea who to vote for out of almost 100 parties on the ballot (most of which absolutely no one has ever heard of), and
• no parties have anything in the way of distinct ideologies (and their platforms/manifestos mean exactly nothing),
• said parties are usually exclusively based on ethnic/religious lines, and
• many of their members switch party affiliations every so often.

Personally the only difference between the parties are their logos and whoever's the slightly-well-known moneyed businessmen of the week they've got as their leaders.

I can understand that sentiment. It seems you either have too few options (like here in the US) or too many options (in the country that you live in). Neither situation is good, and having more or less options doesn't always improve the quality of those options.

Thanks for sharing! That was a unique, non-American perspective on this situation/issue.

[East Florida]

I was just wondering if there's anyone else who doesn't vote for whatever reason in their respective country.

In the US, there's this expression that gets thrown around: "Our democracy" and usually in the context of "X, Y or Z is a threat to our democracy". The thing is, though, if you're a cognitive minority in this country (or maybe in your country, too), you don't really get a say in how you're controlled. There's a "their" democracy for the privileged majorities, but in the idea of the marginalized having a voice, it doesn't exist. If you don't belong to 1 of the 2 parties that get everything here, you may as well cast your vote directly into the trash, because that's exactly what it's worth. And as far as trying to quantify which candidate or platform is marginally worse, I'd rather just abstain from "voting". Because being forced to choose who you'd rather get raped by is a fucking slap in the face and I'd rather just cross my arms than add insult to injury by wasting my time to go make the empty gesture of voting for someone that doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell of winning.....but that's what it is to live in a society that values tyranny by majority as some kind of universal good.

So, that's why I don't vote. What about you?

Sorry if I may offend you, but that's really pessimistic. You may think your vote doesn't count because of the vast amount of people who vote against you, but you gotta consider that there are other people who feel the same way, and don't want to vote for the same reasons. That's a mentality that's keeping a lot of minorities from actually putting their two cents out there.

Voting is your most important essential right. And although your vote nationally may not mean much, your local and state votes mean everything. Get involved, if you want to see a difference, be that difference. I know that sounds cringe, but it's true. You may think that most of your life is affected by national law, but it's actually state and local law, especially in how the legislature is elected.

You have a lot more say in local and state laws. If you want to run you can even run for a position if you want, if you don't, then vote for your local runners, the ones you agree with. Better involvement in local government is a privilege, especially in today's world, please don't miss out on it.

Also, we live on plurality, not the majority, that's mostly because of how we elect. In Maine, they use Ranked Choice Voting, which prioritizes majority over plurality. That way whenever they vote their governor is voted in by the majority, and the majority of Maine wanted them as governor.

[San Lumen]

Your vote absolutely does matter. President isn’t the only thing on the ballot if your country has a direct election for it.

There is also provincial or state elections along with local elections. Every single vote does matter and is counted.

Local elections have the most direct impact as the margins are often smaller.

[Lodsa Emone]

Get your net worth up, not your votes.

[American Legionaries]

Your vote absolutely does matter. President isn’t the only thing on the ballot if your country has a direct election for it.

There is also provincial or state elections along with local elections. Every single vote does matter and is counted.

Local elections have the most direct impact as the margins are often smaller.

What does being counted matter?

[San Lumen]

Your vote absolutely does matter. President isn’t the only thing on the ballot if your country has a direct election for it.

There is also provincial or state elections along with local elections. Every single vote does matter and is counted.

Local elections have the most direct impact as the margins are often smaller.

What does being counted matter?

Are you really asking this question?

[Chan Island]

Unless you live in a deeply corrupted state, dictatorship or straight up anarchy, your vote matters in the sense that you were able to walk up to that ballot and choose who you wanted without threat to your life. You expressed your political beliefs via vote.

Also, different voting systems work better than first past the post. Ranked voting is much more representative when you break it down.

it's a suggestion box. those in charge are under no obligation to take it seriously.

No, but smart democratically elected leaders pay attention to how much they got, and who the other votes went towards. They realise that if they don't throw at least some bones towards voters of other parties, that their grip on power is that much less secure.

Non-voters from their point of view are free resources though.

I believe you are wrong about that.

in the last 10 years, identify a problem that was solved by voting.

Donald Trump being removed from the office of the presidency of the United States. Sure, you can argue about systemic problems, or talk about how he got there by voting, but a blatant fool removed from the nuclear button is a still a good thing. And that was solved by voting.

[American Legionaries]

What does being counted matter?

Are you really asking this question?

Surely you can read, and you replied to the post...

[San Lumen]

Are you really asking this question?

Surely you can read, and you replied to the post...

You voted. You expressed an opinion.

[American Legionaries]

Surely you can read, and you replied to the post...

You voted. You expressed an opinion.

An opinion which had zero effect on government policy. So how does it matter?

[San Lumen]

You voted. You expressed an opinion.

An opinion which had zero effect on government policy. So how does it matter?

So if your candidate isn't guaranteed of winning there is no point voting?

[American Legionaries]

An opinion which had zero effect on government policy. So how does it matter?

So if your candidate isn't guaranteed of winning there is no point voting?

If my candidate is guaranteed of losing, then there seems to be no point.

[San Lumen]

So if your candidate isn't guaranteed of winning there is no point voting?

If my candidate is guaranteed of losing, then there seems to be no point.

Tell that to people who won in upset victories.

[-Astoria-]

I can understand that sentiment. It seems you either have too few options (like here in the US) or too many options (in the country that you live in). Neither situation is good, and having more or less options doesn't always improve the quality of those options.

Thanks for sharing! That was a unique, non-American perspective on this situation/issue.

To be fair-ish, most people will only have heard of the largest two/three parties à la the US, though.

[American Legionaries]

If my candidate is guaranteed of losing, then there seems to be no point.

Tell that to people who won in upset victories.

Why? Their candidate wasn't guaranteed of losing.

[San Lumen]

Tell that to people who won in upset victories.

Why? Their candidate wasn't guaranteed of losing.

President Thomas Dewey didn't happen yet all polls showed it would.

[Chan Island]

Tell that to people who won in upset victories.

Why? Their candidate wasn't guaranteed of losing.

An easy thing to say after the fact. But not so obvious during their actual election runs- nothing says that can't happen to people you happen to like too.

[American Legionaries]

Why? Their candidate wasn't guaranteed of losing.

President Thomas Dewey didn't happen yet all polls showed it would.

Okay, and cumulus clouds are the white fluffy ones. Did you have a point?

[Morozistan]

So long as the electoral college and political parties exist there is no democracy, only the illusion of one. A true democracy can only be achieved if 1 person = 1 vote. The founding fathers warned that having separate political factions would only divide the nation and lead to corruption, which we can see happening today. We have no control over who runs as President, or who ends up in the Senate. Even then, so long as the electoral college exists we don't even get to choose who wins.

[American Legionaries]

Why? Their candidate wasn't guaranteed of losing.

An easy thing to say after the fact. But not so obvious during their actual election runs- nothing says that can't happen to people you happen to like too.

Given that they're literally not permitted on the ballot, I shan't be holding my breath...

[San Lumen]

President Thomas Dewey didn't happen yet all polls showed it would.

Okay, and cumulus clouds are the white fluffy ones. Did you have a point?

Yeah the point is many people though Dewey was going to win and Republicans would keep both chambers of Congress yet that didn't happen because the polls underestimated turnout and support for Truman.

[American Legionaries]

Okay, and cumulus clouds are the white fluffy ones. Did you have a point?

Yeah the point is many people though Dewey was going to win and Republicans would keep both chambers of Congress yet that didn't happen because the polls underestimated turnout and support for Truman.

Okay, did you have a relevant point?

[San Lumen]

Yeah the point is many people though Dewey was going to win and Republicans would keep both chambers of Congress yet that didn't happen because the polls underestimated turnout and support for Truman.

Okay, did you have a relevant point?

I think i was perfectly clear. what don't you get?