Disappointing voter turnout in my precinct.

Platapus · 11-04-10, 06:05 PM

Once again I was an election official during this election. Had a blast. I can highly recommend it. Working 17 hours straight to make democracy work

It makes you feel good.

By the end of the night, we only had 38% of the registered voters in my precinct (about 3800) vote. 1382 was the exact number.

I think that is pretty sad.

There are people around the world begging for a chance to vote and we don't.

There are people literally risking death and in fact dying while standing in line to vote in some places in the world. But we won't get up early or risk missing our evening TV shows to be bothered to vote.

We have thousands of dead military who died to ensure that we have the right to vote and who would probably prefer not being dead in order to vote, but we won't risk standing in the cold in order to vote.

It just saddens me to see such low voter turnout.

Everyone likes to bitch about the government, but I guess it does not bother them enough to vote.

No wonder why our representatives feel that they are not accountable to the citizens, evidently the citizens (at least 60%) really don't care about how our government is run.

And that makes me sad also.

the_tyrant · 11-04-10, 06:10 PM

This is probably because the voters think that both candidates are similar(just like how marx predicted)

Gerald · 11-04-10, 06:14 PM

This indicates a rather large lack of interest, and that many choose the couch instead of voting, which is not a favorable development in a democratic society.

the_tyrant · 11-04-10, 06:17 PM

why can't people internet vote or phone vote?
It would increase voter turnout drastically

GoldenRivet · 11-04-10, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

why can't people internet vote or phone vote?
It would increase voter turnout drastically

way to easy to manipulate i should guess

Platapus · 11-04-10, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

why can't people internet vote or phone vote?
It would increase voter turnout drastically

Anything in the Internets Tubes would be impossible to secure. People can vote through the mail, but are too lazy to even do that.

One thing I would be in favour of is making Election Day a federal and state holiday. That would get more people to vote. It has been suggested in Congress and consistently shot down.

GoldenRivet · 11-04-10, 06:29 PM

yes voter turn out in these sorts of elections is rather pathetic.

"If you don't vote, you deserve the government you get" thats what i always say

the_tyrant · 11-04-10, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

Anything in the Internets Tubes would be impossible to secure. People can vote through the mail, but are too lazy to even do that.

One thing I would be in favour of is making Election Day a federal and state holiday. That would get more people to vote. It has been suggested in Congress and consistently shot down.

that might be a consideration, but I think in the future internet voting should be implemented. Since the US has like the best encryption technology, with ecliptic curve and AES encryption methods.

And people and confident enough to enter personal information and wire money on the internet anyways

Buddahaid · 11-04-10, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

why can't people internet vote or phone vote?
It would increase voter turnout drastically

Use absentee ballots if you want to vote on your own time. And the issues are too complicated for many (me) to understand well by design, just like taxes. This confusion allows people to be swayed by sound bites and red herring points. I try to avoid that by never reading anything sent in the mail except the voter guides for both the significant parties. The tripe goes from the mailbox to the recycling instantly.

Platapus · 11-04-10, 08:58 PM

I used to hate voting in California in the 80's

We used to have issues worded thus,

Should the State Legislation be prevented from enacting legislation that would reverse the remanding of the exception to the law restricting tax expenditures increases to no more than an increase of 4% from the 1980 proposition xx which was not enacted.

HUH????

August · 11-04-10, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buddahaid

Use absentee ballots if you want to vote on your own time.

I have a problem with absentee ballots for everyone. It's just too easy to collect votes by bribe and trickery.

Let every voter make his own decisions in a private voting booth away from outside influences and at least be sober enough to walk on his own into a polling place and go through the mechanics of voting.

Happy Times · 11-04-10, 06:19 PM

Well representative democracy works poorly and it is open to corruption often, same problems in Finland.
I am all for direct democracy, our politicians say it wont work, people are too stupid.
But it seems to work in Switzerland, probably the most well off country and people in the world.

farmall · 11-04-10, 07:42 PM

I glanced at some news article yesterday and it said that more people vote on American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. I don't watch any of this type of TV programs. I am glad you had a blast being an official. Thank you for your effort in the election process sir.

11-04-10, 06:05 PM	#1
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,360 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Disappointing voter turnout in my precinct. Once again I was an election official during this election. Had a blast. I can highly recommend it. Working 17 hours straight to make democracy work It makes you feel good. By the end of the night, we only had 38% of the registered voters in my precinct (about 3800) vote. 1382 was the exact number. I think that is pretty sad. There are people around the world begging for a chance to vote and we don't. There are people literally risking death and in fact dying while standing in line to vote in some places in the world. But we won't get up early or risk missing our evening TV shows to be bothered to vote. We have thousands of dead military who died to ensure that we have the right to vote and who would probably prefer not being dead in order to vote, but we won't risk standing in the cold in order to vote. It just saddens me to see such low voter turnout. Everyone likes to bitch about the government, but I guess it does not bother them enough to vote. No wonder why our representatives feel that they are not accountable to the citizens, evidently the citizens (at least 60%) really don't care about how our government is run. And that makes me sad also. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

11-04-10, 06:14 PM	#3
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	This indicates a rather large lack of interest, and that many choose the couch instead of voting, which is not a favorable development in a democratic society. __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

11-04-10, 06:29 PM	#7
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	yes voter turn out in these sorts of elections is rather pathetic. "If you don't vote, you deserve the government you get" thats what i always say __________________

11-04-10, 08:58 PM	#10
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,360 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	I used to hate voting in California in the 80's We used to have issues worded thus, Should the State Legislation be prevented from enacting legislation that would reverse the remanding of the exception to the law restricting tax expenditures increases to no more than an increase of 4% from the 1980 proposition xx which was not enacted. HUH???? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

11-04-10, 06:10 PM	#2
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	This is probably because the voters think that both candidates are similar(just like how marx predicted)

11-04-10, 06:17 PM	#4
the_tyrant Admiral Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 2,272 Downloads: 58 Uploads: 0	why can't people internet vote or phone vote? It would increase voter turnout drastically

11-04-10, 06:19 PM	#12
Happy Times Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 2,950 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Well representative democracy works poorly and it is open to corruption often, same problems in Finland. I am all for direct democracy, our politicians say it wont work, people are too stupid. But it seems to work in Switzerland, probably the most well off country and people in the world.

11-04-10, 07:42 PM	#13
farmall Watch Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 29 Downloads: 139 Uploads: 0	I glanced at some news article yesterday and it said that more people vote on American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. I don't watch any of this type of TV programs. I am glad you had a blast being an official. Thank you for your effort in the election process sir.