If there was a tax incentive for voting do you think it'd dramatically increase voter turnout?

Question

Do you think Americans should get the option to take a half day off on designated voting days?

If not, if you dont mind answering, what do you think would increase numbers at the polls?

Answer 1

I'm not sure that I would want anyone whose vote could be bought with a tax break or a half a day off participating in the democratic process. Vote because you want to have your voice heard, not because you get "paid" to do it.

Answer 2

I personally do not want to give voters any incentives to go out and vote other than the fact that, with the knowledge they learned, they can get the candidate that best suits their needs into office.

A tax incentive, a lottery reward, half days of work, etc.. will only bring out the folks who would usually care less about voting, usually know little to nothing about the political process, and will only go to get these incentives.

If they don't want to vote to make a change, or adversly, to keep policies where they are.. if they don't want to educate themselves as to who might be the best candidate for them, then they should NOT vote.

The last thing we need is a bunch of people undereducated in the ways of policy and politics making decisions on to how our city, county, state and national government is run.

In short.. raise awareness, get your political views to the forefront, whatever they may be (mine tend to be more conservative financially, for instance), and let the people who know what they are doing vote.

Answer 3

I think it might, but at the sametime I think a valid question to ask do you want more sheep people voting? All it means to bring more people to poll is more of the same 2 party system (that essentially kicks out any good candidates).

Srry my bloods boiling today, so i dislike the 2 party state today alot more then normal. There was this guy i wanted to vote for in the governor race this year, but he couldn't get enough signatures to run. He got like 37,000 and need 30,000. Its ridiculous if you are a third party person don't live in Pennsylvania.

Answer 4

no way!! I don't want those lazy bums' votes going against mine!

The people who do give a care and bother to learn about issues are the ones who do vote, and really, do you think it's a good idea to have clueless people voting?

I suppose raising awareness of issues would raise voter turnout if people cared about the issues.

Answer 5

I doubt it. Most of those poor, disenfranchised whiners out there don't pay taxes anyway--they're too busy collecting our tax dollars.

Now, a half-day, that's something different. It works pretty well here in Korea for major elections.