Do you vote by party or by issue?

Question

The whole Repubs vs. Dems issue is getting way out of control...

There are libs and conservies on both sides.

What is your tie breaker?

Answer 1

I don't vote by party. I usually vote by the person's whole history and platform rather than a specific issue. I know that in many cases that will coincide with party lines but not always. Also, the question of voting party lines completely ignores primaries when a lot of the real choices come up. Let's face it, most towns are dominated by one party or the other and unless he gets caught in a major scandal, the candidate from the more popular party will win. If you don't vote in the primary, your voice will never be heard.

Answer 2

I'm a Republican but have voted for a lot of Democrats when they were the best candidate or only candidate available.

Partly I am Republican because I find this party agrees with me most of the time on the issues I think are important.

I am a conservative and the Republicans are more consistently conservative than the Democrats, although I have known many Democrats who were as conservative or more conservative than me. The problem is they would vote for a Liberal Democrat instead of a Conservative Republican, even though the Republican was closer philosophically to what they believed.

When I vote this fall I will vote for Republicans where I have that choice and where the Republican is the better candidate. In some elections I will vote for a Democrat over a Republican because I know and like the Democrat better and trust his or her political decisions.

I would prefer to see the Congress remain under control of the Republicans, and that is purely a matter of how I see the issues.

Answer 3

Generally, I vote by party, because as a whole, I agree more with the Republican Party than with the Democratic Party.

I could vote by issue, but the problem is - it's about more than just one issue. I might support a person on one issue - but what about the other issues?

One of the most important votes a member of Congress makes is the first vote they make of each Congressional session.

That's where they vote for Speaker of the House. You might not care how a person votes on that issue - but it determines the whole direction that the House of Representatives takes.

There may be a "conservative Democrat" that might be "really close" on a lot of issues that I care about - but they're still a Democrat, they caucus (work together and vote with) with the Democrats, they vote for the Democrat for Speaker of the House - and that would affect the whole direction of the House.

Answer 4

I absolutely vote by issues. I agree with you on the problem with the 2 parties getting way out of control. They all need to get a grip. I have changed parties several times. BTW, it is really easy to change parties in Texas. I am in one of the very few states that changes your party depending on how you vote in the primaries. My tie breakers are several issues. Not taking care of the little people, ignoring the fact that there are terrorists and they do want to kill us, (I met one before September 11 and he hinted about what was going to happen in America - he said it was really big, but his friend yelled at him in Arabic and he quit talking) I get angry when I hear about employers abusing their employees. I can't stand slum lords. I'm very concerned about Law Enforcement problems and crime. Criminals never think that they are wrong, especially when they are drunk or stoned. There is a lot more going on than the media covers. It makes me angry that they focus on gun crimes when there are a lot more people being stabbed and beat up. I call that sensationalism.

Answer 5

I vote for the best (in my opinion) candidate regardless of party. But I can't say I vote on an issue either. Most candidates have some issues I agree with and some I don't, so I chose by the degree of things we agree on and leadership qualities.
Voting by one issue or by party is for fools who are to lazy to learn more than the superficial.

Answer 6

Sounds nice, but you can't. You have to vote by party even if you don't agree with them 100%. So what do you do, find the issue most important to you, ignore the rest and vote that party. What you are talking about is split tickets.

Answer 7

I mainly vote Democratic, but will cross party lines depending on the issue and candidate.

Answer 8

Voting straight party, is the same as voting for a single issue.

I tend to vote independently on local (vote the canndidate).
I tend to vote more republican on national (pres), simply because the demo choices have been sickening while the vp choices (leiberman, edwards) have been nice.
(I would have voted demo if either had been the president choice).

On my congressional, i tend to vote gop on senate, and the individual on house...because of the ways of each house.

Answer 9

Issues that the party wants to deal with and propose new ideas

Answer 10

By issue. Parties are dumb. You can't just base your opinion just because that is what your party stated. You need to base it on, what you agree on, and what you don't. I am usually all over the place.