When picking a person for public office do you learn about each person or vote by party only?

Question

I would like to know if we as Americans are taking time to learn about ALL the people running or only concerned with big names.

Answer 1

Anyone that votes for a candidate simply because of their party(or race or gender) shouldn't even bother to vote. As an American,it is our duty to research the candidates and vote for those we think will best serve our country. Our country would be much better if we all made an informed decision.
Our state is a great example. People were so determined to "stick it" to the Republicans that they voted out a great Senator and elected an idiot.
Personally,I am more impressed with the little name candidates this time around than any of the big names.

Answer 2

I vote strictly third party and look up what each candidate says. The candidate I voted for Senator when Obama was running was for state provided health care, anti-war, pro-gun, and pro-poor & working class.

If it is a forced choice between a Democrat or Republican, I vote against the incumbent. If both are new, I vote against the party that controls the area.

Answer 3

For primary election and for non-legislative positions, I try to research the individual candidates as much as possible. For general elections and legislative positions, I realize that the power of my legislator is relatively small and that what matters is which party has the majority (as that determines who runs the committee and controls what proposals even come up for votes). As such, for congress and the state legislature, I tend to vote the party line based on an understanding of how those bodies are structured.

Answer 4

I try and learn about all the people, regardless of party. However as the election gets close I may change my vote depending on what the polls say. In other words, if my favorite doesn't stand a chance of winning, I may vote for my second choice because he/she can win. I also vote AGAINST people I don't care for by voting for "anybody Else"

Answer 5

I try to lean as much as I can about the candidates for offices I consider important. I don't care to think to hard about who my tax collector or elections supervisor is. I just vote party lines for offices like that. But as far as my county commissioners, state and U.S. Representatives, state and U.S. Senators, Governor and President and Vice-President, I try to learn as much as possible about them. I then vote for the candidate I think is the best or most qualified regardless of party affiliation.

Answer 6

I pretty much stick to the democratic ticket. I used to vote on the candidate but I found that my interests aren't served that way. Candidates vote along party lines now instead of constituency-which there is a huge disconnect right now between what the people want and what the politicians want. My ideas follow more closely with the democrats. I don't even recognize the republicans of my childhood. Some of my heroes were republicans, but now they're just all a bunch of criminals.

Answer 7

I never understood how people could vote just based on political affiliation. That seems lazy to me.

I vote for the person and his or her ideas. Anyone can promise anything, and they usually do, but I'm stubborn, I want to see a plan.

In the past few elections, however, I was just voting for one person so the other person wouldn't win. Sad, but true.

Answer 8

I learn about the candidate. I will vote for the candidate that will build the fence. Then kick out the illegal alien drug dealers, gangs, and prisoners. Then start in on the rest of them.

Answer 9

Know the individual qualifications of the candidate to choose whom to vote. Do not rely on their party affiliations.

VOTE for your choice as US President on my 360 degrees blog and know who will likely win.

Answer 10

I vote for the guy, not the occasion. next years election, and this years huge-unfold, forces me to concentration on one situation however - conflict. i'm balloting for Ron Paul, if he's not nominated i will vote for the single candidate which will help us get out of Iraq the quickest- in spite of occasion which would be, so as that stands out as the Democratic occasion. the different themes are minor for my area to this conflict.