To you, Is voting a right or an obligation? and why?

Answer 1

your attempting to draw a line between the two when in voting, "right" and "obligation" are inseperable. voting is a right initially earned through the struggles of a small ragtag militia. once the right was earned, the only way to ensure the continued right to excercise it was to in fact excercise the right to vote. otherwise, through the passage of time, the voice of the people would be lost, and power would be held by a privileged few, thus negating the power of the vote.

to claim a right to vote yet refuse that it is an obligation on one's part is to essentially deny yourself that very right.

Answer 2

I like a couple of your previous responders answers already.

It is both and it is a privledge, and responsiblity.

So many people do not vote because of "voter apathy", which means lack of interest. Or because they don't think that their ONE vote will really make a difference.

But imagine if just 10% more people tried to become informed and voted for the BEST candidate based on good information! We may have different LEADERs, given how close elections are these past few years.

If you need information, please check out these sites.

The calculator takes the TOP 24 ISSUES, lets YOU RANK them by LEVEL of IMPORTANCE to YOU and CHOOSE whether or not you SUPPORT the 24 ISSUES.

Based on this information, the CALCULATOR then compares YOUR DATA to each Candidates’ and gives you a LIST of CANDIDATES RANKED in ORDER by the CANDIDATE that MATCH your VIEWS the MOST.
Try the candidate calculator and then use the other web-sites to check into your top candidates for more information.

Challenge others to do the same! It would be great if the 2008 election had informed voters and thank you for trying to be one!

The other sites will help answer any questions about the candidates the issues or the election process. As well as registering, and voting.

http://www.vajoe.com/candidate_calculator.html

http://www.votesmart.org/
1. Presidential Election Resources; including each candidate's voting record and position on all issues.
2. State Presidential Primary Dates
3. How Does the Primary Process Work?
4. Electoral College Votes per State
5. What is the Electoral College?
6. Political Party Information
7. Other Internet Resources
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21116732
1. This site compares candidates and issues in matrix form.
2. You can vote for your candidate by issue on this site.
http://www.answers.com/topic/united-states-presidential-election-2008?cat=tec...
This is yet another site for information on the 2008 election!
http://www.declareyourself.com/?gclid=CO7IkrDO3Y8CFQHHIgodCz5P0w
Absentee Ballot Request and more 411!

VOTE TO KEEP AMERICA SAFE

Answer 3

Both. By not voting, or by being ignorant of the issues/candidates you are voting for, you are not fulfilling your obligation. It's what people have fought so hard for over centuries - and a lot of people don't even care.

Answer 4

Its a right. People try to say its an obligation, but their motives are to perpetuate the monopoly the 2 major parties now have on elected offices, in other words "you have to vote for one of the two candidates we give you or else".

Answer 5

It is a right given to citizens in the Constitution but we are never obligated by the Constitution to vote. It is a choice given to us. If we are responsible citizens then we will vote for the candidates and issues that will support and uphold our Constitution.

Answer 6

It is a responsibility. If we as people want to influence, then we must vote. Esp. at a state and city level, this is critical for us. It is the local votes that will (eventually) influence the Fed. gov't.

For ex. a few states have a medical marju. law on the books; Federally we cannot use the law, but as more states pass it, we are more likely to get change.

Answer 7

Unlike repressive regimes in the Arab world that we support, and single party communist regimes, we have a limited choice of candidates, thus voting is actually a "right".

Answer 8

It's both, but it is most definitely not a privilege. To call it a privilege, means it can be taken away, once something can be taken away is not longer a right.

Answer 9

It's both because women had to fight to be able to vote.

Answer 10

neither. it's a priveledge.