Your duty to vote or option?

Question

Is Voting and option or a responsibility once you are old enough?

Do people that do/don't vote anger you?

Do people that complain about politics that do/don't vote bother you?

And Why do/don't you vote?

(and if you'd like, how regularly do you vote and are you and informed voter if/when you do vote?)

Oh, and add the country you live in too if you'd like.

Answer 1

Even though it's an option here, I consider voting to be a responsibility. I've voted in every election for which I was able since I was old enough to be enfranchised. As a citizen of a representative republic, participating in the process is a matter of civic duty, just like looking at the issues/candidates & being as informed as possible.

People that don't vote don't bother me, until they start beefing about politicians, public policy decisions, etc. It's the old adage-If you don't vote, don't *****. Other than that, as the number of voters declines, my vote becomes more powerful.

It never ceases to amaze me that people in many parts of the world are fighting & dying for the right to participate, in even a limited way, in their countries' political processes & here in the USA, folks regard voting as useless, a chore, or worse. Though I do understand those who say that participating in a flawed process only rubber stamps the legitimacy of the system, I regard non-participation as evidence that the govt is increasingly free of meaninful scrutiny & becomes emboldened to place every increasing limits on personal liberties. At some point participation will become so low that effective popular participation will end, allowing the gov't to visit any horror it wants on the population. New World Order anyone?

Answer 2

It is an OPTION. We, the U.S., don't have mandatory voting, like in Australia an some other countries. I don't mind people that don't vote, as long as they don't complain about the people that represent them in Congress or other positions. Hey if you don't like the person in power then vote them out. I vote so I have the right to complain basically. I doubt that my vote makes much difference, most people aren't informed on the choices and just vote some name or another. As I said though in America we get too many that don't have a clue, although to be fair until the person is in office no one knows what they will do. Sure they talk a good game, but few follow through. This country is run by Big Money and Special Interests.

Answer 3

I don't vote and I complain if the mood so strikes me. I have a right to complain because I pay my taxes, am a lawful citizen of the U.S., and because freedom of choice is an integral part of being an American.

Dissatisfaction with candidates and a lack of faith in what I believe to be an outrageously flawed voting system are valid concerns and reasons to not participate in the vote. I will not put my vote into a farce system to elect puppets.

This does not change the fact that I will have to deal with whoever gets elected, however they got elected, the same as everyone else. The system of questionable officials being questionably elected will continue until a majority of people start demanding more than simply a change of faces.

Judging by the sheer number of people blindly supporting the current band of yahoos in DC, it's going to be quite some time before that happens.

Answer 4

I Vote

BUT
Now a days its a option. Most feel that the voting system is a farce to keep mass at bay. Some just seem a little strange to be in office.

Some don't vote since they are tired of picking lesser of two evils and not having a option to picking someone they want.

I vote majority of the time.Though a few things have started over the years to make me less then excited to vote.

Such as, Putting something up for a vote , the people vote majority wins, yet the losers ( not the majority ) raises so much hell that they over turn the vote to the losers. Seen it twice now and has dampened my out look on voting.

Answer 5

I live in the United States and voting is a privilege. It is important that anyone who is old enough to vote should voice their opinion whether it be on candidates or the issues before them. Many people have sacrificed their lives to give us this privilege.

How we vote is also important. Our votes should be based on a proper evaluation of the candidates or the issues. We must know what the position of candidates are and whether their is documentation to back up their statements. Statements made by candidates that is not supported by documentation does not bring them favor for me to vote for them.

We must also look at if their position on current issues meet with our opinion. It is important to have integrity in our voting and not strictly vote by party affiliation. We must evaluate the candidates and choose the best person to fill positions for the next term. It is important that we elect those who are honest and have integrity in what they have done as individuals. If their lives have been a picture of integrity and they are qualified for the position, then they should be considered. Sometimes people have no experience for a position for which they are running. Sometimes it is important to elect someone who has not been a part of the establishment. New blood is sometimes needed to inject new ideas into the process.

When it comes to local issues there is always two sides. We must weigh the pros and cons and understand what is at stake in voting for or against an issue. Understanding an issue is a prerequisite in making a decision on it. We should base our vote on our understanding of the issue.

Answer 6

I think it is a responsibility. People have fought and died to maintain US citizen's ability to vote.

They only anger me when they complain about what the government is doing.

Again, they frustrate me enormously. If people voted, they have a reason to complain. Either their candidate didn't get elected or their candidate turned out to be a two faced liar. Either way, there's reason to complain. But you can't say I don't care enough to vote, but I care enough to complain!

I vote for the reasons above. I hate doing it though because it seems like all the candidates on all sides are so dirty. Reminds be of the Giant Douche/Turd Sandwich episode of South Park. Sooo frustrating.

Answer 7

Voting is a right but when it comes to well being and enjoy all rights fruitfully and get satisfactory results of wants then it is mandatory to vote ie if you want to be happy then make voting a duty or else suffer by making it as a useless right.

Answer 8

Yes i consider it a civic duty because we live in a country that lets the people influance the vote. at least i think people should vote for local and state elections because it is close to home and your vote seems to count more. Rather you'll see the implications of your choice easier

Answer 9

People who don't vote should, it angers me if they dont, and more so if they ***** about politics when they arent even trying. I don't vote because I'm not old enough, but as soon as I can, I'll be in those voting offices whenever something is being voted on. I'm in the good ol' US of A. :^)

Answer 10

It's Both.

I vote in every election I can but I don't feel bad if I miss one (maybe a little) But the government should never force people to vote.

People who don't educate themselves shouldn't vote.

I can't believe how many times people said I was over researching the candidates for a mid term election last year when I was in Kuwait.

If it were mandatory to vote the government took away your liberty.