"Duty" to vote?

I think people make the claim that those that don't vote have no right to complain because they didn't bother to join the decision making process. This is stupid, in my opinion. If I don't vote, it's because the choice of candidates is poor and I feel I'm better off not voting. Picking the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil. I'd much rather say I knew better than to vote on a crappy choice of candidates. I've had so many people tell me I'm better off voting for someone in the two main parties than vote third party, because you're throwing your vote away on someone who isn't going to win. I think this is even dumber still. The point is not to vote for who you think will win. It's to vote for the person who represents your interests the most. The only time you throw your vote away is when you vote for a person who doesn't really reflect what you want in a leader. It's a pointless vote, and it's what gets incompetent fools like Bush into the Oval Office. My belief is, if you like a candidate - regardless of party - then vote for them. If you don't like the line up, don't vote. It's better to refrain from the voting process than to vote for the lesser of two evils. Not voting tells me that a person doesn't like the choices. Voting for the sake of voting tells me that the people who do such things are sheep. At least if you don't vote on the basis of not liking the candidates we know your standing your ground and thinking for yourself. Lastly - this is America. You have the right to vote, and the right to refrain from it. Refraining from it doesn't take away your right to speak out and complain, either. Anytime someone tells you that you don't have the right to complain, the best response would be that you were smart enough not to vote an idiot into office - it's unfortunate the rest of the country was not.

I probably would have disagreed vehemently with you until now. In fact, I've always been fascinated by other countries that take away voting rights when people refuse to go to the polls. However, my attitude is changing as this thing winds down and I find my self facing the very real possiblility that I will not be voting in this next election for the first time in my life. It's not even lessor of two evils, it's more like a rock and a hard place.

As I have told my sister,who does not vote,but complains about the officials,president,vice prsident and so on.I told her if you don't vote to change that,then don't complain.If I vote and the canidate that I voted for does not win,I still have the right to complain,because I did something to try and change the situation.

I agree with you. Since voting is a privilege, I look at it as my choice. I have the right to express my views by speech or vote. I gave up voting because, at least in my view, my vote has not really made a difference in years. Just look at the fact of how many people were tired of all the crap the Republicans did or did not do so they were voted out and Dems were elected in the congress and senate. This was supposed to send a message from the American public. Did it change anything? No. I do realize that in many countries citizens do not have the same privileges we do. But as an American I have freedom of choice which some countries do not have. Some countries require their citizens to vote but the elections are really fixed. At least here, we can make our own choices.

I 100% agree with you. I am from India and not USA and we both are democratic. I also hear the same voices that voting should be made compulsory and if some body does not vote, he should not have the right to complain. I dont agree with you. It may be possible that all the candidates for my area do not suit me and I may not be agree with the ideology of all those, in that case I should not spoil my vote by just voting to someone I dont agree with. A few people knows that my consitution provides me right for not to vote and as they dont have the knowledge of contitution, they should not say like this.

Yes, voting is a right, but also a responsibility. What do you think that "government of the people, by the people and for the people" means? If we don't participate in our own government, then we are not fulfilling our rights and responsibilities as citizens. The right to vote is the very foundation of our society. Only a small percentage of citizens take the time to vote now. It's a disgrace. When the rest of us stop participating in our own governments, we'll have no rights at all. At one time, only men (males) who owned property could vote. At one time, you had to be able to pay a poll tax to vote. But thanks to our forebearers, women have the opportunity to vote, elections are free, and all citizens 18 and over are allowed to vote. Perhaps you would be happy in a country with a dictator? Then you wouldn't have to worry about responsibilities such as voting. You also wouldn't have to worry about having the right to complain, because you wouldn't have that right.

First of all, I don't think you ever "throw away a vote", I believe if nothing else, you are making a statement. I agree that it is your right to not vote. But I disagree that you have a right to complain. Honestly, what did you do to try to fix the problem? I think sitting at home and complaining is not only a waste of time, but counterproductive and just plain insane. We are too busy mopping the floor to turn off the faucet. ~Unknown

Many times I will vote for a third party candidate. I don't think of it as throwing away my vote, I think of it as voting my conscious. However, if none of the candidates meets my "approval," I will not vote in that contest unless the worse of two evils is superevil - and then I might go against my standards and vote for the lesser evil rather than vote for the person I approve of. I think we have a responsibility to vote, but only if we are satisfied with the choices we are given. And by not voting, you do not give up any right to complain - you didn't vote for any of them because they didn't meet your standard. I once heard Jesse Ventura (former gov of MN) say, if the ballots contained a choice called "None of the Above," voter participation would go way up. So, if you are not voting because you are unhappy with the choices, then you are excersing your opinion and being a responsible voter in the form of a protest. Hope that make sense.

let me put it this way if half of the people in the US did not vote then those who did would have had 'at least some input into the election. If none of us voted we would be stuck with George W Bush. so somebody' has to actually get off their duffs and vote. Okay so 'we have lousy choices so pick the best of the lousy choices. We have to elect a new president as bush is through and 'I would prefer to have had some say in the process. I' thinkit is our duty to vote,yes.

The reason America has the poorest turnout of every country in the world come election day is the attitude of people like you have. That said, it is just as much your right to not vote as it is to vote and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. The problem I have with not voting is that even though it may be the choice between the lesser of evils it is also my choice! I won't say you don't have a right to complain if you don't vote but it certanly dilutes your debate credibility if you are arguing the goods and bads of an elected official when you didn't vote. It's kind of like complaining about your horse losing a race but you didn't even put a bet down. I look forward to the day we can sit at home on a rainy November evening and vote for the president through our internet connection! I believe this will do more for voter turnout than any voter registration rally could ever do.

to vote or not to vote.... That is the question? LOL It is our right to choose. Just think of it this way if our votes really counted as much as the electoral vote did we would have a better say so on who does what. I say As citizens we should be able to have a vote on the ideas that they will represent. Do a poll on what needs to be addressed and lets stop worrying about which puppet will stand on TV for 6 hours and debate on the things he or she will never accomplish in the first place. Remember one thing, the words that comes out of their mouths was written by a speaker. I say if we have to vote for someone to take up time on TV making promises, then at least let us have someone Pretty to look at....LOL No serious everyone. We should let out voices be heard and have a say in what is going on with the economy. The people that runs this country needs to live an average income life for about one year before they can be elected. So they can get a taste of what the people who vote for them has to suffer through after the make these broken promises. I hear them saying time for change, But I see no action to show there will be.

Well..you cna vote or not and are free either way? I look at it like this.-wiht freedom comes responsibility? and if you don't vote..what right sdo you have later to complain if you dont get from them later what you wnat? But you are right. You do not have to vote. But then..don't complain.