4 ms·

and what if there are no candidates you feel good about voting for?

ranko 10y ago
Spoil your ballot.
koenigdavidmj 10y ago
Write in. Also, places like Australia that have compulsory voting do not check that you have marked the ballot in any fashion, only signed in, taken a ballot, and put it in the box.
runin2k1 10y ago
Maybe you'll feel good about voting on one of the other 30 races or ballot initiatives that might influence generations to come? There's no law against leaving an entry blank.... until one is introduced and you don't care enough to vote against it.
- metaphorm 10y ago
  your dickish tone is uncalled for.
  - runin2k1 10y ago
    Well I hope you'll consider voting on it when someone proposes a law to make being a dick on the internet illegal.
    - metaphorm 10y ago
      are you serious? leave me alone. stop trolling.
hebleb 10y ago
Write in Batman for all I care. There are still elections other than the presidential race that will arguably affect you more on a day-to-day basis.
nxzero 10y ago
Really wish the definition of democracy included by default the right to vote that you object strongly enough to significant options not to vote for any of them.
- metaphorm 10y ago
  that's where I'm at too and was the point I was trying to make with my post. We should be able to vote No Confidence.
  - dragonwriter 10y ago
    No Confidence is a term of art for a vote against the government in power (usually, specifically in the content of a parliamentary system, in a vote by parliament, though arguably a public recall vote of the head of government in a non-parliamentary system is a fairly direct analog, and any vote against an incumbent in any system is a loose analog, as are mechanisms that aren't formally votes of No Confidence of removal-of-existing-incumbents-by-legislative action.) You (or your MP or other legislative representative) can usually do some or all of these things in most systems that are recognized as democracies. What you seem to want is something different, the option to vote for No Representative in a regular election and cause the office to be vacant when the next term would start (whether this actually leaves the office vacant or triggers the usual succession mechanism that would apply if it had been filled and then became vacant through death, resignation, etc. is unclear.) This, I can't see a coherent argument for.
    - metaphorm 10y ago
      yes, understood that No Confidence has historically referred to a parliamentary procedure. I think the term is appropriate here as well but might be problematic because of its historical usage. Avoiding confusion or conflation is a good thing, so maybe a different term should be used for this situation. I think your suggestion of No Representation is a decent one. I'm not suggesting that that should result in an unfilled office though. My view is that if No Representation actually wins (takes the plurality of the vote), it should trigger a special election where new candidates must be nominated and a new popular vote must be held.
toast0 10y ago
Write something obscene as a write-in candidate? Return a blank ballot? Draw a pretty picture on the ballot and return that?
adocracy 10y ago
you show up, take your ballot which registers a receipt, and abstain on that particular office/issue. but at least showing up to register your abstention IS your vote.

ranko 10y ago

Spoil your ballot.

Write in. Also, places like Australia that have compulsory voting do not check that you have marked the ballot in any fashion, only signed in, taken a ballot, and put it in the box.

runin2k1 10y ago

Maybe you'll feel good about voting on one of the other 30 races or ballot initiatives that might influence generations to come? There's no law against leaving an entry blank.... until one is introduced and you don't care enough to vote against it.

metaphorm 10y ago
your dickish tone is uncalled for.
- runin2k1 10y ago
  Well I hope you'll consider voting on it when someone proposes a law to make being a dick on the internet illegal.
  - metaphorm 10y ago
    are you serious? leave me alone. stop trolling.

hebleb 10y ago

Write in Batman for all I care. There are still elections other than the presidential race that will arguably affect you more on a day-to-day basis.

nxzero 10y ago

Really wish the definition of democracy included by default the right to vote that you object strongly enough to significant options not to vote for any of them.

metaphorm 10y ago
that's where I'm at too and was the point I was trying to make with my post. We should be able to vote No Confidence.
- dragonwriter 10y ago
  No Confidence is a term of art for a vote against the government in power (usually, specifically in the content of a parliamentary system, in a vote by parliament, though arguably a public recall vote of the head of government in a non-parliamentary system is a fairly direct analog, and any vote against an incumbent in any system is a loose analog, as are mechanisms that aren't formally votes of No Confidence of removal-of-existing-incumbents-by-legislative action.) You (or your MP or other legislative representative) can usually do some or all of these things in most systems that are recognized as democracies. What you seem to want is something different, the option to vote for No Representative in a regular election and cause the office to be vacant when the next term would start (whether this actually leaves the office vacant or triggers the usual succession mechanism that would apply if it had been filled and then became vacant through death, resignation, etc. is unclear.) This, I can't see a coherent argument for.
  - metaphorm 10y ago
    yes, understood that No Confidence has historically referred to a parliamentary procedure. I think the term is appropriate here as well but might be problematic because of its historical usage. Avoiding confusion or conflation is a good thing, so maybe a different term should be used for this situation. I think your suggestion of No Representation is a decent one. I'm not suggesting that that should result in an unfilled office though. My view is that if No Representation actually wins (takes the plurality of the vote), it should trigger a special election where new candidates must be nominated and a new popular vote must be held.

toast0 10y ago

Write something obscene as a write-in candidate? Return a blank ballot? Draw a pretty picture on the ballot and return that?

adocracy 10y ago

you show up, take your ballot which registers a receipt, and abstain on that particular office/issue. but at least showing up to register your abstention IS your vote.