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Because the available choices change their platforms in response to the voting public to some degree. By not voting, you send the message that they don't need

Because the available choices change their platforms in response to the voting public to some degree. By not voting, you send the message that they don't need to care what you want, since you don't vote. It's the same reason that it's so hard to get permission to build new housing in some places: the people who would most directly benefit don't vote (because they don't live there yet).

netizen-936824 5y ago
There's no way for me to give them feedback and tell them their views are shite by voting That doesn't make sense, votes are binary and do not contain any other information
- dillondoyle 5y ago
  The feedback is you win or you loose. If you don't like someone vote for their opponent. Or a 3rd party if you really want. most of the politicians I work with will gladly change their positions on issues based on election results and polling. Gay marriage is a great and extreme recent example.
- netizen-936824 5y ago
  To add to this point, voting for someone I don't support seems (from my perspective) to send a message that I do agree with them and support their views, even if I think they're just slightly less shitty than the other option
  - amalcon 5y ago
    Is that a better or worse message than "You don't need to care what I think"? If you think it's significantly worse, then fine, we disagree on that premise. If you think it's equal or better, then not showing up seems like an inefficient use of a rare resource (your vote).
    - 8note 5y ago
      Consistently voting(for the same party) or consistently not voting says nobody needs to care what you think. You're safe and predictable.
- dragonwriter 5y ago
  > There's no way for me to give them feedback and tell them their views are shite by voting Yes there are; voting isn't limited to general elections (or even primaries/caucuses for particular public offices.)
  - netizen-936824 5y ago
    And what, the good options are there? Not in my locales
    - dragonwriter 5y ago
      > And what, the good options are there? Yes. > Not in my locales Running for public or party office, or recruiting others to do so, is also an available form of engagement.
      - netizen-936824 5y ago
        You are correct, but for someone who is heavily involved in academia I don't have the time to do so at the moment. It is something I consider periodically
- amalcon 5y ago
  The vote itself might not contain other information, but there are plenty of out-of-band ways to convey this information. The opinion you express when you call, write, answer a poll, or really any other public activity is stronger if it's backed up by records that you consistently vote.

netizen-936824 5y ago

There's no way for me to give them feedback and tell them their views are shite by voting That doesn't make sense, votes are binary and do not contain any other information

dillondoyle 5y ago
The feedback is you win or you loose. If you don't like someone vote for their opponent. Or a 3rd party if you really want. most of the politicians I work with will gladly change their positions on issues based on election results and polling. Gay marriage is a great and extreme recent example.
netizen-936824 5y ago
To add to this point, voting for someone I don't support seems (from my perspective) to send a message that I do agree with them and support their views, even if I think they're just slightly less shitty than the other option
- amalcon 5y ago
  Is that a better or worse message than "You don't need to care what I think"? If you think it's significantly worse, then fine, we disagree on that premise. If you think it's equal or better, then not showing up seems like an inefficient use of a rare resource (your vote).
  - 8note 5y ago
    Consistently voting(for the same party) or consistently not voting says nobody needs to care what you think. You're safe and predictable.
dragonwriter 5y ago
> There's no way for me to give them feedback and tell them their views are shite by voting Yes there are; voting isn't limited to general elections (or even primaries/caucuses for particular public offices.)
- netizen-936824 5y ago
  And what, the good options are there? Not in my locales
  - dragonwriter 5y ago
    > And what, the good options are there? Yes. > Not in my locales Running for public or party office, or recruiting others to do so, is also an available form of engagement.
    - netizen-936824 5y ago
      You are correct, but for someone who is heavily involved in academia I don't have the time to do so at the moment. It is something I consider periodically
amalcon 5y ago
The vote itself might not contain other information, but there are plenty of out-of-band ways to convey this information. The opinion you express when you call, write, answer a poll, or really any other public activity is stronger if it's backed up by records that you consistently vote.