Why do you vote the way you do?

[Jane_Doe]

8 minutes ago, dahlia said:

I just got a FB post from a sister in the ward, wanting to know how to research the candidates.  Voting is tomorrow. Personally, if you are that ignorant of the candidates and issues so that you don't bother about them until the day before the election, you shouldn't vote.

I actually purposefully ignore all the election-shinnagans until the few days before.  Once it gets near actually voting time, I research each candidate/issue, hearing different perspectives, etc. And then make my informed decision on each.  

Voting includes do my research.  It doesn't mean I need to spend 12+ months listening to endless slander / commercials / circuses.  

[Guest Godless]

8 hours ago, Jane_Doe said:

I actually purposefully ignore all the election-shinnagans until the few days before.  Once it gets near actually voting time, I research each candidate/issue, hearing different perspectives, etc. And then make my informed decision on each.  

Voting includes do my research.  It doesn't mean I need to spend 12+ months listening to endless slander / commercials / circuses.  

Lol, I just tried to explain this in another thread. You put it much better than I did though.

[anatess2]

10 hours ago, dahlia said:

I just got a FB post from a sister in the ward, wanting to know how to research the candidates.  Voting is tomorrow. Personally, if you are that ignorant of the candidates and issues so that you don't bother about them until the day before the election, you shouldn't vote.

Bad advice.

Next time, send her to ballotpedia.org and votesmart.org.  Those are my go to's.  Between those 2 sites, you'll have  everything you need to know about the official positions of candidates both major and minor issues that your zipcode is voting on.  You'll have the resumes of your appointees.  You'll have all the information of your ballot measures including the full text of the constitution it changes and who is supporting it and who is against it.  It doesn't take long to pore over the information.  It surely doesn't take a full day.

Edited November 6, 2018 by anatess2

[Guest MormonGator]

11 hours ago, person0 said:

I think this say's it all, but equally as interesting, Florida didn't make the top 50!  Even BYU was #12!

It's a great basketball school that's for sure. The best in the country, no doubt. 

[zil]

11 hours ago, dahlia said:

I just got a FB post from a sister in the ward, wanting to know how to research the candidates.  Voting is tomorrow. Personally, if you are that ignorant of the candidates and issues so that you don't bother about them until the day before the election, you shouldn't vote.

I understand the reaction - it would probably be my first reaction if someone had asked me that question.  But it's as short-sighted as the woman who made the original request.  Even if it were too late for her to get educated this round, we should never discourage someone who (finally) wants to learn how to vote responsibly.  If something today or yesterday finally triggered a desire in this person to engage in this process, it should be encouraged - there's already more than enough to discourage people from our political process.  If you feel compelled, a gentle rebuke, such as "Here are some good resources.  I recommend giving yourself a month or so before the next election, in case you run into issues you want more time to research or discuss." would do the trick.

[person0]

57 minutes ago, MormonGator said:

It's a great basketball school that's for sure. The best in the country, no doubt. 

Growing up, I recall the Gators were the team to beat for the UK football crowd.

[Still_Small_Voice]

I vote for candidates that will support liberty and the Bill of Rights the most.  I study out what is going on in the country a lot.

[marge]

On 11/4/2018 at 5:31 AM, prisonchaplain said:

When I vote, issues tend to drive my decisions. In order of priority, here are my top few:

1. Religious Liberty -- As an example, a humanist group is fighting to have a war memorial torn down because it includes a cross. The memorial has been up for decades. Why tear it down? Does it hurt the beliefs of humanists? I doubt it. However, it certainly hurts the feelings of those family and loved ones who honor those fallen soldiers. I want candidates who will elect judges with respect for spiritual heritage. Likewise for Christian bakers/florists etc. No one should be forced to participate in religious/political messaging that goes against their faith.

2. Pro-life -- The Kavanaugh hearing was infuriating. Baseless allegations should never have made it to public portions of the senate. Even from a secular viewpoint babies deserve the benefit of the doubt. If we don't "know" when life begins, the presumption should be in favor of the child.

3. A distant third would be the myriad of policy positions I favor.

4. Party affiliation -- There is a party that more closely aligns with my views, and I tend to favor candidates from it. However, I will pull the other lever when a candidate shows love for religious liberty and unborn life.

5. Lesser of evils -- I had to vote for an establishment member of a party I oppose because his opponent is a full-on socialist.

I'm intentionally not naming parties or candidates, but really looking for a discussion of broader issues. So jump in! 🙂

I vote by number 4. Party Affiliation

I'm in Australia, I always vote for the liberal party (which my husband says is like the republican party in the US).  I vote that way because the Labour Party (like the democrats) give away so much revenue to unemployment benefits, government housing and other free services that quite frankly, our country can't afford.  While I do feel sorry for these people I don't think it helps them to just give them hand outs. 

Edited November 6, 2018 by marge

[prisonchaplain]

9 hours ago, anatess2 said:

Bad advice.

Next time, send her to ballotpedia.org and votesmart.org.  Those are my go to's.  Between those 2 sites, you'll have  everything you need to know about the official positions of candidates both major and minor issues that your zipcode is voting on.  You'll have the resumes of your appointees.  You'll have all the information of your ballot measures including the full text of the constitution it changes and who is supporting it and who is against it.  It doesn't take long to pore over the information.  It surely doesn't take a full day.

I generally don't encourage low-information voters. I figure if they are not that concerned, I don't want their "whatever, gut-feel-of-the-moment" vote canceling mine. On the other hand, with politics and parties so clearly defined, the less engaged voter could probably avoid all the research time and just vote party-line. There are so few liberal Republicans and "blue dog Democrats" left, that even the most informed voter probably ends up voting the party way 95%+ of the time. Bottom-line: The belief that the more voters the more democratic and representative the results are is wrong. Droves of uninformed, low-interest voters usually benefits the party and candidates I oppose--the kind that think the Electoral College and Senate are anti-democratic. Frankly, I hope the stay home and watch TV.

[SpiritDragon]

On 11/3/2018 at 4:14 PM, Midwest LDS said:

I mean yes, in that case I would not vote for the person. I mean that those are dealbreakers for me, so I won't vote for a candidate that disagrees with me on the issues I outlined. In a situation you pointed out, where both candidates are equally objectionable, I vote for either some third party candidate, or myself as a protest vote. Basically I usually end up voting for whoever I think is the lesser of two evils anyways, but I am flexible enough to vote outside of party lines if no one meets my basic expectations☺.

 

Indeed.

[Midwest LDS]

1 minute ago, SpiritDragon said:

 

Indeed.

Lol I love that scene and that movie.