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

I'm in the US.  I only vote during presidential elections.

I don't care if people vote or not, but if they don't then they lose all complaining privileges.

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

Voting for the lesser of two evils doesn't float my boat.

Answer 4

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.

Answer 5

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 h**l that they over turn the vote to the losers. Seen it twice now and has dampened my out look on voting.

Answer 6

By voting, you are saying: Give me 2, 4 or 6 more years of the corruption.

The French stormed the Bastille; we storm the voting booth.

Answer 7

It's a right, It's a responsibility, It's how the government works....don't talk or complain about politics if you ain't going to get involved and change something.

Ron Paul 08'

Answer 8

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 9

People died so that you could vote. I live in the US and I vote in every election, local and national.

Answer 10

having the right to vote is the really important thing,

if you have no clue what is going on and you do not vote, I think that is fine,

if you are informed and know what is going on, you should want to go and vote to protect yourself.

if your just completely apathetic, then you are a threat to more than just the voting issue.

Answer 11

Voting is a duty.  Duty is a choice.  If you don't do your duty then don't whine about the consequences.

Answer 12

USA, it is an option.  It doesn't bother me in the least bit if people don't vote.  I don't vote every year, usually just for President and Mayor.

Answer 13

Vote,or don't complain. Look at how many more Marines would be alive if more people had voted for anybody but Bush.

Answer 14

voiting is a responsibility in the same way cleaning your room is....you should , but as an adult its up to you.

but dont be angry if you cant get what you need right away because your government...errr....room is a mess!!!

People who dont vote shouldnt complain...but have a right to.

I vote because as a minority and a woman...my voice counts

I live in the USA  but admire the UK for their dealings in diversity!

Answer 15

your vote will make a different

Answer 16

I consider it a civic duty to be educated on the candidates and to vote.

Answer 17

Responsibility,  2.no it does not anger me but they should vote. 3.yes, they have no rights to complain, when they gave up their right to vote then they gave up their complaints. 4.I vote because my beliefs need to be counted. 5. every election and decision that is made. 6.  USA

Answer 18

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 19

Of course I vote, and yes people who don't anger the heck out of me. It is usually the ones who complain and whine about who is in office and they didn't vote and have all the answers on how they could do better... PLEEZE. It is our duty to vote, seems the majority who vote are our senior citizens, God Bless them. If you don't get out and vote , then quit the complaining. Besides we don't want a democrat president

Answer 20

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 21

Living in the good ol USofA, I was taught that it is your civic duty to vote to make your country a better place to live.

Folks that don't vote have no right to complain about the government.

Just remember that if voting did any good or bad, it would be made illegal immediately.

Answer 22

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 23

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 24

Its an option

Nope I have no problem with people that don't vote. I actually wish more people didn't vote!

Nope , its everyones right/duty to complain about politics!

I vote sometimes, when I don't vote its because usually there is no one worth voting for!!

USA.

PEOPLE DIDN'T die for Your right to vote , they died for your freedom!!

Answer 25

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/t**d Sandwich episode of South Park.  Sooo frustrating.