Wrong. There is no obligation to vote.
Part of the effect of wearing the sticker is to inspire (or guilt) others by your example. People follow the crowd.
Not a legal one, of course. Certainly an ethical one.
Legally, no. Morally, yes.
Just got back from voting an almost straight Democratic ticket. Had to choose between two Republicans for my Representative, so I voted against the incumbent, who is a Tea Party Trumpite of the worst order. Voted for bond issues (mostly), against repealing a gas tax, against rich old people abusing their Prop. 13 obligations and for making private First Responders getting their orders “to go.”
Of course not legally, but certainly morally.
I grant that in some cases, there could be a moral or ethical obligation to vote; but I disagree that it’s universally the case.
I’m heading out to the polls in the next few minutes. I don’t know. I’m not feeling particularly optimistic, but I’ve been wrong about most things for most of my life, so here’s hoping. I asked a number of people what their voting plan was going to be for today and I didn’t get a positive response from anybody. On the other hand, I’m pretty sure everybody I asked leans conservative, so maybe that’s a good thing. Here’s a small (2) sample of the conversations I had today:
“What’s your voting plan?”
“I’m not going to vote.”
“Why not?”
“I just don’t think I’m informed enough.”
“Allow me to inform you …”
“I don’t want to hear it. Republicans and Democrats are all assholes. I’d never vote for any of them.”
“What’s your voting plan today?”
“I never vote.”
“Why not?”
“Dude, my cousin registered to vote one day and the next week he got jury duty. I don’t want jury duty.”
So … whaddayagonnado?
Resolving to respond to the election results with civility, come what may: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2018/11/02/dont-be-insufferable-nov-no-matter-outcome-here-are-questions-help-you/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.c372f6c38146
Everywhere I have ever lived a sample ballot was available (sometimes you have to hunt for it on line) and I always fill it in and take it with me. I have no idea how other people are able to vote without this kind of “cheat sheet” (unless they vote a straight ticket, which I really disapprove of. I believe voting should require thinking about and researching every race.)
You think voting is shameful?
Here’s some rag* giving poll-closing times adjusted to Australian time zones.
Exit polls don’t get reported on, IIRC, until after a particular poll closes, so it’ll be a few more hours before any results are “known”.
*
Reports of some severe voting irregularities in (surprise) Georgia.
That’s been my experience.
There have been a couple of candidates over the years (exactly two that I can remember) for various offices that I have been genuinely proud and happy to vote for. But more often than not, you’re only voting in order to prevent a greater evil by enabling a lesser evil.
The act of voting is a legitimizing act, which is always very morally conflicting for me.
Not voting is also a legitimizing act.
I don’t put bumper stickers on my car, nor stickers on my body. I usually slap the “I Voted” stickers on the inside of the sun visor.
Why, because the non-voter is passively allowing things to happen?
Wow, you must have a lot of things to vote on there.
I think we had 5 items. A vote for senate, a vote for representative, a county bond approval and two other items of little interest.
Convenient? How so? Foreclosure doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Payments haven’t been made for quite some time, and often a court order is involved. It has nothing to do with “voter suppression”.
Basically, yes – it’s still a choice. Not voting is a choice, as is voting. They both have consequences, even though the power of a single vote is small.
Yes, that’s undoubtedly true, but it doesn’t explain how purposefully abstaining from voting “legitimizes” anything.