I can’t believe people are citing jury duty as an excuse to not voting. Jury duty is a part of the democratic process. I got called to jury twice within a year after I registered. The first time, I couldn’t cause I was going to school in a different jurisdiction than where I was registered. The second time, I served on a jury. I don’t see what’s so bad about it.
OTOH, I’d rather people not vote than be uninformed voters, I suppose.
BTW, I have never voted in a polling place. When I originally registered, anyone could absentee for any reason. I did. Shortly thereafter, Oregon went to complete vote-by-mail. But I don’t see getting off your butt to a polling place as a hardship to prevent voting.
I as well. I have voted in every election and primary since the day I turned 18. And I have taken my (now three years old) nephew to everyone of those elections since the day he was born.
WTF is with you yellow-backed, lazy good-for-nothings who are giving this crap excuse about jury duty?! Good God, my politics are very Libertarian and even I think that jury duty is a duty that each of us must fullfill. That is just sad of you.
If my comment came off as scolding (which upon re-reading, it could have), I am sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.
And I’m glad you’re registering and I’m glad you’re voting.
I am still curious, though, because it’s different than what I’m used to. I still would, if you (and others who are just registering now) don’t mind, like to know why not before? And is there anything that anyone could have said earlier that would have spurred you to register and to vote? Or did it really take this?
I registered literally at the deadline for the 2000 election. My friends and family will all be old enough to vote in the next election, but I’ll be on all of their asses to make sure they get out there.
If you’re really interested in why people don’t vote, I think it would make a fascinating thread. Since this thread can no longer serve its initial function, which was a simple poll, I’ve emailed a request to close it to a moderator. It seems to be a formless political free-for-all, and I think there’s enough of those already.
Start a thread on the subject, and I’ll be happy to reply.
Er, if somebody would like to answer my question from earlier before this thread is closed, which will make more of a difference, MA or AL, I’d appreciate it. You can also email me. Thanks.
I’ll also respond to that other thread.
I have voted in every election and primary since I turned 18 (which is a nice round number of 0) and I intend on voting, but really if you don’t think anyone is worth voting for that is the candidates fault. I doubt I would have voted for Gore and I wouldn’t have voted for Bush or a third party in the 2000 election.
What I find immensely peculiar as well as disappointing is the fear of jury duty.
Coll, I did Jury Duty earlier this year. On the 2nd day I parked my 22 year old work car, a trusty 323i BMW I’d bought off my Uncle as a young chap. I parked it in the official court house car park. I paid my fees in advance etc. When I got out of Jury Duty the car had been keyed over the length of every panel.
Bad luck? Yes, obviously… Karma? Probably!
Would I do Jury Duty again? No doubts. I went backwards financially, but the way I figure it is this… if I was innocent and held up on trial, I’d want a fair and impartial bloke sitting on MY jury.
Obviously you (and Collunsbury) have never had an employer that made it clear - without saying it in so many words - that if you miss work for any reason (including sickness, jury duty, and getting activated as a reserve serviceman), you’re fired.
UnuMondo
You guys do know about Howard Dean’s plan to force gay marriage on Eagle Scouts, right?
So unless I sling forth a vote for the only candidate I find remotely palatable to rule a political system I abhor, my complaints are worth no respect? Sorry - but this foolishness is not for me. I am and shall be a committed non-voter.
I could vote for Harry Browne and say I did my civic duty. But it’s going to take far, far more than my vote to get a libertarian in office. So I’ll consider my duty done not by voting, but by trying to spread the word I believe in.
Probably true. But it takes significantly less votes to get matching funds for the next election or a platform in the presidential debates.
Of course, since I’m at the opposite end of the political spectrum from Libertarians, please feel free to not vote. 
No, obviously not, on the other hand I do believe two out of the three above are illegal in most any jurisdiction. However, it is always best to have a lawyer opine on this.
While it’s encouraging to see people motivated to participate in the democratic process (especially after getting my ass chewed a year or so ago for posting an OP urging people to vote), I hope those of you registering to vote inorder to oust Bush don’t stop there. Prwsidential elections are important, yes, but so are congressional and senatorial races–who do you think votes on Bush’s lunatic policies?
It’s important also to vote in local elections–getting the right folks in your city council and city hall is as vital to local issues as the national elections are to national issues.
And parents, you need to get involved in school board elections to prevent the fundaloonies from conducting stealth campaigns to turn the local school system into Bible indoctrination camp.
Yours,
Gobear, who has voted in every local, state, and national election since 1980, even by mail-in vote while overseas.
Sadly, gobear, where I live, it’s so difficult to vote on local issues mainly because the local newspapers give almost no coverage to people running for judgeships, school board, etc. Absolutely no coverage on television as well. The internet has made it better, but only marginally so. While I can certainly find position statements on candidates for these small offices, trying to get credible, 3rd party info on their qualifications/history is something I’ve found to be quite difficult.
What I don’t understand is why y’all didn’t register for the 2002 election. You could have made your voice heard them by electing some more Democratic Congresspeople, but it went the other way.
As someone above me pointed out, I didn’t think that you could legally be fired for jury duty or being activated as a servicemen.