Jim is the one person who I would tell with no reservation, but he doesn’t ask, and neither do I of him (we really do live in a culture where asking things like this is just not done). We actually have many political discussions, we think mostly alike on most political subjects, and we probably do vote the same, we just don’t discuss it.
Do you tell people who you vote for?
It depends. The two topics I avoid are politics and religion. People are generally pretty set in their political and religious beliefs and any discussions just degenerate to arguments and possibly hard feelings. However if someone asks me directly who I voted for and I know that the person is not the argumentative type or has the same political persuation as I do, I’ll tell. Otherwise I’ll change the subject.
Interesting. Thanks! 
I’m a federal employee, so my coworkers and I are largely prohibited from having a conversation on this issue. Outside work, it would come across as a gauche question outside a close friendship. Moreover, around here one’s acquaintances may well work for a political figure whom one dislikes, so a certain reserve about one’s political views can be socially desirable.
I’ve told my wife that I cover my eyes when I vote, but she thinks I’m joking.
To friends and family, sure, I’ll tell. They probably know anyway.
To casual or business acquaintances, I think the potential disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
Nope, and generally I’ll lie to anyone rude enough to ask - I tell conservatives I voted liberal, liberals I voted conservative, and mixed groups that I voted Libertarian.
Along with asking how much a person earns, this is near the top of my list of annoying “none of your business” questions.
I wouldn’t ask, nor would I tell almost everyone, particularly co-workers. This year I told a co-worker that even asking whether I voted was a very personal question.
Later I told only close friends who I voted for for President.
I’d probably tell someone if they asked, but unless it’s someone I know well and I already know their political leanings, I’d prefer they didn’t. I have found that with business colleagues and social acquaintences, I’m only ever asked by people that are staunchly Democrat or staunchly Republican, and arrogant about it. I prefer not to be asked because I don’t want to have to defend my position or my candidate. I’ve voted in 6 presidential elections and in none of them was I over the moon about any of the candidates. Some I felt better about than some others, but whenever someone asks me to see if I either (i) agree with them to the extreme that they do, or (ii) disagree with them, they take that as an invitation to debate the topic and proceed to belittle and badmouth my chosen candidate. I just find it offensive and I prefer not to get into the discussion.
I try not to discuss politics at work where the usual triad of ‘guns/religion/politics’ generally applies. I’d hate to get into debates with people who I like on a professional basis but who decided to vote for the other guy because of XYZ reason that I think is really stupid.
I have this corny joke of saying I voted for McCain anytime the topic comes up. I never get tired of the look on folks’ faces.
I’m pretty casual about asking and answering, I don’t see the big deal. I recognize that there’s a personal aspect to it, as well as a potential source of conflict. If I ask, I ask casually, and change the subject if the person seems uncomfortable. I’ll usually answer, unless I feel like it’s a prelude to bullying. Context, as always, is key.
In my classrooms, no. I just think it is inappropriate for a teacher to discuss sex, politics or religion unless that is part of the class curriculum.
Otherwise, sure - why not?
I mean, I don’t go running down the street screaming, “I voted for Obama!” but if anybody asks, don’t see why I wouldn’t tell them.
And like others have mentioned, it would come as no surprise to those who know me.
True, but I think we are more like Poms then Aussies are in reguards to openess.
The whole “who did you vote for” thing is fascinating because there seems to have been a change in NZ and I think it may be down to MMP. Because neither of the major parties can ever lead alone perhaps people feel more freedom to say who they voted for.
In the last week I asked the plumber who he voted for and he told me, the convenience store man asked me and I told him, all my co-workers have “confessed” (most of them voted for the enemy!). I’m a pre-school teacher and I have asked and been asked by parents and no one refused to answer.
Perhaps it is the MMP climate but people seem happy to ask and answer the vote question. I’m suprised to hear that people don’t even discuss the topic with friends or family.
Is it because of the traditional thought “keep your vote private” or is it for fear or upsetting someone?
I don’t think it is a BIG deal either but I am always curious. Our election, like yours, did a huge turn around. It’s interesting to find out who helped that. I don’t have adverse feelings toward them, I’m just interested.
Only 5 out of 25 plus people at my workplace voted my way. I don’t care, it’s the Nats turn, I was just interested.
But not one person hesistated in answering…or asking.
Can you tell me why you find it so offensive? I don’t mean that in a rude way, I just don’t understand why it is such a private thing.
Sorry that is probably an offensive question in itself. If you feel like sharing I would appreciate it, otherwise feel free to tell me to F**K off.
That question doesn’t bother me at all.
Part of it is probably how I was raised. I had no idea that my parents were (are) staunch party-line Democrats until I was old enough to vote. Secret ballots are nearly sacred because of that upbringing (and the near total lack of religion in the house might have contributed)
Then there’s the disdain I feel for those who run around bleating about how they voted for idiot A instead of idiot B. All politicians sicken me and I’ve never felt the least bit of hubris for voting for one crook over the other.
Also it’s bass-ackwards a conflict avoidance thing. I can’t stomach just agreeing with someone to keep discussions calm, so if pressed on politics or religion I will claim a position as far away from the questioner as possible.
Politics and religion are rarely an acceptable topic of conversation.
I do.
I dislike that other’s don’t, but I understand why they cringe when they’re asked. Most of the time, an inquiry about a political alliance is a declaration that a nasty arguement is underway. It’s unfortunate, but the wide majority of people simply can’t keep their cool when talking politics. I can count the number of people I have met throughout my life who are capable of doing this on one hand. Seriously.
And like I said, it’s unfortunate, because I think people should feel good about talking about ideas, politics, and join together in questioning everything around them. But with politics, it gets really, really messy and can even permantly break people apart. You really need to tread softly when talking about the subject, and I personally make rules for myself regarding the issue. For instance, at work I may talk about the *political process * (the way elections, debates, are ran, laws are passed, etc), but not the players. I try not to open a can of worms with anyone around the dinner table. Stuff like that.
I rarely discuss my politics. In general, I’m not interested in discussing yours and so doubt that you want to hear mine. What I’ve found mostly is, people who ask me actually want to tell me about theirs - and I’m probably not interested.
I don’t mind people asking, but I’m not about to tell them who I voted for. To me that is private. I don’t even tell people who voted for the same person I did, that I did…I’ve seen too many people make assumptions about other people based on politics. I don’t want to get into those kind of discussions, because I didn’t find this election to be as clear-cut a choice as others did…and there is just no talking to the rabid supporters on either side.
My coworker just found herself in a very, very awkward situation over political sides at a recent extended family dinner. She and her husband are on different sides of the fence politically, but they have no problem with that. But his family are rabid supporters of one side, and at dinner were making some comments that my coworker found offensive. She asked them not to discuss politics over dinner…she had worked hard to prepare a lovely meal, and she wanted it to be a pleasant time. She excused herself to go into the kitchen to calm herself, and they all stormed out the door and aren’t speaking to her anymore. And she told me this without mentioning which side she was on, and which side they were on. I don’t need to know.
As to my own vote…I wouldn’t even tell the pollster who called last night, conducting a survey on voter registration and polling place experiences. Though I did think it funny that the assumption was that I had registered to vote recently…he seemed perplexed when I told him I was called down to the High school office on my 18th birthday, shown my IQ scores, and given a voter registration card to fill out right there and then…back in 1975. The same pollster called my elderly mother, who told him that at age 83, she could not possibly remember if it was easy to register, because she could not remember ever having actually done it…lol!
My close friends know my affiliations, as does my wife. No one directly asks though. I can’t remember ever being asked who I voted for, even by my wife.