I live in a small town in NH. Only about 1000 or so of the residents vote in any individual voting cycle, so in my town, where all of the monetary expendatures are voted upon in a general election, the vote of my wife and I constitute about 1/500 of the total vote. It is also a civic responsibility, one which I believe is important for ALL citizens (note citizens) to take on.
Do you believe that “one vote can count”?
Many of the issues voted upon in my town have failed or passed with as little as 10 votes. Mrs. Butler & I could have been 1/5th of that pass/fail depending on the issue. In an election of millions of voters, it’s not so representative, but it’s our duty to vote our opinion.
Lastly, do you believe (y)our elected officials are truly representative of the populace?
Mostly. Unfortunately they are often guided towards decisions by the “fringe elements” on both sides of the issues, usually by the “fringe” with the most $$$. Something that should be changed.
Yes, I have missed only two elections since I became eligible to vote.
I vote because it is one of the few ways I have to directly steer my government.
Occasionally, an election comes down to one vote, yes.
Sometimes, they are. My two senators, one Republican and one Democrat, are both intelligent and both have my respect. I usually disagree with Dick Lugar’s votes, but he is a voice of calm reason on the Foreign Relations committee.
My representative in the House, Congressfool Mike Pence, rarely agrees with me, but the voters in this district must be mostly rich stingy folks, because they keep electing him.
In part so I will give myself permission to kvetch with how government works, or fails to work, for the next cycle. In part because I lost a few opportunities to vote because of military duty, and felt really shortchanged by that.
Yes. Not always dramatically, but as others have said, it takes a lot of single votes to make a majority.
Meh. I remain a fiscal conservative so I find that my Representative to the House is a problem - she’s said on record, she’ll vote for any bill that has spending for her district in it. Having said that, she’s gotten my vote the two of the last three times she’s run for re-election because her opponents came from the NYS legislature, where until last year we’d not had an on-time budget for over two decades. Having said that, I’m convinced that most elected officials do try to serve their constituents. Alas that does not always mean listening or even representing their views.
2) If you do, why? If you don’t, why not?
Because I can, and as such, it’s my responsibility to use the opportunity wisely. How tragically lazy must a person be to forfeit their right to vote? Is it really so much trouble to be informed, and periodically drag yourself to a polling place, likely within a mile of your home?
3) Do you believe that “one vote can count”?
Locally? Yes. Nationally? No. I live in Massachusetts, so I could stay home and affect the outcome of the presidential election not one bit.
4) Lastly, do you believe (y)our elected officials are truly representative of the populace?
God, I hope not.
Thank you all for your candid and often humorous responses. Allow me to explain why I asked, if I may.
After 20 years (give or take) I decided to return to college, and enrolled in an English Composition class. I’m enjoying it immensely. I’m not sure why exactly, but the experience is far more palatable at my current age than when I was eighteen.
We’re currently studying the argumentation/persuasion writing pattern. I chose the subject of voting for my essay, and wanted a “snapshot”, if you will, of opinions. I’ve also queried friends, family and fellow workers. Since proper arguments should seek out and acknowledge conflicting/opposing viewpoints, I especially appreciate those folks that offered their reasoning for not voting. I admit to being ever more cynical myself these days, but that’s a rant for another day.
To answer my own questions:
Yes, always.
Part civic duty, part habit at this point.
Yes, I think one vote can count. A recent school budget vote here in Burlington passed by 7 votes. Upon recount, this number fell to 4.
Lastly, do you believe (y)our elected officials are truly representative of the populace?
Sorry for the wording here; it was misleading. I should have said ”…voting populace.” I wanted to know if you thought your choice(s) reasonably represent you once elected, or whether you felt they just became part of the political machine. I tend to lean toward the latter. Many good people enter politics with the best intentions, then seem to get swallowed up by the system.
The standard, cliche reasons - civic duty/responsibility/privilege. I get a chance to participate. I get to be heard. I’m lucky I can vote. There’s a reason they’re cliche
No one vote probably doesn’t count. But I live in a state where in 2000, fewer than 2300 votes counted for a statewide election of a pretty big state and in 2004, fewer than 150 did. So, very small groups of votes count and those small groups are made of single votes.
My Congressman has a pretty politically monolithic constituency (he won with 81% of the vote last election, and I don’t think he actually campaigns) So, I’d say he’s pretty representative. But in the larger, more politically diverse populaces (that 150 votes? Both candidates had large elements of “hold your nose & vote” sections of their parties and they were still poles apart from each other) I don’t see how they could be truly representative of an average voter.
Every national election, almost all state elections but rarely for township judges, etc.
If you do, why? If you don’t, why not?
To entitle me to bitch forever when the candidate I voted for loses. I have been able to. and do, bitch rather loudly for the past five years or so…
Do you believe that “one vote can count”?
Most certainly.
Lastly, do you believe (y)our elected officials are truly representative of the populace?
No. If every American had to vote in order to get a driver’s licence, I am confident the last few national elections would have turned out a lot differently.
The first election I’ll be eligible for will be this year’s KY Democratic primary. I fully intend on voting in it and in every future election I’m eligible for.
Civic responsibility. Also, politicians tend to work for the voters, not the populace at large.
Absolutely. Maybe not so much in statewide elections, but my father once won his schoolboard election by 11 votes.
No. They represent the voters. And the system makes it hard for minorities to get elected. That’s why there are about 97 white senators.