# I live in the US, but I don't vote. Never have, never will. Ask Me Anything if you want. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 8, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059 "2016-11-08T13:49:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/61 "2016-11-08T15:29:42Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I don’t vote because I find politics and stuff regarding the president boring and uninteresting and I just can’t find myself getting enough to care to do it. So, presumably, if some issue hit you close to home and you started to care, then you might vote? ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/62 "2016-11-08T15:31:51Z")
Yes, perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/63 "2016-11-08T15:31:59Z")
I know a few people IRL who don’t vote. Their reasoning is something like yours (One vote doesn’t matter, I don’t care, etc.) But I vote in an attempt to make my voice heard. Even it’s just a pebble in an avalanche, I made an attempt. I shouted (or whispered) that some things matter to me. It matters to me that my gay and transgender friends have rights. It matters to me that a woman has the right to choose. It matters to me if a politician wants to send citizens to another country or torture the families of suspected bad guys or or create a religious based database or nuke the shit out of whoever has insulted his tiny hands most recently. Because politics does affect everything, ultimately. Especially when the SCOTUS may change dramatically over the next few years. None of that affects you, and you do have the right to not vote. I’m just glad I do have the right to vote. I keep seeing touching little stories of old women casting their votes proudly, and while I personally have never not had the right, I still value it. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/64 "2016-11-08T15:32:16Z")
> [@Crybaby\_Boobie](#): > > So basically you are practicing the “herd immunity” method of voting, and just hope that enough people around you got vaccinated against horrible ideas. Yup this. There are people who cannot vote (non-citizens, felons, children) who are deeply affected by what happens in this country. Just like there are people who can’t get vaccines due to allergies or illness. I vote and get vaccinated for them. There are people who do not vote, even though it costs them nothing to do so, and choose not to protect other people who cannot vote. Just like there are people who choose to not get vaccinated and end up spreading disease to someone who can’t get vaccinated. Saying “I don’t care” may be your reason, but it’s a poor one. You directly benefit from people who vote (and elected people who do things like write legislation that provides disability insurance, housing subsidies, Medicaid, etc) and feel no responsibility to reciprocate for others. You are an individual, but multiply your attitude across the whole country, and that’s a huge problem. It’s a real shame. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/65 "2016-11-08T15:35:20Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I thought maybe it would be interesting to some…but if I was wrong, then apologies. Sorry, but a nonstop drone of "I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care. I don’t care _and you can’t make me!"_ doesn’t make for fascinating reading. Honestly, what were you expecting, on this board and about this election? The fact that it’s been a very angry, bitter, divisive one must have penetrated your bubble of “meh” at some point. Did you really think that after over a year of angry arguments and mudslinging from both sides, including people who are dropping friends and family based on whom they’re voting for, the posters here would see your thread and think, “He doesn’t vote. Gee, that’s boring as all shit?” Or would they think, “WTF is wrong with you?” ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/66 "2016-11-08T15:36:21Z")
To quote Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/67 "2016-11-08T15:36:26Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Yes, perhaps. Thank you. I think I get it now. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/68 "2016-11-08T15:37:58Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > This is a pretty extreme view, though.\ Whaddaya, new? Hyperbole is a way of life around here. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/69 "2016-11-08T15:41:57Z")
> [@Azeotrope](#): > > Honestly, what were you expecting, on this board and about this election? The fact that it’s been a very angry, bitter, divisive one must have penetrated your bubble of “meh” at some point. Did you really think that after over a year of angry arguments and mudslinging from both sides, including people who are dropping friends and family based on whom they’re voting for, the posters here would see your thread and think, “He doesn’t vote. Gee, that’s boring as all shit?” Or would they think, “WTF is wrong with you?” Sure; I’m just pointing out that these are all emotional reactions, and that the math is on the OP’s side. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/70 "2016-11-08T15:45:30Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > I voted because it’s kind of fun, but let’s face it: everyone giving the OP a hard time is indulging in the lottery player’s fallacy. Indeed, we saw in Florida in 2000 that the error level of indeterminate ballots far exceeds the impact of any individual voter. **Idle Thoughts** values his/her time more than the infinitesimal chance that his or her ballot is going to matter, and it’s a perfectly rational choice. Again, at the national level you can _perhaps_ make the argument that your vote is irrelevant (see the herd immunity argument), but what about the local level? ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/71 "2016-11-08T15:46:49Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > This is a pretty extreme view, though. Do you really think that a president is going to be elected that will take freedom away from **all US citizens and lock them up**? I don’t know much about politics, but I know that the president doesn’t have total power/control and that there are other areas of the government to prevent one from going power mad and just calling an airstrike on\*\* all of America or calling for a nationwide round up and jailterms.\*\* > > I have faith that even without my voting _what will PROBABLY HAPPEN_ is what has been happening since 1776: The nation will get by, more or less, slightly no less worse from the wear. > > I do understand and hear you’re point, though…and you’re right. Many people to accuse me of not caring for others due to not voting. I’m okay with this. Bolding mine. ALL Americans? No, I wouldn’t say ALL Americans are going to be targeted. Some Americans, yeah, maybe. Maybe not an airstrike or jailtime, but some Americans could easily be directly affected by the outcome of this election. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/72 "2016-11-08T15:54:43Z")
If Roe v Wade gets overturned because of who get put on the bench, hell yeah. All the couples who can now marry because of the knock down of DOMA by SCOTUS. That can be overturned. My sisters had student loans at 2-3%. When Reagan became president I had student loans at 8-10%. Dramatically impacted my choices. Japanese internment camps. Jim Crow laws and the Civil Rights acts. Laws that were passed to make martial rape illegal, and give women the same access to open credit accounts, get mortgages etc. How do you think all that changed or was allowed to happen in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/73 "2016-11-08T15:56:46Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Again, at the national level you can _perhaps_ make the argument that your vote is irrelevant (see the herd immunity argument), but what about the local level? My guess would be that even at that level the number of improperly-marked ballots makes a razor-thin result essentially indeterminate. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not lobbying for the OP’s position; I’m just saying it’s reasonable. I voted, after all, and it’s just as reasonable for other people to value their time and the psychological rewards of voting differently from **Idle Thoughts**. Just as it’s reasonable to play the lottery if you value it sufficiently as entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/74 "2016-11-08T15:58:37Z")
I have zero patience for people who don’t vote. The least that you could do would be to get a ballot and turn it in blank. The main reason to vote is to vote no on everything. If you don’t vote no on everything, then all these greedy politicians will assume that you are okay with them passing stupid bills and raising your taxes. You are letting them get away with that. If you had some legislation that you cared about, wouldn’t you want your neighbors to vote for it? Do you avoid the mail and the census, too? ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/75 "2016-11-08T16:01:08Z")
Bold move **IT,** but if Trump somehow wins this, you already got the sock set up, or what? THAT would NOT be fun… oooof! ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/76 "2016-11-08T16:05:06Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > How do you think all that changed or was allowed to happen in the first place? Is this a question to me? If so: So you’re saying if I don’t vote, all of that gets repealed? Sorry, I don’t buy it. I’m fairly certain that anyone who gets put into the white house isn’t going to suddenly make it okay to have blacks as slaves again. I’m not going to vote. More power to those who do. Me, I don’t care to. If you want to think I’m evil or the primary, root cause of all things horrible and bad in this earth, so be it. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/77 "2016-11-08T16:07:47Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > If you had some legislation that you cared about, wouldn’t you want your neighbors to vote for it? > > Do you avoid the mail and the census, too? I don’t talk to or know my neighbors, so…no. I wouldn’t care what they did. They are free to choose to vote or not and I wouldn’t mind. Well, I don’t really get much mail…but I don’t usually use it unless email counts. As far as I know, I haven’t taken part in any census yet. Unless someone did it for me. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/78 "2016-11-08T16:08:53Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > If Roe v Wade gets overturned because of who get put on the bench, hell yeah. > > All the couples who can now marry because of the knock down of DOMA by SCOTUS. That can be overturned. > > My sisters had student loans at 2-3%. When Reagan became president I had student loans at 8-10%. Dramatically impacted my choices. > > Japanese internment camps. > > Jim Crow laws and the Civil Rights acts. > > Laws that were passed to make martial rape illegal, and give women the same access to open credit accounts, get mortgages etc. > > How do you think all that changed or was allowed to happen in the first place? He doesn’t care. ---
**Author:** ![Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b2d939/32.png) [@Go\_Arachnid\_Laser\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Go_Arachnid_Laser_1)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/79 "2016-11-08T16:09:17Z")
What if I told you that the real point of voting is not whether you are politically on the left or on the right, or even if your one single vote can change anything? The point is getting numbers to support your demographic. Your age group, your lifestyle, racial makeup, level of education, area where you live and so on. Because the one real truth about democracy is that the politicians who win are not those who cater to everybody, but those who cater to demographic groups who vote. So if you live in a town of non-voters, and the neighboring town has got a high turnout, you will see how magically the next town starts getting nicer things. Same reason why young people always get the shaft: as long as we old farts vote a lot more than them, the successful politicians will be the ones who care about our problems, and not theirs. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/80 "2016-11-08T16:14:22Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > He doesn’t care. I know… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059.md?page=5)