# So, you don't vote. Why not? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 8, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137 "2012-09-08T22:52:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/61 "2012-09-11T23:54:23Z")
> [@Airk](#): > > While I’ve seen a lot of stuff in this thread that I don’t really agree with, this is the first thing someone has said that has made NO sense whatsoever. > > Do you -really- think the “scoundrels” would care ONE BIT if, say, only 5% of registered voters turned out to vote? Yes, they would. They derive their legitimacy from the millions of voters voting for them. If it is just hundreds of thousands, their legitimacy is gone. > [@](#): > > Also, the concept of “my vote doesn’t matter” multiplied by the number of people who think their votes don’t matter equals a number of votes that matters. I control exactly one vote. That one vote doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/62 "2012-09-11T23:55:33Z")
> [@j666](#): > > It’s a responsibility. No, it’s a right. And if they make it compulsory, they take away that right. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/63 "2012-09-12T01:13:34Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > In this thread I learned that voting in Australia is mandatory and would love to hear more about that. It sort of shocked me. I believe one has the option of not voting, but one has to submit a No Vote … ballot? They do have to vote for one of the candidates. It’s a responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/64 "2012-09-12T02:22:45Z")
I prefer the word _duty_. If you have a sense of duty, it’s what you do. That’s why I do it. And if someone doesn’t have that sense of duty, well shame on them, but nobody but yourself can make you do what’s right. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/65 "2012-09-12T02:25:30Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > I prefer the word _duty_. If you have a sense of duty, it’s what you do. That’s why I do it. And if someone doesn’t have that sense of duty, well shame on them, but nobody but yourself can make you do what’s right. Yes, you are right, that is the better word. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/66 "2012-09-12T02:31:51Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > I prefer the word _duty_. If you have a sense of duty, it’s what you do. That’s why I do it. And if someone doesn’t have that sense of duty, well shame on them, but nobody but yourself can make you do what’s right. Again, if it’s a “duty” then it’s not a “right”. So, if you’re in Australia, they took away your right to vote. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/67 "2012-09-12T02:44:49Z")
> [@j666](#): > > I believe one has the option of not voting, but one has to submit a No Vote … ballot? They do have to vote for one of the candidates. > > It’s a responsibility. Sorry but this does not make sense to me. It’s not a “responsibility” if it’s mandatory. And if I have to choose one of the candidates then I don’t have the option not to vote… I agree, that mandatory voting makes it an obligation, like taxes. And, what is the penalty for not voting? A fine? Then, in fact, it is a tax on not voting. Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/68 "2012-09-12T02:57:57Z")
I always vote but if I honestly didn’t have a preference between candidates or wasn’t informed enough about a particular ballot initiative I wouldn’t feel a strong moral compulsion to vote just to vote. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/69 "2012-09-12T03:39:25Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Again, if it’s a “duty” then it’s not a “right”. So, if you’re in Australia, they took away your right to vote. A right is something you are entitled to. A duty is something you owe, an obligation. I think Australia goes too far, but I think citizens owe this duty either way, whether they pay when asked or of their own volition. Voting is the duty of a citizen. ---
**Author:** ![Pixel\_Dent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Pixel\_Dent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixel_Dent)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/70 "2012-09-12T03:58:48Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > Because I’m not really jazzed about either of the candidates. I’m still waiting for a viable fiscal conservative without the religious component. But I can’t rouse myself to go vote for a fringe candidate (whenever I take those ‘who should you vote for’ tests I always end up with the Libertarian candidate) because I know it will do no good. There are often ways that voting for a third party candidate will do good which go beyond the specific election you’re voting in. One example is ballot access. Many states have rules which say for a statewide candidate (e.g. presidential electors, governor, senator, attorney general) to get on the ballot they must collect a very large number of signatures unless a candidate of that party polled over some significant but not impossible percentage, usually around 5%, in a recent statewide election. While there may be no chance that the candidate you vote for wins the election, you may be saving his party hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in ballot drive costs for future elections which can be better spent on other candidates, ballot initiatives, etc. just by helping him hit that 5%. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/71 "2012-09-12T04:42:30Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > A right is something you are entitled to. A duty is something you owe, an obligation. I think Australia goes too far, but I think citizens owe this duty either way, whether they pay when asked or of their own volition. Voting is the duty of a citizen. I prefer having a right to vote. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/72 "2012-09-12T05:23:56Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > I prefer having a right to vote. YMMV. That’s the beauty of it. Shirking your duty is your right. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/73 "2012-09-12T09:27:27Z")
Some employers make it difficult to vote. I work 12 hour shifts. 7 until 7. The polls are open from 08:00 until 20:00. If I’m on a day shift, the slightest delay in the evening means I can’t vote. ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/74 "2012-09-12T15:25:44Z")
Non-resident of the UK too long so ineligible for a postal vote. Non-Japanese are not allowed to vote here, not even in local elections, not even with permanent residence which I have. Boo. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/75 "2012-09-13T00:02:07Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Sorry but this does not make sense to me. It’s not a “responsibility” if it’s mandatory. **And if I have to choose one of the candidates then I don’t have the option not to vote.**.. > > I agree, that mandatory voting makes it an obligation, like taxes. And, what is the penalty for not voting? A fine? Then, in fact, it is a tax on not voting. Ugh. > [@squeegee](#): > > A right is something you are entitled to. A duty is something you owe, an obligation. **I think Australia goes too far** , but I think citizens owe this duty either way, whether they pay when asked or of their own volition. Voting is the duty of a citizen. I am very sorry, I misspoke - I believe in Australia one does NOT have to vote for a candidate, but one does have to actively NOT vote. (I really thought someone would have corrected me by now …) I don’t think “duty” and “right” are mutually exclusive. In the US, every person has the right to a basic education, and a duty to become educated. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/76 "2012-09-13T00:10:25Z")
How do you actively not vote? What is the penalty if you don’t? Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137/77 "2012-09-13T05:11:34Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > No, I’d say they’re two reasons for not voting. If your vote doesn’t count for anything then how could it hurt if you “vote for the wrong thing”? That’s the contradiction. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-dont-vote-why-not/634137.md?page=3)