# Would you change your 2016 vote if you could? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 6, 2018, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570 "2018-06-06T21:05:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/41 "2018-06-11T13:19:07Z")
Voted for Clinton. Not a fan of hers, but she still was better than the alternative. But the country would still be an utter shitshow if she had won, with Congress ramping up the investigations into her 24/7 and social divisions still widening. > [@Velocity](#): > > Evan McMullin; still would do it again. I disagree with McMullin’s policy positions in a lot of areas but he certainly seemed to be a sane conservative candidate, a rare thing in 2016. I’m sorry he didn’t run for the open Senate seat Romney is after. > [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > I am saddened by the third party voters and those who did not vote. Considering the stakes of the 2016 election, I believe it was a serious failure of civic responsibility. I have a hard time getting upset with third-party voters - after all, if they don’t feel represented by the two main parties, they should be able to vote for an alternative they prefer. That said, they also need to consider the strategic effects of doing so. And it would also be nice if third-party candidates weren’t generally delusional. People who can but don’t vote, however, need a good smacking. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/42 "2018-06-11T14:06:17Z")
I voted for Hillary in the primary and general and would do so again without hesitation, but the fatal error made by the Democratic party was made probably shortly after the election of 2012, when it was a foregone conclusion among so many democrats that every not named Joe Biden should stay out of Hillary’s way. The Republican party was smart in building its vaunted ‘deep bench’. Granted, they got slaughtered by a populist, but in having the bench they presented the perception of fairness to its voters, and maybe even more than that, there’s just something to be said for adding an element of drama and the unknown. The Republican race attracted more interest among voters because it was a naturally interesting race, with many different personalities involved. By contrast, the Democratic race was only made interesting when a left wing populist from Vermont took his cult following and turned it into a political brand of its own. But even then, the outcome of the race was a Clinton victory. Bernie Sanders’ attacks on Clinton, with Trump occasionally piling on, is what made the race interesting. The criminal investigation made that race interesting. Hillary Clinton and the Democratic party made all the rest boring. As for Bernie, I would have respected his candidacy a hell of a lot more had he not been strictly an insurgent. Many of the things Bernie Sanders attacked Clinton for he could have just as easily attacked Obama for, and yet he never ran in 2012 or in 2008. He chose to ran against Hillary because he knew a lot of people just didn’t like her, and his underdog gambit was a good contrast to Clinton’s inevitability. I don’t feel Bernie or his supporters got cheated, but the Democratic party and progressive voters did get cheated to some extent by not encouraging a broader spectrum of candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2018, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/43 "2018-06-11T14:43:39Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I held my nose and voted for Trump. Not that I had high hopes for him, but I detest Hillary. Now, as it turns out, I find Trump to be a fabulous President, and I would vote for him again, only next time it will be enthusiastically. (And, since I live in Chicago, it will be equally futile.) Ok, I guess I have to ask. What makes Donald a “fabulous President” in a way that has surprised you? ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/44 "2018-06-21T22:18:12Z")
Not really sure how to answer this, so I didn’t vote in the poll. I actually voted for Jill Stein. I was unenthusiastic about that vote even then, and my opinion of her and her party has declined precipitously since the election, so I honestly don’t know what I’d do if I had it to do over. Probably just not cast a vote for that office, or write in Bob Dylan or something. **But** I cast that meaningless protest vote for a crazy person only because the Electoral College system deprives me of any meaningful influence over Presidential elections. If I lived in a State where the election was close, or in some alternate universe where the US elected a President in a rational manner, I would most certainly have voted for Clinton, and each passing day makes me more and more convinced that that was the correct position. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/45 "2018-06-21T22:34:06Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Let’s say you could travel back in time for the sole purpose of changing the way you voted in the 2016 presidential election. Would you? Any buyer’s remorse among Trump voters? … No, I would not, and I’m not feeling particularly remorseful. He’s an imperfect candidate (and an imperfect President), but I preferred him to the alternative, and still do. ---
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2018, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/46 "2018-06-22T00:19:09Z")
If I could change anything about my vote in 2016, I wish I could have voted in a more competetive state legislative district. Some legislative candidates I really liked lost by very thin margins, but in my district, the house candidate ran unopposed, and the my state senator managed to win 85/15 without even trying to campaign. I am happy with both of them, but other people could have used my vote more. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/47 "2018-06-24T06:36:53Z")
> [@boffking](#): > > If I could change anything about my vote in 2016, I wish I could have voted in a more competetive state legislative district. Some legislative candidates I really liked lost by very thin margins, but in my district, the house candidate ran unopposed, and the my state senator managed to win 85/15 without even trying to campaign. I am happy with both of them, but other people could have used my vote more. _ **Gerrymandering.** _ (But don’t worry; the Democrats do it too. Doesn’t everyone remember 2009(\*) when the Democrats were in control and planned a comprehensive change to the census to assist gerrymandering and reduce the electoral votes of red states?) Here’s a state with 300 voters: 53% D, 47% R. But out of eleven seats, the D’s will win two very easily in the north, while the R’s sweep all nine of the other seats, all by thin margins: ┌───────────────────────────────────┐ │ **DDD**. **DDD**. **DDD**. **DDD**. **DDDDDDD**. **DDD**. **RRR**. **DDD** │ ├───────────────────────────────────┤ │ **DDD**. **DDD**. **RRR**. **DDD**. **DDDDDDD**. **DDD**. **DDD**. **DDD** │ ├───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┬───┤ │ **RRR** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ │ . │ . │ . │ . │ **D** │ . │ . │ . │ . │ │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **RRR** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **RRR** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **RRR** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ **DDD** │ │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ │ **DDD** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **DDD** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **DDD** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ . │ │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **DDD** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ **RRR** │ └───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┴───┘ - If you can’t remember the corrupted census of 2010, it might be because … it didn’t happen. It’s the 2018 R-team that has decided to use the 2020 Census as an electoral power play. ---
**Author:** ![emetmessenger26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@emetmessenger26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emetmessenger26)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/48 "2018-06-24T06:55:30Z")
After seeing her name encoded in the ToRaH code, studying her fixed star natal chart, seeing it reflected in Julian Assange’s “leaked” emails, listening to third world people that had funds stolen from them, using a year investigating her life and who influenced her, I would be diagnosed as a masochist, to vote for her. It wasn’t her “karma” to be POTUS. Observe how the truth will be revealed, with Saturn in its own power home of Capricorn. Be amused, but the Twin Towers were destroyed during its “Saturn return” and the Berlin Wall came down. AstroSophia is the wisdom of our CREATOR, helping us to understand the destiny of humanity and their history. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/49 "2018-06-24T07:02:36Z")
Heavy, man. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/50 "2018-06-24T07:04:27Z")
Be amused at your peril! ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/51 "2018-06-24T07:52:02Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > … If you can’t remember the corrupted census of 2010, it might be because … it didn’t happen. … Do you not remember this: [WSJ - Why Obama Wants Control of the Census](https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123423384887066377)? ---
**Author:** ![anomalous1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@anomalous1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anomalous1)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2018, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/52 "2018-06-24T08:10:08Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > I held my nose and voted for Trump. Not that I had high hopes for him, but I detest Hillary. Now, as it turns out, I find Trump to be a fabulous President, and I would vote for him again, only next time it will be enthusiastically. (And, since I live in Chicago, it will be equally futile.) Same situation here. Exceeded my expectations. Would vote again. 😃 I feel the same as well when it comes to voting this way or that way living in Chicago. I am really surprised at the contingent of R voters here in Lakeview/Roscoe Village, though. I keep my hopes up that some day it can swing the city. ---
**Author:** ![katgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@katgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/53 "2018-07-13T15:00:06Z")
> [@emetmessenger26](#): > > After seeing her name encoded in the ToRaH code, studying her fixed star natal chart, seeing it reflected in Julian Assange’s “leaked” emails, listening to third world people that had funds stolen from them, using a year investigating her life and who influenced her, I would be diagnosed as a masochist, to vote for her. It wasn’t her “karma” to be POTUS. Observe how the truth will be revealed, with Saturn in its own power home of Capricorn. Be amused, but the Twin Towers were destroyed during its “Saturn return” and the Berlin Wall came down. AstroSophia is the wisdom of our CREATOR, helping us to understand the destiny of humanity and their history. Did you study Trump’s chart, too? I’d like to know what you saw there. I voted for Hilary, BTW. I never liked her, either. At least she knows the job and is not semi-literate. I wonder about US karma now . . . ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/54 "2018-07-13T17:08:34Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Do you not remember this: [WSJ - Why Obama Wants Control of the Census](https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123423384887066377)? 1. Please note the date (2/10/2009) and byline (John Fund, Fox News and National Review commentator). 2. Even from what little of that **opinion piece** wasn’t firewalled, this was obviously speculative bullshit on the order of George Will’s contemporaneous blathering about how the Dems were going to bring back the Fairness Doctrine once Obama was elected. 3. Like **septimus** said, _it didn’t happen_. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/55 "2018-07-13T17:48:51Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I would not change either my general-election vote for Clinton, nor my primary vote for Sanders. The only change I’d even consider would be crossing over to vote for Kasich in the primary, but Ohio was probably too late for that to matter, and I’d rather vote for my preferred candidate, anyway, instead of a less-bad one. Sums up my attitude nicely. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2018, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570/56 "2018-07-13T22:59:29Z")
Voted for Clinton…wouldn’t change. No freaking way. Wish there was something more I could have done to change the lefties who wouldn’t hold their nose and the blue collar types who thought there was no economic choice and the centrists and independents that either didn’t vote or voted for Trump. Sadly, I’m pretty terrible at changing peoples minds…and Clinton was not very good at convincing the folks who should have voted for her to vote for her instead of staying home, voting 3rd party or even voting for Trump. I have to admit, even at this late date that I’m still mystified that he got elected. ☹ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-change-your-2016-vote-if-you-could/815570.md?page=2)