In reply to Jarodemo (msg # 6):

Precisely. If there's little turn out, they think no one is watching, and that means they don't need to watch themselves.

You can get a sample of your ballot online and print it off.  Then go and do your research of your candidates and tick off which ones you want to vote for.  The sample ballot will say sample at the top so it can't be used as a vote, but it allows you to have a printed list of whom you want (and don't want) to vote for at the polling place.

Makes voting much easier.  I've already voted and I encourage everyone who is eligible to vote to do so as well.

Any Alex Jones listeners here?
http://www.infowars.com/
This message was last edited by the user at 19:37, Tue 04 Nov 2014.

I personally won't vote until I see a candidate worthy of my vote, haven't seen one yet in my opinion. But just so you know, I also don't complain about the people in office because I didn't put them there, so honestly those who vote then complain about who they voted in honestly tick me off more then those who didn't vote and complain about who is in office. Just my two cents.

Went, voted, did some other errands, all in all a fairly productive day.

Our state is moved to all absentee ballots, so I voted yesterday.

Every website I have visited today has this propaganda, awesome.

I've always found the "if you don't vote you have no right to complain" idea to be quite silly. The First Amendment (and similar laws in other countries) are not predicated on voting.
This message was last edited by the user at 18:11, Tue 04 Nov 2014.

In my state we vote mostly by mail-in ballots. I cast mine a week ago. Half of my ballot was for candidates running un-opposed (mostly judges or water board members). A few odd referendums and a couple of bills.

I did notice a change this year, one that made me smile ... none of the referendum questions were gobbledygook speak or double speak or written so that in order to vote against it you had to vote for it. I am hoping that someone forbade that BS finally. Tricking the voters is a shameful way to get your position to matter.

Please cast your vote and make your opinion heard. If you honestly believe that none of the people on the ballot deserve your vote ... then write in Richard Millhouse Nixon ... At least he honestly believed that he was "Not a crook" (maybe)(chuckle)... It will signal that you think Nixon a better choice than whoever is on the ballot and you will have participated in your civil responsibilities. Remember that this country allows it's citizens to have a voice, we should exercise that right and not waste it. There are those that would like to remove our rights and they are chipping away at them every day. So please vote.

Thanks guys.

In reply to Mustard Tiger (msg # 14):

Voting is how you opt into the conversation. Too bad if you didn't care enough to be involved before, you can come back in a few years. If you care enough, prove it, take time out of your day and do something people elsewhere would die to do.

In reply to Sir_Chivalry (msg # 16):

That doesn't refute my belief that the adage of 'vote or you can't complain' is silly. I'm not voting, and I probably won't complain, either (at least not about the people I could have voted for today), but the first amendment guarantees the right to complain, regardless of whether or not you filled out a form or pulled a lever or punched a few buttons on a screen.

In reply to Mustard Tiger (msg # 17):

The first amendment stops laws from preventing you from expressing your speech, it has little to do with the opinion that if you didn't vote you shouldn't complain. Freedom of Speech doesn't mean you get to say what you want, only that the state can't stop you

Yeah, you're right. I threw out the bit about the first amendment while neglecting to remember what it actually means.

I still think the adage is silly. If people are concerned about the policies of a government, then they should voice their concerns, regardless of whether or not they happened to press a button or fill out a form. Concerns and complaints shouldn't be held back simply because somebody was too lazy, too ignorant (or of the mind that votes don't matter) at the time of an election.

My husband and I had just listened to a series of opposing political smear ads for the same position, that of the State Governor.  Each ad basically called the other guy a liar, a cheat, and a crook.  My husband looked at me and asked, "Do you think we can try it for a while without a Governor?"

My husband also says that our state has the best politicians that money can buy.

We have vote by mail. No long lines; either use a stamp or drop off at a ballot box, of which there are many.

We also have citizens' panels that research ballot measures and report their findings in the Voter's Pamphlet.

BTW, one purpose of attack ads is to increase the number of persons who feel that no candidate is worthy of their vote. IMO, a person who doesn't vote and/or tries (unreasonably) to get out of jury duty should reconsider what it means to be a citizen in a democracy.

Remember, remember, the Fourth of November.  Oops, wrong day. :)

In reply to OceanLake (msg # 22):

The one time I was called for jury duty I was young and stupid and thought I had better ways to waste my time: so I had this perfect way to get out of it.

When they called me to examine me for the jury they asked some question like "Is there any reason you would be inclined to pre-judge this case?" to which I responded "Well, it's like this: I think that if the cops arrest someone for a crime they had damned well better be sure he is guilty first." and I was promptly dismissed for cause.

I very much regret that now.

I have never again been called for jury duty and being somewhat older and significantly wiser now I think I could actually do the job properly if given a chance.

I'm almost 50 years old and I have never been called for jury duty.  :(

In reply to Dara (msg # 25):

Then you must not live in litigious California.  My wife and I get the jury summons about twice a year--though so far have not had to come in for a voir dire.

Nope, not Cali.  I do have one friend who's been called three times for the jury pool, but hasn't actually been selected for a jury.

I'm actually on call this week, believe it or not, which is why I posted a response.  It's frustrating here because you just call in every evening for a week to see if they need you to come in, and you can't really plan your life otherwise during that week, just in case you have to go in.

I've served once for a local grand jury duty... and a second time called for petit jury duty and taken to a different part of the state to serve for a little less than a week.  In the end... it turned out myself and another were only alternates, so we did not actually cast a vote in the end.  However, we were only told at the very end.  [presumably so if someone had to 'bow' out, that there could be no cries that we had not paid attention]

Otherwise, I believe I have been called a few times to be available a few other times.  However, I think only one of those others was I asked to come to the courthouse, and even then, I wasn't even asked to answer anything other than my survey, and simply was allowed to go home after a few hours.

I didn't particularly look forward to the process, but did feel that if I was chosen, I should make myself available.  I was amused by some people's reasons for not being available.  Some seemed legitimate.  Others seemed less so.  Several people said their jobs couldn't live without them, and they would have to contact them.  Interesting enough, I don't know anyone who's employer said no.

I found that service interesting timing as it was not far off time-wise from the time I was called to be a witness in a different case.  It was a time where I saw the process from a couple different perspectives.

I have to admit, luckily neither were a financial hardship for me to have been able to 'serve'.  I can understand why someone barely making it would find serving even harder, as you certainly don't get much.

Today is Election Day. Please exercise your right to vote.

People complain if they vote, people complain if they don't vote. It's human nature to want to voice our opinions and who is it for others to say we can't? Would you like someone telling you that you have no right to voice your opinions about someone regardless if you voted for that person or not? The amendment does say about laws preventing someone from saying their peace, yes. But it doesn't mean that solitary people can also prevent someone from voicing their own opinion about how a person others around them voted into office. We all have a voice and it has a right to be heard regardless if others agree with it or don't agree with it.