How do you vote?

[Wren]

How do you usually vote in elections?

Do you align with one political party and vote for their candidates pretty consistently? Or even if you don't necessarily a member of a party, do you still vote pretty consistently for candidates of one political party?

Are you an independent and vote for candidates in more than one party?

When you are unhappy with all of the Democrats and Republicans running in an election, do you vote the lesser of two evils, vote 3rd party, or abstain from voting.

And if you do vote for the lesser of two evils, is it because you believe that to vote for any candidate that is not a Democrat or Republican would be a useless vote?

(More than one option can be voted for in the poll.)

 

[Qyöt27]

This is a tough one. I'm 'Non-Affiliated' (what Florida replaced the term 'Independent' with), and have voted for more than one party before. I'd only abstain from voting in a particular contest if I didn't like either candidate or if I was undecided about which to choose. If there was one candidate or party that I vehemently disagreed with, then I would go for the other as an actively negative vote. If I'm ambivalent about the particular race (usually local elections), then I'll likely just go with the recommendations given by the local newspaper's editorial staff.

I don't see voting for a third party as wasting a vote, because I'd rather vote for who I agree most with than try to play the winning game. Trying to focus on winning elections and keeping power is one of the reasons why the political discourse in this country is so toxic, rather than it genuinely being about representatives serving the public.

 

[Inkachu]

So far, as an adult, I've always voted for one party. Not based on the party, but based on the issues and the candidates. If this party ever goes down the drain, I may vote a different way.

 

[Cute Tink]

I usually end up having to vote against the guy I really don't want more than anything and I find that very disappointing.

 

[twnsrkr]

I don't vote.

 

[mina]

I try to be an informed voter and I either vote for the lesser of two evils or third party; whomever I feel will actually be the better choice. I am not firmly affiliated with any one party. but politics makes me very disappointed b/c very often I find myself not wanting to vote for any of them and wondering what the better choice is b/c they all seem awful. Basically I just see them all as politicians.

 

[NeverEnder]

I only vote Republican.

 

[Wren]

I don't see voting for a third party as wasting a vote, because I'd rather vote for who I agree most with than try to play the winning game. Trying to focus on winning elections and keeping power is one of the reasons why the political discourse in this country is so toxic, rather than it genuinely being about representatives serving the public.

I am currently unaffiliated (and previously did not have to register with a party, so I guess unaffiliated there too). In the past, I've voted for both Democrats and Republicans. Most recently, I tend to vote for one party's candidates. However, I've gotten so disgusted with both main parties and politicians in general that I've been thinking of voting 3rd party. I struggle with that, though, because I have wondered if I would be throwing away my vote. Now I'm starting to think more like the quoted.

I can't vote in primaries, so it's early and I have until November to decide. But I have been thinking about it lately and wanted to see how other people vote, especially in regards to the "lesser of two evils" vs. the 3rd party vote.

 

[Miss Spaulding]

I stick to one party when voting. In the past when I didn't know what exactly to do I voted 'lesser of two evils', but I won't be doing that again. Stupid...if I vote for the lesser of two evils, what good have I done? I still voted for evil.

I probably won't be voting at all this presidential election because I refuse to vote for the lesser of two evils, and unfortunately it appears that's going to be my only option. I'm not doing it.

 

[Perhaps Today]

I always vote Republican, which at times seems the same as voting for the lesser of two evils.

 

[crishmael]

I've voted for both major parties in the past, but lately I tend to only vote Democrat or Green Party if it is an option. If I have to choose between a Democrat and a Republican and don't like either choice I don't vote.

 

[Nienna_Lady_of_Tears]

I have my own personal convictions but I don't necessarily believe that my personal convictions are what is necessarily right for the country. I don't usually vote, but when I do it's rarely republican.

 

[Fenny the Fox]

I vote the lesser of two evils.

Or a third party, possibly. Just depends.

Typically it falls to the less evil of the candidates from major party politics. I don't generally agree with much of what a candidate claims or runs on, but it comes down to who I feel will do a better job and/or who (seems to) agree the most with what I feel are the more important issues.

 

[k450ofu3k-gh-5ipe]

I usually end up having to vote against the guy I really don't want more than anything and I find that very disappointing.

Same here

WTB more than two viable parties. PST

 

[Speculative]

I vote for the least of all evils in any election whether it be Republican, Democrat, or third party. This year I'm looking for a non-imperialist, non-corporatist presidential candidate so if anyone has any suggestions, I'm game.

 

[Amber.ly]

I vote based on the individual candidate's voting record. If they support what I believe to be right then they get my vote, regardless of party affiliations.

 

[Wren]

I vote based on the individual candidate's voting record. If they support what I believe to be right then they get my vote, regardless of party affiliations.

What if none of the candidates are good in your opinion? Do you vote for the one who seems the least bad or do you not vote?

 

[Amber.ly]

What if none of the candidates are good in your opinion? Do you vote for the one who seems the least bad or do you not vote?

I guess that depends on the level of "badness".

I have a few issues that if the candidate votes for them, they will never get my vote, no matter anything else. So in theory I could pick a lesser evil but I imagine that won't happen to often.

I loathe the idea of abstaining from voting altogether but when push comes to shove, I vote my convictions, even if that means not voting at all.

 

[Tink]

You didn't have a "I have never voted" option.

 

[Wren]

You didn't have a "I have never voted" option.

There's the When unhappy with Dems and Repubs, I abstain from voting option. Do you plan on voting this year?