You Can't Fix Things by Not Voting

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ABOUT: Rebecca Watson is the founder of the Skepchick Network, a collection of sites focused on science and critical thinking. She has written for outlets such as Slate, Popular Science, and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. She's also the host of Quiz-o-tron, a rowdy, live quiz show that pits scientists against comedians. Asteroid 153289 Rebeccawatson is named after her (her real name being 153289).

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[dlfon]

Don't forget the importance of voting for legislators, both federal and local!

[jessicawalton]

I'm embarrassed to admit. I didn't vote between the ages of 26-36 because I was living in Texas and was having a hard time getting my TX driver's license. I thought I needed that to vote. I did have a valid AZ license and passport at the time.

I know better now, but I've seen firsthand how easily Americans are disenfranchised.

When I moved to CO, I was able to get a license, started voting again, and actually paid attention to politics. I then briefly moved back to my home state of PA in 2020 and voted there.

Now I'm back in Texas, but I still can't get a TX DL (A lot of red tape and paperwork. This state is the worst), but I am registered here and have the forms to fill out each time I vote. They make me work for it, but I'm able to do it.

It's not rhetoric. It's not hyperbole. It is extremely hard to vote in a lot of states. My grandmother struggled when she changed addresses to assisted living in PA. I've been through elections in Texas where they've shut down polling places, causing hours long lines. in 2000, I had to leave work (which I was lucky to have a supervisor turn the other way) and drive 45 minutes to my alloted polling station in PA.

If you have the ability to VOTE. Not enough Americans can.

[Napalmdog]

“If you choose not to decide you still have made a choice” -Rush

[MatauReviews]

Likewise you can''t fix things by ONLY voting. Organize, mobilize, agitate. Work in your community. Work to unionize your workplaces. Fight for a future!

[Sam_on_YouTube]

Minor correction: Trump CAN vote for himself. For out of state convictions, Florida follows the law of that state. New York allows you to vote unless or until you actually report for prison. If you don't serve time (like a fine or probation) or you haven't been sentenced yet, you can still vote in New York despite the conviction and therefore you can still vote in Florida despite that conviction in New York.

It WOULD be funny if he couldn't vote for himself, but it isn't true.

[etesianSealine]

People sometimes think that voting patterns only change due to demographic shift, older voters dying off, etc, but the data is actually quite clear that the biggest swing in most western countries comes from people actually shifting their vote from one party to another. It really does matter!

[paulcooper]

In the news forums I participate in, there are many posts by "Independents" voicing their dissatisfaction with the choices of president.
Fair enough, but when they list their grievances there is a long list against Democrat and a minor list against Republican.
It is pretty obvious the comments are meant to discourage Democratic voters.

[spantigre]

Voting is not enough, but it literally better than nothing.

[jaywillam]

I am turning 40 this year, and I have voted in every election since I turned 18, still not a fan of the Democratic party on the national stage and am involved in my local Democrat party to try and move things left, but at the very least I'll always vote, cause it's literally the least I can do. This is even in suburban Indiana where 75% of my county voted for Trump last time, we're not going to flip anytime soon, but hopefully we'll keep moving the needle.

[juneclemments]

I'm British, and in our last election my father found the registering process too frustrating and said the system had disenfranchised him and that he would turn up at the polling station in protest.

As if the polling staff were to blame or could do anything about it, not voting to protest a complicated system isn't a thing, they literally made it more complicated to stop people voting, your doing what they want. Likewise not voting for Biden is just doing the conservatives a favour

[misanthropicmusings]

She's right. Red delicious are the worst apples, hands down.

[cyberius]

Yes, this is exactly why I voted for H. Clinton in 2016, Biden in 2020 and will be voting Dem in 2024. Not because I had any enthusiasm for the Democratic candidates but because they're so so so much less bad than DJT. I just wish that more of my fellow progressives would accept this.

[ttamecco]

im voting to protect my partner, I can do nothing less

[ARNYKATZ]

I did the same thing in 2020. I voted for Sanders in the primary, but I knew that Biden had gotten the nomination. Like you, I just wanted to send a message. Biden got my vote in 2020 and he'll get it again in November. A vote for anyone other than Biden, or no vote at all, is a vote for trump. I think Biden has a good team in place (certainly better than the former guy) and if he wants to sleep for 4 years, I'll allow it. The alternative keeps me up nights.

[AnnSmajstrla]

Thank you. It blows my mind that there are actually *progressives* out there who think Trump wouldn’t be as bad as Biden.

[shmehfleh]

I'm not voting for Biden, I'm voting against Trump. I've never actually voted for a presidential candidate in my life, except during Obama's first election.

[alexobery]

This is why we have compulsory voting in Australia, because our poitical parties then can actually focus on campaigning rather then turnout.
It has its flaws though, as discussed by Philosophy Tube in their video "democracy" and brexit.

Milage also varies based on how much political lobbying you have making the parties policies on things generic and very similar.

[Sam_on_YouTube]

Withholding your vote is an effective strategy IF (VERY big if) you routinely vote in the same direction such that politicians rely on your vote AND you threaten to withhold your vote rarely, resolutely, and as part of an organized effort.

Note that this is based on my own extrapolation from sources like No Shortcuts by Jane MacAlevy and Civil Resistance: What Everyone Should Know by Erika Chenoweth as well as my experience working as a political consultant (though in legislative, not electoral politics).

If you are part of a voting block that does not vote regularly, then you need to do everything you can to make your voting block regular voters so that they are relied upon. If that happen, your votes IN THE PRIMARY will push for politicians who agree with you. In the general election, it is rare that withholding votes is a good strategy, but it is sometimes if it is done as part of a block that can negotiate with politicians.

The block must be organized though. It is important to vote regularly AND join up with an organized group of like-minded voters.

Note that unions regularly use this strategy in local elections. Some do it better than others.

[AdmiralBison]

"Young people must get involved in the political process" ~ Bernie Sanders

This does not mean only vet/voting in candidates that represents the people/working class,
but *MORE* people from said demographic to run for offices to give voters a real choice as well.

Build that massive political base from the ground up.

There are MANY of us who actually care and want to make a difference but are put off becoming a Politician.
( I personally can't run for office for non-criminal reasons)


Perhaps those who are reluctant to become politicians maybe the best ones...because of no ambitions of power to get in the way of things that need to get done.

[MrDowntemp]

Trump actually CAN vote for himself. While most felons in Florida cannot vote, since Trump's conviction was in New York, and New York felons are allowed to vote, that allowance is grandfathered in, meaning Trump's allowed to vote in Florida. If he had been convicted in Florida however, then he wouldn't. I only learned this recently and I live in that hellhole.