How much effort do you put into voting?
 

I spent a few hours last night voting for this year's elections (mail ballot). I have no idea what's typical, but there were probably a total of 20 different races (governor, senator, house rep, and a ton of state-level offices), about 15 different judges that I had to vote to retain or give the boot, and probably 7-8 ballot issues (state and local) to vote on.

I always approach it from the perspective of making an informed decision, so I spent at least a few minutes on each of the ballot issues making sure I understood the arguments for/against (using the "blue book" put out by the state). The judges are always pretty straightforward - I just mainly go through the recommendations in our little guide and go with those unless there's someone who has been contentious.

For the big races, I even spent a few minutes reading about the opinions of each candidate and tried to come to an informed decision on those too. But after a while, you can hardly even find information on some of the tiny races like county commissioner and the like, so I inevitably eventually end up just voting party line on some of those (though I kind of feel bad about it).

So...how much effort do you put into it?

(P.S. Let's keep this a-political if possible. This is about the process - not the parties involved.)

Admittedly, I don't vote.

So none.

A lot. It's important. People die for my right to do it. It matters.

I watched this video, does that count?
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/hqDBz4M9Jkg?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

We paid $1.40 for the privilege.

I work in elections. We repeatedly get turnouts in the 20-30% range. Add in the fact that people have no clue about registering to vote. No matter how much outreach there is....people are dumb when it comes to voting.

I've never voted.

And none of it matters anyways. People will religiously vote along party lines. It doesn't matter who is running and how much of an asshole they are. THEN add in that politicians make the reading material long and confusing on purpose.....and this is what you get.

I'm probably in between 3 and 4. I went ahead and selected 3 for the poll because I tend to be self-deprecating in that way. It varies from election year to election year and with how much time I put into it.

It's pointless.

Unless there is serious change in DC, voting is a complete waste.

The current 2-party system is a dumpster fire.

The blind reeruns that vote party only are as much to blame as the ****stick politicians.

**** each and everyone who only votes for a party, or for religious purposes.

All that may be true but I had to let Pit Bulls back in.

I have a person who does this for me.

I do my research so that I know what I am voting for. It does seem at times it doesn't really matter but I feel better about myself that I did.

I think voting is pointless. However, I still do it because it takes two minutes of my time. This year I voted mostly Libertarian with a few Republicans mixed in as well. Voting was a lot more fun when I could pull the lever for Ron Paul. Now I'm represented by a ****ing walrus.

Well informed. However, I refused to vote in 2012 Presidential as I refused to cast a vote for the "lesser of two evils" candidate. I'd like a candidate I can actually support rather than the one I dislike the least.

It's for suckers.

This is the first year I've voted, and only did so because I'm voting for leagization of medical marijuana. As for the rest I voted all independent. Unless there wasn't one, then I wrote in Bob Marley!

I don't vote in presidential elections, because I live in Kansas, and my vote literally does not matter. But for the senate & gubernatorial ones I do a little research, probably more than most. For the more local ones, I don't vote or put anything down for them because I have no idea who they are. I know most people just blindly click the guy with the "R" or "D" next to it. Really helping out society there guys, just blindly picking the R or the D.

This.

When I was 18, my dad made me go register to vote. He said he didn't freeze his ass shooting at the Chinese in Korea for his son not exercise the freedom he fought for.

I've made sure to vote ever since. Don't think I've missed a Presidential or Mid-Term election ever.

It was pointless in your case.

Hardly any effort is needed. There's tons of campaign ads on TV, so I just listen to those and get most of the info I need.

On important stuff like County Water Commissioner, I'll research on the internet until I feel like I can make an informed decision.

Exactly

One crook from column A, one crook from column B...

LMAO Sheep

I ask cosmo who he is going to vote for then I vote the opposite.

I vote in each election. I put in the work to find out where each one stands on the issues that are important to me. The ones I don't know, I either don't vote for or I cast a vote along the party line. I have to believe that the candidate with the same affiliation as me has at least the same core values. Well, they are supposed to.

Yay buddy, Mr. Bill Clinton

I'm confused. How did shooting at Chinese in Korea protect your right to vote?

None because it doesn't matter.

I research the Issues/Amendments/etc and vote on those, but have little care for what figure head is in office just doing what their funding party want them to do.

I try to vote in every one of Rainmans polls.

lol I think your sarcasm meter is broken.

Party line guy, eh?

If you don't understand that, I can't help you.

I am a patriot.

I'm with you on this. Although my Dad died when I was 6 months old I have always looked at voting as one of the ways I can honor what he did for our country. He fought in WWII and the Korean war.

Eh. I don't get it either. Were the Chinese planing to take away our rights to vote or something?

I just got through last night doing online research on the judges that were up to be retained or not, as well as some of the state level candidates I was unfamiliar with.

I too voted by mail since I am still recovering from surgery that would make it difficult for me to stand in line for a long time like I did a couple of years ago.

I honestly don't know that I would be able to put the same amount of effort into it if I didn't do mail ballot these days. I can't imagine trying to do all the research in advance and remember everything (though I suppose you could go in with a cheat sheet). Still, there always ends up being something on there that you weren't thinking of.

I just wish there were better information out there one some of the minor races. I hate just going with a party line, but there are some races where there's not much else to even go on.

That's why we send out sample ballot books 30 days before the election. You're allowed to mark the "ballot" that is in the book and bring it with you.

I only vote in the major elections, and always vote third party...usually for the Libertarian candidates but not always.

Bingo. Bango. Bongo.

Bet you'll be excited when Ellen Degeneres runs

How much effort do you put into voting?
 

The ballot will sit on my desk until the election is over. Then I'll destroy it. So some effort, but not a lot.

I vote by mail. Generally I'm aware enough to easily decide on everything but judicial retention. For that I consult a guide published that gives survey results from attorneys and also from judges on each candidate. Those with a less than 75% ratng get looked into as to why they may be contentious.

I'd say I'm a 4. I always vote, as I believe it is an important civil duty, But I'm not always informed on every issue.

Now they're planning that by building every goddamn thing we buy.
When we have to pay up, we're gonna be screwed.
Then we'll probably be shooting at them again.

Pretty much this.

Mostly listen to find out if any of the local props are insanely stupid or if I even care. Do general research on local politicians.

Yeah, same here. People tend to skew on the side of retaining people, so if there's a significant portion of people who say they shouldn't be retained, I tend to believe it's probably best that they get replaced.

Obviously most people only turn out for the big national elections every 4 years.

Even that I've heard is only about 50% of eligible voters.

I vote in local and municipal elections, I guess because I'm under the assumption that it could still make some sort of difference...

I don't vote for Presidents anymore. It's just a ****ing joke.

The Korean conflict was fought for our right to vote? Maybe your dad should have opened a few history books while sitting in his foxhole.

I do a decent job of researching what I'm voting for. I don't bother doing research on shit like school superintendent or anything like that. But as for the people that can affect my life in this shitty state I always do my research.

Honestly I don't know why I bother, democrats usually win by a huge margin. We haven't had a gop senator or representative in like 25 years or something.

I used to vote religiously until I realized all politicians are the same lying, corrupt assholes, just with different names.

You'd be surprised. Even those elections are somewhat low. Right now we're having the Gubernatorial election in CA and we're expecting a 28% turnout. CA has historically bad turnouts and voter registration numbers though.

I keep pretty up to date on issues, candidates less.

Unless I have a reason to vote for a candidate, I wont vote for them. That means If its dipshit A vs dipshit B, I vote for neither.