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ironballs16 Since: Jul, 2009 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#99701: Sep 1st 2015 at 1:14:32 PM

[up][up]

While that aspect is true, local ordinances can vary when it comes to what makes a ballot "spoiled" - as was pointed out, not entering anything in one column could make it such.

"Why would I inflict myself on somebody else?"
Ekuran Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#99703: Sep 1st 2015 at 1:42:24 PM

Our ballots are completely computerized. Even on local level. You can't draw penises on them and they have to be registered.

Fair enough, still a way to differentiate a "didn't vote on that part of the ballot because I don't care" from a "didn't vote on that part of the ballot because I refuse to give any candidate my vote and feel none of them are good enough" would be good.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#99704: Sep 1st 2015 at 1:52:46 PM

Only if the "no candidate is good enough" option had a chance to cause the election to be tossed out. Otherwise it's exactly the same as staying home, save for a cathartic feeling of venting one's outrage at the system.

edited 1st Sep '15 1:52:52 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#99705: Sep 1st 2015 at 1:58:18 PM

It would change the way campaigns worked, if politicians suddenly realised that there was a large chunk of the electorate fed up with everybody, but willing to go to the polls, they might try and win their votes. If nothing else knowing that there's that sized chunk of the "you both suck" vote our there might well cause a "you both suck" candidate to run.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#99706: Sep 1st 2015 at 2:17:16 PM

I feel like that would fall flat against the hard-edged cynicism of such voters. I mean, why should they vote for someone who's clearly pandering to their demographic and has no real chance to win?

Never mind that the hardcore cynics are distributed both left and right, so you'd never get them all anyway. Trump has found that particular niche on the Republican side, and I would dare say that no disaffected would-be Democrat would give him the time of day.

edited 1st Sep '15 2:20:00 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#99707: Sep 1st 2015 at 2:18:18 PM

[up][up] Maybe. If I was a candidate, and a lot of "you both suck" votes, I would just shrug them off as Hate Dumb (since they wasted time and energy just to insult everyone or appear "edgy").

edited 1st Sep '15 2:18:34 PM by Protagonist506

Leviticus 19:34
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#99708: Sep 1st 2015 at 2:46:38 PM

[up] It wouldn't be an actual "you both suck" option, but simply a "none of the above" one.

why should they vote for someone who's clearly pandering to their demographic and has no real chance to win?

To make their voice heard? You'd be surprised at what people will vote for given the chance, over here we have a party that's ideology is literally "satire"[1], they hold 7 local council seats and got 3,898 votes at the last election. Protest votes can gain a lot of steam if given the chance.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
eyebones Since: Apr, 2004
#99709: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:12:15 PM

There is a large component of all electorates that just don't care about policy, or perhaps figure that if they did care about policy, it wouldn't make any difference. This component responds to rhetorical flare, if they respond at all. Hence Trump.

So maybe the time has come to start qualifying the voters, rather than explaining/arguing policy before a deaf audience.

Of course, getting the idea of a "Qualified Voter" going would hit some pretty mean opposition, it being a challenge to the idea that all voters are equal.

For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. — H.L. Mencken
Mopman43 Since: Nov, 2013
#99710: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:14:30 PM

Well, such a law would be instantly abusable. Best not to have that sort of precedent.

eyebones Since: Apr, 2004
#99711: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:18:14 PM

Maybe an approach like for driving licenses? Voting is a privilege, not a right. You need to pass a test of basic skills.

edited 1st Sep '15 3:18:36 PM by eyebones

For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong. — H.L. Mencken
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#99712: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:22:41 PM

No. Voting is a right and voter suppression is already rampant in this country.

We need more ways to vote if anything

Oh really when?
Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#99713: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:23:48 PM

No [nja]

edited 1st Sep '15 3:24:09 PM by Xopher001

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#99714: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:25:19 PM

The one way to get all 'mericans to vote. Big Mac for Party A. Slice of Pizza for Party B. Salad for third party.

edited 1st Sep '15 3:25:24 PM by Aszur

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
BAFFU Since: Dec, 2012
#99715: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:26:11 PM

[up][up][up][up]

Lets not go back in time two centuries please.

edited 1st Sep '15 3:26:26 PM by BAFFU

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#99716: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:27:52 PM

No. Voting is absolutely a right for all US Citizens.

Leviticus 19:34
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#99717: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:31:26 PM

That's not true. I'm not even talking about voting supression, I'm talking about striping the right to vote from felonies and parolees. Whether you agree with it or not that that is something states are allowed to do proves it's not viewed as a right to all citizens.

edited 1st Sep '15 3:31:48 PM by LSBK

nightwyrm_zero Since: Apr, 2010
#99718: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:31:29 PM

[up]x4 Maybe just beer for all voters? That'll drive up the youth vote. [lol]

edited 1st Sep '15 3:31:44 PM by nightwyrm_zero

shimaspawn from Here and Now Since: May, 2010 Relationship Status: In your bunk
#99719: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:37:08 PM

[up][up] What you're talking about us actually used in the U.S. as a form of active voter suppression. Because poor, and minorities are often targeted by police tactics that take away their voting rights without giving them the ability to fight back. Often times for things that wouldn't even get more affluent or white people more than a slap on the wrist if that.

Just because it's legal, doesn't mean it's not voter suppression.

edited 1st Sep '15 3:37:53 PM by shimaspawn

Reality is that, which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. -Philip K. Dick
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#99720: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:39:53 PM

I did not know people in parole were not allowed to vote

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
LSBK Since: Sep, 2014
#99721: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:41:26 PM

[up][up]I'm aware of this, but when people speak about voter suppression, they're (usually) not referring to that, so I had to address it specifically.

[up]It depends on the state.

edited 1st Sep '15 3:41:50 PM by LSBK

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#99722: Sep 1st 2015 at 3:44:19 PM

[up][up] I believe that in some states once you're convicted of a felony you lose the right to vote permanently, ever after parole. though I could be wrong.

This has been a big thing in other places, there's been a serious argument made for it being a breach of human rights to have a blanket denial of the right to vote to people in prison. Obviously with some crimes it makes sense to lose the right to vote, but a general ban on all prisoners not being able to vote has been argued against seriously.

edited 1st Sep '15 3:44:52 PM by Silasw

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#99724: Sep 1st 2015 at 4:08:46 PM

Indeed. Not being able to vote while in prison for a felony is one thing (and something that's arguable), but not being allowed to vote once you are free is a gross violation of human rights. There might be classes of crime that legitimately support the idea of stripping away the benefits of citizenship, but dealing marijuana ain't on that list.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#99725: Sep 2nd 2015 at 1:36:51 AM

Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders said he wouldn’t end the lethal drone program on Sunday in an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.

“I think we have to use drones very, very selectively and effectively. That has not always been the case,” Sanders said. “What you can argue is that there are times and places where drone attacks have been effective.”


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