Why vote? Daddy makes me?
Some of you who take my class were no doubt appalled that I do not vote.
The reason I do not vote is that the probability of me determining the final election outcome is vanishingly small.
As most of you realize, if everyone thought like me except one person, only one person would show up and determine the outcome of the election. But if this were to happen, I (and others) would realize that we do in fact have a significant chance of determining the outcome of the election and would probably be inclined to vote. The last time I checked, there were many people who like to vote, so I am not too worried.
For the record, economists do know that voter turnout is larger when elections are expected to be close. And it certainly is the case that my vote is much more likely to determine a local election that a state or national election. Which brings me to this little gem. Read this article. If only it were my dad, you all would be so happy.
–CT
May 7th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
I disagrre with your decision not to vote. Even though the probability of your vote changing the election is pracitcally zero, you should still vote because if enough people would think like that, the outcome would come out totally different than what would be best for the overall majority of the people. Also even though people would start voting more if only a few people went to the election, why sit around and let someone you don’t want get in office? It makes no sense to do that.
August 23rd, 2006 at 8:59 pm
I have been lately entertaining the thought of not voting as well, but for a different reason than that the power of my one vote approaches zero: there simply isn’t anyone I want to vote for. I would (and for a while did) vote Libertarian any chance that I could, but that opportunity doesn’t often present itself. Besides this, the Libertarian Party seems to have been getting soft on its principles as of late. No, as Mises said, the country (or the world) won’t change for the better by political means, but more fundamentally by ideas, and individuals revising their ideologies and worldviews.
September 28th, 2006 at 6:44 pm
I disagree with you on this issue due to large fact that this simple right we often overlook is one of the many things that makes our country great and seperates us from the rest of the world. To many people take for granted the right to vote. It’s our duty as Americans to take part in this to keep in tack ‘our voice’ in how our government is ran. Sure, the chance our vote can make a difference is sure to be slim to none, but then again, the election of 2000 could beg to differ. This very important election could have easily been swayed either way by just a few votes (Flordia anyone??). A large majority of citizens today can certaintly bash the candidates in office that are representing them, but a telling note is the very small majority of citizens that actually get out to vote and let their voice be heard on the candidate that represents them best!
November 29th, 2006 at 10:12 am
Everybody has different views about voting. Some will vote or will not show up at the polls. I am definitely a voter. I feel like my vote will count and everybody should feel the same way. I believe that politicians do not want us to vote, so they can have their way. Some people did not vote because they did not care.A majority of people think their votes do not count. We are Americans; therefore, we have a right to our opinions. Our fore fathers did not die for us not to vote, I thought you should rethink this idea of not voting.