Has anyone given up voting altogether?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Most of the time.

marcus001 wrote: »

You post this then a minute later you go and post on year old thread about a new laundromat?

Not me, my dear, I have a perfectly functioning washing machine and a wife who knows how to operate it. But sad sad sad.

Hermy

buried wrote: »

...I love the fact it's probably one of the only times the whole nation can feel collectively that we have some semblance of power, authority and dictation...

That right there is the problem.
The electorate have a duty to hold their politicians to account the entire time that those politicians are in office.
Far too many seem to think that duty begins and ends on polling day.

Vic_08

OnDraught wrote: »

I have an interest in politics. I don't vote. I haven't in about ten years. I have never considered any candidate in my constituency to be able to accurately represent me in the Dail.

I can still have an opinion on politics though. If you're voting for the least worst option you're part of the problem.

And what contribution does your non-voting make to changing things?

There is no low threshold for a valid turnout. Not voting isn't a protest against the political elite, it is a passive acceptance of the status-quo.

I could at least respect a spoiled vote if you truly believed nobody on the ballot was worthy of a vote. if the 40%+ who never vote actually took 10 minutes and spoiled votes then that massive # of dissatisfied voters would be part of the national debate.

If there was a large block who showed they would vote for something different then there would be a real incentive for an organised alternative to flourish but as it is there is just a large % of the population who are just seen as being so apathetic and ignorant that they won't bother attending a polling booth once every few years so there is no incentive to do anything but ignore them.

It isn't a coincidence that the demographic that gets most screwed over is young people while pensioners are always at the top of the queue for consideration, young people don't vote in large numbers, pensioners do.

B.A._Baracus

Personally I don't vote. Each politician is as bad as each other. But hey that's just me. If anyone likes voting then more power to ya.

buried

Most of the time.

Hermy wrote: »

That right there is the problem.
The electorate have a duty to hold their politicians to account the entire time that those politicians are in office.
Far too many seem to think that duty begins and ends on polling day.

Yeah, that is very true, but like I said, collectively, the electorate only does it for that day. If the collective could stay together as a collective group with it's legitimate terms for a mandate and stay together as one for the entire term, or an entire generational existence, that is where the collective can win and determine what happens. It doesn't though. That is the problem. But that problem can be easily reversed.

jooksavage

Oh crap. Perhaps a metaphor for the way elections and referendums go here, I voted on the wrong question: I answered "no never..." when i thought the question was "Has anyone given up voting altogether?"

OnDraught

Never have and never will.

Vic_08 wrote: »

There is no low threshold for a valid turnout. Not voting isn't a protest against the political elite, it is a passive acceptance of the status-quo.

As far as I know there is a low threshold. But either way I agree with your point and I am absolutely apathetic to the status quo political system that we have in Ireland and I have no interest in giving any of them of them a vote.

Vic_08 wrote: »

If there was a large block who showed they would vote for something different then there would be a real incentive for an organised alternative to flourish but as it is there is just a large % of the population who are just seen as being so apathetic and ignorant that they won't bother attending a polling booth once every few years so there is no incentive to do anything but ignore them.

It isn't a coincidence that the demographic that gets most screwed over is young people while pensioners are always at the top of the queue for consideration, young people don't vote in large numbers, pensioners do.

How would a large block of people voting for the same people, families or parties again give rise to something new?

Hammer89

Allinall wrote: »

My point is that it's lazy to not inform yourself about the people who are going to shape the society you live in.

A society in which you have the valuable privilege of helping to choose ho runs that society, but opts out and chooses to forego that privilege .

That's not just lazy, but irresponsible .

Being alive is a far greater privilege than the right to vote, and life is simply way too short to waste even a fraction of it studying a subject which does not interest me in the slightest, just to appease you.

Don't talk about privileges mate, not when we're both having a meaningless debate on a Sunday night, on Boards.ie. I have better things to be doing, as do you. The reason neither of us are doing them is because, well, sometimes privileges pass us by. With me, it's voting. For you, it could be not spending enough time with your kids, not telling your wife that you love her enough, not appreciating your financial stability.

It could be anything, but don't pretend that there isn't one facet of your life where you don't regularly take privileges - privileges more important than voting or not voting for f*cking Richard Boyd-Barret - for granted. We all do. Off that high horse with you now.

Django99

How do people feel about the thought that no one individual vote has any influence? Speaking from the rational sense, I could go and vote for anyone I wanted to but it 100% will never have an influence on the result.

So is it more of a symbolic reason to do it?

You could say if everyone thought that way it would be different, but everybody doesn't think that way.

Hermy

buried wrote: »

Yeah, that is very true, but like I said, collectively, the electorate only does it for that day. If the collective could stay together as a collective group with it's legitimate terms for a mandate and stay together as one for the entire term, or an entire generational existence, that is where the collective can win and determine what happens. It doesn't though. That is the problem. But that problem can be easily reversed.

Agreed. But how is it 'easily reversed'?
Is there a cure for apathy?

Your Face

You might be missing out on a valuable target audience OP.

That is, people who don't vote might not be predisposed to taking part in a poll.

Abu94

Never have and never will.

Why vote? Your vote doesn't matter at all. In this country the brainwashed sheep will vote for the same parties no matter what. The only way time this might improve is when at least 2 more generations pass. All these old farts with old fashioned ideas vote for the same parties which destroy the country and few years later they vote for the same ones. Let's keep the gravy train going baby. I tried voting but there is absolutely no point due to the majority of the population being sheep.

Wanderer78

Most of the time.

Abu94 wrote:

Why vote? Your vote doesn't matter at all. In this country the brainwashed sheep will vote for the same parties no matter what. The only way time this might improve is when at least 2 more generations pass. All these old farts with old fashioned ideas vote for the same parties which destroy the country and few years later they vote for the same ones. Let's keep the gravy train going baby. I tried voting but there is absolutely no point due to the majority of the population being sheep.

Baaaaaa, get out and vote!

Abu94

Never have and never will.

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Baaaaaa, get out and vote!

FF or FG will always win no matter what due to ignorance.

kingtut

Used to but gave it up.

Sonics2k wrote: »

To be completely honest. If you're eligible to vote, and you choose not to do so, then you pretty much lose the right to moan if you don't like the result or winner.

What if you think all candidates are completely useless and don't want any of them elected? I'd rather not vote than vote for someone I dislike the least (might as well spoil my vote if I'm going to do that).

That being said I always vote if there is someone I can stand behind, if I don't vote I'll happily complain.

Wanderer78

Most of the time.

Abu94 wrote:

FF or FG will always win no matter what due to ignorance.

It can only change if you're involved, but it will take time

mickoneill31

Most of the time.

I was listening to a podcast recently where they were discussing the tactics during the ladt US election. Using social media they can determine with a reasonable amount of accuracy how youre going to vote.

If they see that your strongly for the opposite side they don't try to change your mind. They try to get you disillusioned so that you wont vote.

I vote. Generally for the least worst option. There are some candidates and parties I'll never vote for.

buried

Most of the time.

Hermy wrote: »

Agreed. But how is it 'easily reversed'?
Is there a cure for apathy?

People become apathetic as they believe they can't make a difference being isolated with only one vote, no collective community around them of their own peers or generation that could make a difference. My generation, anyone who feels marginalized by modern day politics really, should join together to create their own lobby group's. Groups with strong numbers, who will vote collectively that will make the politicians listen and act. You don't see Trade Unions being apathetic about what they want or how they demand it to be done by those in power. They have the cure for it. They know they have the numbers to determine a outcome they seek from the politicians who need those numbers in votes.
With the internet, my generation could easily reverse the lack of interest by coming together as a mobilized community to get what they want. It's such a powerful tool, it shouldn't just be a arguing shop of faceless beings which is a complete and total waste

lazybones32

I am somewhat disillusioned with politics in general. I still vote but have little confidence in those who end up getting elected. The system isn't broke but it is being abused through laziness or negligence imo. I see our T.D's who fulfill the role of the CoCo - getting potholes filled; getting the council to do the work they should be doing; or helping people with welfare claims etc. Our neighbour had to contact a TD to get a streetlight bulb replaced because the CoCo insisted it wasn't broken. Where are you going when that's the sh*t you have to go through?

I don't vote for a Party (TD's are to represent a constituency, not to toe a party's line) but i often vote negatively: i start at who i dislike most, giving him/her the least and work upwards.

First Up

Some people here really should travel a bit.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Never have and never will.

For me, they look more and more like referenda than elections. You're not voting for a government, you're voting for a system.
Irrespective of who wins, they'll have their hands tied by the same social and economic bases, meaning change is actually very difficlult to impliemnt,
no matter how good the intentions (and I use that term loosely) of the incumbent leaders. The system is what's chosen and will be implemented.

Sonics2k wrote: »

To be completely honest. If you're eligible to vote, and you choose not to do so, then you pretty much lose the right to moan if you don't like the result or winner.

I've never understood this mentality. Surely if no candidate represents your views or none of them are good enough for public office in yoru opinon, abstaining should be considered an option?

If you voted for a party and said party got in, THEN you pretty much lose your right to moan.

gpstracker

I believe I will spoil my vote next time out. I have no confidence in the political, civil/public systems in this country. We are third world in many ways with opaque deals done behind closed doors well before any hint of a democratic sheen is applied to a decision. We have little to no accountability or transparency, people are obsessed with money & wages when accountability & transparency would improve everyones lives but is of lesser importance.

I have had some experience over a number of years with individuals and organisations and speak from that experience. The scale of liars and grabbers out there in positions of responsibility is draining.

boardsuser1

I'm not even registered to vote.

Several politicians tried to get me to register in 2014 for the local elections, I refused.

Unless it becomes mandatory I'll never do it.

Cienciano

Never have and never will.

sugarman wrote: »

What a pathetic attitude to have, people have died for the right to vote! You're telling me you can't take a couple of minutes reading a parties/candidates policies pros and cons and take 10mins to lash it down on a slip and throw it in a box?

Just because youre not into politics doesn't mean it won't severally affect your day to day life.

The very people you see moaning about the government doing this, that and the other on social media etc.. are shockingly the people with a similar view on voting ...the "ah sure der all same!" crowd ...no, they're not, especially your local representatives.

I think part of the reason people don't vote is because the policies don't really matter. Politicians will say anything to get a vote. It's pretty much meaningless reading their policies, and after seeing this for a few years you sort of lose the will to bother voting.

OldMrBrennan83

Never have and never will.

This post has been deleted.

Capt'n Midnight

Most of the time.

It's ironic how many people voted for "Never have and never will."

Noveight

Most of the time.

I vote. I'm not terribly interested in politics but I do try and get myself in the know around election time.

The only downside of voting is the chance of being called for jury duty.

DoozerT6

I'm not registered and have never voted. I have zero interest in politics. I also don't complain about the government because I'm not informed or interested enough to complain. #totalhonesty.

Disclaimer, I'm sure that if someone truly reprehensible with dubious policies against certain religious groups or ethnicities was trying to become Taoiseach, I would probably mobilise myself to vote against them. Until then, they're all the same shower of suits to me.

Sue Pa Key Pa

Most of the time.

I always vote, without exception. But, jeez, these people don't make it easy nowadays

HalloweenJack

I vote when I can. As a foreign citizen in Spain, I can't vote in general elections, just local and European ones.

c_man

Used to but gave it up.

I do think it's important to vote, but some of them just call for spoiling your ballots.

For instance I personally don't see the point of leaning one way or the other on any EU referenda so it's gonna be a big c0ck and balls drawn on the top.