Just a reminder!

[Dvatori]

It's voting day in the U.S.A!
If you're eligible, make sure to go out and cast your ballot. Voting sites are easily googled and a lot of states have same-day voter registration!
Lot'sa tight races out there, go make your voice heard!

Hmmmm. incentives....

Repost this sticker



Or make one of your own if you voted today.
Also, if you're ineligible to vote but want to encourage voter's rights post it anyway!

If you do I will give you mental hugs so squishy and awesome, they will make you feel full of fluff for a day!

(This post not meant to encourage a particular viewpoint or ideology, just to make sure you get out and vote. Please keep comments supportive and respectful!)

[Saturo]

Vote for the party to end racism against the undead. Seriously, we're mortally challenged, not zombies!

[Sarayana]

A great initiative, Dvatori. It saddens me to see so much apathy regarding the political process in younger generations (not just in the US - Europe and Canada also struggle to engage younger folks in politics), and I hope every bit of encouragement helps convince people to go and make their voice heard.

[Royi]

Yay John Stewart!

[Dvatori]

Well pbbbbtttthhhh t

I just voted.



As Mayor Daley said, "Vote early, vote often."

[Saturo]

Just a quick, probably stupid question here, but isn't your next election in 2012?

[Teigan]

.

[Royi]

2010 is called the "midterms" (every 4 years is presidential) since its when there isnt a Presidential race.

Our house has elections every 2 years so that comes up every even year

Our senate has elections every 6 years that is split up into 2 year increments (roughly 1/3 will be 2010, the next 1/3 will be 2012, then 2014, then repeat)

Its not a stupid question for someone living outside the US. If a US citizen asked that, then I would call them stupid

[Saturo]

Oooh! Right! I thought you had those senate elections within the two parties! xD

[Teigan]

.

[Mr. Perfect]

The best part of today? A month of political attack ads stop! I don't know why, but every single politician in the last few years has slowly switched from "Elect me, I'll do such and such" to "Elect me, I'll do such and such, unlike my competitor" until finally settling on "I'm an unwed teenage paraplegic war veteran who lost my job to Chinese outsourcing, and Candidate X caused it! I'm voting for Candidate Y!"

Tomorrow will be back to auto commercials.

[Aleu]

I voted for the first time today... But I didn't feel special. =| Mostly because I didn't know half the people so I just voted for random people. I just voted, left and was like; "...That's it? ...Imma gonna go get some food now."

The best part of today? A month of political attack ads stop! I don't know why, but every single politician in the last few years has slowly switched from "Elect me, I'll do such and such" to "Elect me, I'll do such and such, unlike my competitor" until finally settling on "I'm an unwed teenage paraplegic war veteran who lost my job to Chinese outsourcing, and Candidate X caused it! I'm voting for Candidate Y!"

This.

[Dvatori]

The best part of today? A month of political attack ads stop! I don't know why, but every single politician in the last few years has slowly switched from "Elect me, I'll do such and such" to "Elect me, I'll do such and such, unlike my competitor" until finally settling on "I'm an unwed teenage paraplegic war veteran who lost my job to Chinese outsourcing, and Candidate X caused it! I'm voting for Candidate Y!"

Tomorrow will be back to auto commercials.

Cheers! It's been the dirtiest political season ever in Iowa... The freaking county commissioners were taking out attack ads!

[Dvatori]

Also, Aleu! You are special!

[Sarayana]

I voted for the first time today... But I didn't feel special. =| Mostly because I didn't know half the people so I just voted for random people. I just voted, left and was like; "...That's it? ...Imma gonna go get some food now."

Unfortunately, some elections feel less... significant and special than others. When you vote in the presidential election, you've seen the candidates and heard what they stand for. In elections like this one, you're more likely to hear lots of slander that gets easily filtered out. Most candidates will still have websites with their political program though, so if you felt like the decision wasn't significant because of the way the campaigns have been run by the candidates, my suggestion would be to inform yourself. Once I started doing that, I felt my vote carried much more weight.

[Mania]

My husband went primarily to vote on state constitutional amendments and skipped the local judge types stuff.

(I don't vote.)

[Royi]

I voted for the first time today... But I didn't feel special. =| Mostly because I didn't know half the people so I just voted for random people. I just voted, left and was like; "...That's it? ...Imma gonna go get some food now."

Unfortunately, some elections feel less... significant and special than others. When you vote in the presidential election, you've seen the candidates and heard what they stand for. In elections like this one, you're more likely to hear lots of slander that gets easily filtered out. Most candidates will still have websites with their political program though, so if you felt like the decision wasn't significant because of the way the campaigns have been run by the candidates, my suggestion would be to inform yourself. Once I started doing that, I felt my vote carried much more weight.

These elections were basically people voting on the ideas that corporations put on their adds

[VelkynKarma]

A great initiative, Dvatori. It saddens me to see so much apathy regarding the political process in younger generations (not just in the US - Europe and Canada also struggle to engage younger folks in politics), and I hope every bit of encouragement helps convince people to go and make their voice heard.

I'm one of those younger generations. I'm registered to vote, but...ugh. I voted in the presidential election, but in general politics just go 'woosh' over my head. Even the presidential was tough for me. It's just ridiculously hard for me to understand what all the different stances and policies and everything else mean especially since they're frequently so wrapped up in prettified words and...guh.

Politics are just so confusing for me I tend to not vote, because I like to understand what I'm giving my opinion on and not make misinformed choices. Then I feel bad, 'cause I know I SHOULD vote, but I just don't understand it...and every time I ask people 'what does this mean' hoping for an objective explanation I usually get somebody's political opinion rammed down my throat.

So, so confusing.

Plus, I really hate all those commercials and adds. "DON'T VOTE FOR THIS GUY, HE'S A JERK." "DON'T VOTE FOR THIS WOMAN, SHE'S A BITCH." That's great guys...I still don't know anything about what YOU stand for other than you're willing to pay to insult people on TV, which really isn't appealing to ME personally...

*sigh*

~VelkynKarma

[Dvatori]

A great initiative, Dvatori. It saddens me to see so much apathy regarding the political process in younger generations (not just in the US - Europe and Canada also struggle to engage younger folks in politics), and I hope every bit of encouragement helps convince people to go and make their voice heard.

I'm one of those younger generations. I'm registered to vote, but...ugh. I voted in the presidential election, but in general politics just go 'woosh' over my head. Even the presidential was tough for me. It's just ridiculously hard for me to understand what all the different stances and policies and everything else mean especially since they're frequently so wrapped up in prettified words and...guh.

Politics are just so confusing for me I tend to not vote, because I like to understand what I'm giving my opinion on and not make misinformed choices. Then I feel bad, 'cause I know I SHOULD vote, but I just don't understand it...and every time I ask people 'what does this mean' hoping for an objective explanation I usually get somebody's political opinion rammed down my throat.

So, so confusing.

Plus, I really hate all those commercials and adds. "DON'T VOTE FOR THIS GUY, HE'S A JERK." "DON'T VOTE FOR THIS WOMAN, SHE'S A BITCH." That's great guys...I still don't know anything about what YOU stand for other than you're willing to pay to insult people on TV, which really isn't appealing to ME personally...

*sigh*

~VelkynKarma

Yea, I think this is a huge reason people don't vote, no one will give them a straight answer. I have my own beliefs, very much so in fact, I care very deeply about many issues, but if I'm asked an honest question I always try to answer as truthfully and unbiased as I can.

The political rhetoric in this country is progressively sinking so quick my ears are popping. That's why I feel it's always important to be involved, and informed; So I can hopefully enhance the discussion and bring something to the table, not just name call.

It's frustrating and dispiriting sure, but... when you see something wrong you have to take action, or risk becoming 'wrong' yourself...

*Grasps at straws.*
Phrasing!
PHRASING!

[Raydex-of-the-dawn]

The best part of today? A month of political attack ads stop! I don't know why, but every single politician in the last few years has slowly switched from "Elect me, I'll do such and such" to "Elect me, I'll do such and such, unlike my competitor" until finally settling on "I'm an unwed teenage paraplegic war veteran who lost my job to Chinese outsourcing, and Candidate X caused it! I'm voting for Candidate Y!"

Tomorrow will be back to auto commercials.

I'm too young to vote, so this is simply a no-ad holiday. Though I'd LOVE to be able to vote. So much stuff I care about.

It's also a "my gramma burning effigies of canidates she didn't like who won" day. Seriously. She's very obnoxious about it, too, it's embarrasing.

I didn't care for most of the canidates at all because none of them seemed too terribly interested in anything that wasn't creating jobs and there are other things out there too...but I was pretty angry when we recieved a pamphlet by mail blaming one of the canidates for all of Minnesota's problems. She's an nice, sweet old lady who goes to my church and has never ran for a seat of power before. :/ If I could vote I'd vote for her simply because I know what a genuinely nice person she is. She hasn't done ANYTHING why are you attacking her? Whoever you WANT me to vote for, I'm not. :/

Generally I have a good idea of who I WOULD vote for - I watch the ads to see how vicious each canidate is, google for their standpoint on other issues I care about and then make note of who shares my viewpoints. If no one is at all good, I'd at least write something in, though. Like Michelle Obama or Mr. Firk (my teacher).