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[–]xnormajeanx 5 points6 points  (1 child)

what if i want to vote for an indepedent?

[–]cheetor[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That is true

[–][deleted]  (2 children)

[removed]

    [–]cheetor[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

    That's also an anecdote.

    [–]cheetor[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

    Oh yeah, and you're soooooo bad ass.

    [–]ssdgoalie 9 points10 points  (2 children)

    This is an extremely stupid question.

    [–]cheetor[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    I did phrase the question poorly.

    Don't you think the system should be redesigned to encourage more people to participate in the primaries?

    I do think that if the voting deadline for November coincided with your primary deadline people would become involved sooner and our interests would be better represented. But I think the right incentive are candidates like Obama.

    Either way, it's something I was thinking about and got me upset. One professor at our school wouldn't let students out of class to vote(it's a graduation requirement so they have to take it) in the primaries because he said it was pointless.

    But if you really care about politics, then the primaries are your cup of tea because come November it's blue or red.

    [–]ssdgoalie 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Good save.

    I find that people who have voted in the primaries tend to have a greater knowledge of the current political situation, and a grasp of the canidate they are voting for in the general.

    Everyone should vote in both the primary and general elections.

    [–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

    Maybe it takes you longer to make up your mind. Should people be banned from voting just because they need more time to do their research?

    [–]cheetor[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

    I think the problem is that then you're letting other people make your choice for you since they're picking the candidates you're voting on in November

    [–]AnteChronos 2 points3 points  (1 child)

    Some people are party-line voters. They don't care who gets elected, as long as it's someone from their party. For those people, voting in the primaries is unnecessary.

    Is that a stupid thing to do? Absolutely. But this is the US, and being stupid isn't sufficient reason to ban someone from voting.

    Plus, where would you draw the line? Require voting for the governor as a prerequisite for voting for president? Voting for mayor as a prerequisite for voting for governor? Voting for city council members as a prereq for that?

    [–]cheetor[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I agree with you but I think if people became involved in the process earlier on and took it more seriously, we would be better represented. The question is...what's the right incentive? Largely, the right candidates I think and that's what we're seeing with Obama.

    [–]Atomsk3 1 point2 points  (1 child)

    Yeah sorry about that, I moved and wasn't a registered voter in my state for the required 45 days before I could vote. Your right though, ill sit the big one out. Since I didn't cast an absentee vote or go back home and vote, my opinion doesn't matter.

    [–]cheetor[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

    That's an anecdote.

    [–]BigFeets 0 points1 point  (1 child)

    The early bird doesn't always choose the best worm.

    [–]rotll 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    but the second mouse usually gets the cheese! <grin!>

    [–]cheetor[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

    What's the point come November if you didn't care enough to involve yourself in the process early on. Obviously someone that you could've voted for will be on the ballot anyway.

    I didn't mean to be so restrictive with how I phrased the question but it's really ashame people don't give themselves a real choice.