For those that choose not to choose between the lesser of two evils in the 2016 POTUS race and not voting third party or writing (simply abstaining):

 

Do you get to complain afterwards about the POTUS that is elected?

 

 

A simple yes or no question, but I'd like to hear your rationale, whether you're a yes voter or a no voter.

I'm a firm believer that complaining doesn't help in the great majority of instances, political or sports or whatever.

I'm not sitting this one out but will answer. I firmly believe not voting is the same as voting as long as it is an educated decision. If there were no 3rd party candidates in this election I would not vote this year. I will not cast a vote for Trump or Clinton, that would be my vote.

Not sure if I'm sitting out but yes.

 

The country allows people to protest crappy candidates in the form of sitting out. Otherwise it would be a law.

If someone who typically votes, chooses not to this year, who does that benefit more? Trump or Clinton?

 

Who's going to have more 1st time voters?

I voted yesterday. I did not make a mark on my ballot for the Presidential election. Couldn't make myself do it. I hovered over Trumps name for a little bit, but my conscience just would not allow me to make the mark. I would never vote for Clinton...Trump did not earn my vote. And after I slid my ballet into the machine I walked away perfectly ok having not voted for him. Thought for a few seconds about possibly voting for Evan McMullin (conservative Independent candidate). Heard him on the radio a few days ago and I think he got on the ballet in 47 states. Very diverse background and I liked what he had to say in the few minutes I heard him, but didn't have quite the info I would have liked to have had.

I'm not sitting this one out but will answer. I firmly believe not voting is the same as voting as long as it is an educated decision. If there were no 3rd party candidates in this election I would not vote this year. I will not cast a vote for Trump or Clinton, that would be my vote.

 

This is the kind of opinion I was hoping to see here.

 

Perhaps another way to frame the original question:

 

Is not voting the equivalent of voting for someone with no chance at all?

This is the kind of opinion I was hoping to see here.

 

Perhaps another way to frame the original question:

 

Is not voting the equivalent of voting for someone with no chance at all?

 

I don't know about others, but I'm sick and tired of holding my breath and gagging when putting a mark down. One should feel good about their vote, or at least OK with it. I could not put a mark down for Trump and feel OK with it, much less feel good about it. I'm sure Clinton supporters will be all smiles about this, but I really don't care. If Dems would do the same with Clinton (not vote for her) then maybe it would send a message to her as well and the Dem party in general. However, my felling is most will still vote for her even if they think she's a horrible candidate. Had the Reps nominated someone worth voting for they would have received my vote. There were much better "non establishment" Rep candidates running than Trump. I am so disappointed the he was the Rep nominee and I never thought it would happen. I get that Reps wanted to send a message to the establishment, and I agreed with it, but by gosh a better messenger could have been chosen. He was quite possibly the worst choice to pick against a very flawed, weak Dem candidate.

If I voted today I would cast my vote for Evan McMullin. I can only support the candidate who best aligns with my values. The options offered by the two major parties are simply not an option for me. I have no problem with skipping the presidential vote if you're not happy with the candidates.

This is the kind of opinion I was hoping to see here.

 

Perhaps another way to frame the original question:

Is not voting the equivalent of voting for someone with no chance at all?

 

As long as it is an educated decision.

 

As a side note it drives me nuts when people say they won't vote 3rd party because that person has no chance and it's a wasted vote. If you vote for the losing D or R wasn't your vote wasted the same as mine?

I will continue to not vote. Reason Being is I think they all just lie to get into office. I also will not complain about things in the government. the last 3 elections I have started paying more attention I will say that.

 

IMO if you do not vote you shouldn't complain about it.

As long as it is an educated decision.

 

As a side note it drives me nuts when people say they won't vote 3rd party because that person has no chance and it's a wasted vote. If you vote for the losing D or R wasn't your vote wasted the same as mine?

 

Don't roughly 50% of people not vote? Maybe they are all saying the same thing. Why don't we do the right thing and see what happens.

 

I'm voting for McMullin.

As long as it is an educated decision.

 

As a side note it drives me nuts when people say they won't vote 3rd party because that person has no chance and it's a wasted vote. If you vote for the losing D or R wasn't your vote wasted the same as mine?

 

Drives me crazy. My Dad tells me I'm wasting my vote because I'm voting for a 3rd party nominee (again) because he has no chance at winning. My response is always the same. Should we not vote for the candidate that most closely aligns with our own beliefs on the issues? To which he responds, well he can't win. I didn't realize voting for the winner was the goal of elections. :idunno:

Don't roughly 50% of people not vote? Maybe they are all saying the same thing. Why don't we do the right thing and see what happens.

 

I'm voting for McMullin.

Maybe but how many of those 50% educate themselves before making that decision? I don't like when someone just doesn't vote because they're too lazy to put the work in.

Drives me crazy. My Dad tells me I'm wasting my vote because I'm voting for a 3rd party nominee (again) because he has no chance at winning. My response is always the same. Should we not vote for the candidate that most closely aligns with our own beliefs on the issues? To which he responds, well he can't win. I didn't realize voting for the winner was the goal of elections. :idunno:

Well said. IMO, a vote for Trump is a wasted vote.