Election Voting Strategy

How to vote when you have no idea of who to vote for

Published on June 24, 2004 By mrperky In Politics

First, let me say that I am a big believer in the voting system(s) in America. You have no basis for complaints about your leadership if you don't care enough to vote.

My county in North Carolina (Catawba) has primary elections coming up in July. I am a registered Democrat, though my leanings are distinctly Republican with the exception of big business. I am assisting in the voting process as a judge for one of the local precincts. This is my first time as a judge. Going through training on the new electronic voting equipment led me to again review my voting strategy. I thought I'd record it and post for your amusement and commentary.

Frequently you have no idea who to vote for. You do your preliminary investigative work with TV, radio, coworkers, family members, and local barbershop. But that obscure position of 5th District Superior Court judge, Register of Deeds, or other smaller position has left you baffled at the poll. Who do you vote for when you have no idea of who the candidates are for the position?

You could vote straight party ticket. That would have me voting straight Democrat. This selects all Democrats on the ticket, regardless of experience, relevancy to the position, or who the best person for the position is. This is only one step above not voting. Such partisanship is mostly for the lazy. Or you could not vote for that particular position. This is unacceptable also because you once again are shirking your responsibility.

My strategy is this:

* When I know the person I want to elect, then I will vote for him/her for that position.

* When I don't know any ot the candidates but I know who the incumbent is, I will seek to remove that incumbent from office. This limits the good old boy networks. I am firmly for term limitations. Two terms in office is enough. Candidates don't need to leave public service, they just need to find another position to serve in.

* When I don't know anyone who is running, I will always vote for the Libertarian candidate. In general I think that Goverment should be trimmed down and this fits with the general Libertarian goals. Besides, the Republicans and Democrats just piss me off sometimes with their posturings, attack advertisements, and doublespeak.

* When there is no Libertarian candidate, I will vote in the woman candidate. Woman tend to make better policy makers in my opinion. Men settle too quickly into good old boy networks.

This is my strategy. Label me Democrat, Republican, Centrist, Leftist, Rightist, Populist, or whatever. I don't care. I watch the issues, try to avoid biased reporting, and am involved in the governnance process. I am working to make a difference and my election strategy has evolved to help me do that.

So, what do _you_ think and how do _you_ decide who to vote for?

Comments

Madine

on Jun 24, 2004

This selects all Democrats on the ticket, regardless of experience, relevancy to the position, or who the best person for the position is. This is only one step above not voting. Such partisanship is mostly for the lazy.

When I don't know anyone who is running, I will always vote for the Libertarian candidate.

Why is a default vote of Libertarian less lazy than a default vote of Democrat?

My voting hierarchy is:

*Vote based on the candidate

*If I don't know any of the candidates, vote Republican

*If I don't know any of the candidates and there is no party affiliation, don't vote for that category.

Isn't not voting better than voting on a baseless generalization or flipping a coin?

mrperky

on Jun 24, 2004

Your assumption is that my choosing Libertarian is baseless. My choice is based on:

A. I largely support the Libertarian platform -
Link
I find it easier to agree with than either the Republican Platform or Democratic platform, although there are areas I disagree with, such as their stance on abortion.
B. The Republicans and Democrats have pissed me off with their partisanship and bickering. If I never see another negative attack ad again it will please me.

Therefore, I seek to vote in the Libertarian. This strategy usually "fails" because the Libertarian is rarely elected. However, I've voted my conscience and attempted to rectify the governance of my self, family, and community.

Otherwise, my "generalizations" are not baseless. They are based on my personal observations and the discussions of the media, my friends, and family, as well as my reaction to those discussions.

Sly But Shy 1958

on Jun 24, 2004

Gee, and i thought i was the only one who did this... nice to know otherwise!

I agree with your basic approach. Thru the years I have evolved from Republican to Libertarian to:
1. Vote for who you know.
2. Of whomever is left, vote for the women.
3. Of whomever is left, vote for the libertarians.
4. Of whomever is left, vote for the republicans.

That usually covers all the people. Voting on issues, like bonds, is usually tougher. You really have to be more informed, so the order there is:
1. Vote for what i know i want.
2. Abstain from voting.

mrperky

on Jun 24, 2004

Yep, my system breaks down when it is an issue to be voted on and not a person. In that case, like you, I attempt to vote the best solution. I do read the Libertarian Platform - Link - to help with some guidance, but otherwise, it's talk to friends, talk to family, watch the media, and vote my reaction. Further, sometimes it's just a gut feeling about what is right and what is wrong. Sometimes I can't explain it but to put a particular plan in action just seems wrong.

The Wardie

on Jun 24, 2004

I trade votes with my wife who is a "D" though she is a pretty Conservative Democrat. So, I traded my Governor vote last election for a senate vote from my wife. I also voted for my first tax increase ever for schools with a trade from my wife as well. After all the trading I vote...

For all the R's that are running-
No R's?, I vote for libertarians
no L’s?, I vote Independent
no R's L’s' or independent’s?, don't vote...
Vote no for all tax increases
Vote no for almost any other amendments unless it cuts taxes or stops other laws from taking affect.
Vote no on all Judges, they should never get free ride for ever, they should lose their job when they make bad rulings.

CrispE

on Jun 24, 2004

I would suggest that whatever party you are signed up as that you read any literature or whatever you can on the candidates in that party to see if they fit with your general concept for what the candidate should stand for. Obviously if you can't find out any information pretty much any system would be as good as any other. People who just vote a straight ticket are either well informed or non-informed. Guess which one happens more often?

Jamie Burnside

on Jun 24, 2004

2. Of whomever is left, vote for the women

See, I know that this happens a lot. There are a lot of men who assume women's names for election purposes.

I wonder how many judges there are out there who have been elected because they have a women's name.

My rule when voting is to only vote for the people that I can identify. It isn't required to vote for every office. It saves me the grief of accidentally voting for somebody objectionable.

Sometimes for the offices with candidates without political endorsements, I like to write-in my friends and neighbors.

mrperky

on Jun 24, 2004

CrispE - I agree - we should definitely know all there is to know about the candidates for public office. Sometimes we can't though. The beauty of my system is that it enforces my political beliefs when I don't know who to vote for.

So, as part of my political beliefs, we derive:

1. I'm for term limitations
2. I'm against good old boy networks that can develop without term limitations
3. Libertarian platform beliefs (keep government out of things)
4. Women make better leaders than men.
5. Voting is a must

By employing this system, I can vote in good confidence.

mrperky

on Jun 24, 2004

See, I know that this happens a lot. There are a lot of men who assume women's names for election purposes.

Jamie, that is truly scary! Yikes! Maybe i should change my name to Chris, Robin, or Pat and run for office! Reminds me of that Saturday Night Live sketch called "Androgynous Pat".

Madine

on Jun 24, 2004

Your assumption is that my choosing Libertarian is baseless.

The most flagrantly baseless generalization you have is voting for women. I don't consider party affiliation to be a baseless generalization.

-6078

on Jun 24, 2004

I have a couple of questions as a non-American. I hope these aren't out-of-place here or too off-topic.

Does being a registered Democrat result from something you said when you were registered as a voter, and if so can you specify anything other than Democrat, Republican or (presumably) independant? Can you be a registered Libertarian? How easy is it to change, what does it entitle you to, and what obligations does it carry?

Why I'm asking here is that it struck me as odd (as someone who's not as familiar with the US electoral system) that you'd be a registered Democrat if your leanings are generally Republican and, all else being equal, you prefer to vote Libertarian.

Mediatiator

on Jun 24, 2004

One choice I will have to make in the coming years is whether the benefits of having two hard working, moderate, and relatively honest female republican senators outweighs the potential benefits of returning the senate to the democrats. As liberal as Olympia Snowe is, I would consider voting for a more conservative blue-dog type democrat if it meant bolstering the already stiff senate competition against the house of DeLay. I would especially like someone in the congress who would oppose DeLay's efforts to loosen restrictions on media ownership. That is a matter of pure principle from someone with accute sensitivities to the Orwellian prospects for big government and big media in America. In the near future I envision the Senate shifting back into democratic control behind the strong liberal leadership of Mrs. Pelosi and Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Daschle and Mr. Kennedy.

mrperky

on Jun 24, 2004

Cwth - Good question(s)... I initially registered Democrat during the Regan years when I became eligible to vote. You state your preference when you register for the first time, and you can change your affiliation at any time. You can be registered as one of a variety of parties, see a list at this Link. I have never felt the need to change my affiliation, despite changing viewpoints as I matured. Only in some primary elections does it really matter. In these elections, sometimes only the democrats can select the winners who will move on to the election process. Of course, you are likely to get some strange looks by members of the "opposite" party when they know your affiliation, see the "I kissed a Republican" blog entry elsewhere on the site for an example...

In the United States there are largely two political parties, Republican and Democrat, representing, roughly, the conservative and liberal viewpoints. The Independent and Libertarian parties are usually also-ran's. Occasionally Ralph Nader and the Green Party make some noise, but they are usually quite casually disregarded.

mrperky

on Jun 24, 2004

Madine, I have to disagree again

My choice to elect a woman is based on the presumption that women are better leaders and are less susceptible to good-old-boy networking. That presumption is based on personal experiences and on educated reading. A point of view also espoused by one of my favorite authors, Robert A. Heinlein.

bobvila93

on Jun 24, 2004

By employing this system, I can vote in good confidence.

Hmm with all due respect, I don't see how. Your system is based entirely on generalizations. As for me, I research all the bigger offices. For all the smaller ones (judges and whatnot) I don't think political party matters as much as experience or qualifications, so I just read a local paper that I trust and vote for all the people they endorse. And I never vote for a name that I don't already know--I just leave those blank. I think that's more responsible than voting for someone because she's a woman.

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