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Vote.org is a non-profit that wants to get the U.S. to 100% voter turnout

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Re: Vote.org is a non-profit that wants to get the U.S. to 100% voter turnout

#111

Post by bobwaycott »

debracleaver wrote: post #65
labster wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Debra, how would you feel about an Australian-style fine for failure to vote here in the U.S.? I assume Vote.org work primarily on technological ways to promote voting, but will it also deal with social structural or institutional ways to increase voter turnout?

labster, compulsory voting would be amazing in the US. i might be in the minority here, but i consider voting a duty, not a right per se.

It's pretty sad to see your statement downvoted. I, too, consider voting to be both a duty and right of citizenship, and wish more people felt the same.

Re: Vote.org is a non-profit that wants to get the U.S. to 100% voter turnout

#112

Post by debracleaver »

lujim wrote: post #67

Hi Debra, I've always been skeptical of these kind of "rock the vote" initiatives because I believe they motivated not by a overall altruistic love of democracy, but a motivation to sway elections towards the organizations favored political party. What are your thoughts?

I've worked with RTV for years and have nothing but great things to say about them. They, like Vote.org, are nonpartisan. I can speak to our motivations, however: we want to see 100% voter turnout and don't give a flying fig who you vote for, as long as you vote. We've been criticized by both sides of the aisle for not appearing to have a political stance, but fuck it: voter turnout is too important to waste time on partisan games.

Re: Vote.org is a non-profit that wants to get the U.S. to 100% voter turnout

#113

Post by Retric »

burkaman wrote: post #99
laxatives wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe this is or isn't non-partisan, but here's a shot: I'm 25 years old. I've never voted and never will vote as long as there is a two party system. There has never been a situation where I can agree with either party or individual enough to support them in an election. How do you intend to get people like me to vote? Also, if you did you get everyone to vote, wouldn't every vote turn in to a popularity contest? In…

>wouldn't every candidate attempt to win their elections by appealing to the lowest common denominator? I think that's sort of how democracy is supposed to work. Politicians win when they can convince more people than anyone else. It's like that famous quote: “democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others”. Yes, everything would be better if countries were run by benevolent geniuses who always…

One of the more interesting ideas I have rarely seen in fiction is an actual benevolent and wise AI taking over. Closest is probably the Culture novels which shows up as a very odd society.

Re: Vote.org is a non-profit that wants to get the U.S. to 100% voter turnout

#114

Post by igorgue »

I have a theory that since that the USA doesn't make election day a federal holiday is one of the major factors the working class of america is not voting, usually it takes too long to vote, and it's not paid for employees, especially blue collar ones.

I wonder what are your thoughts about it, and how can it happen in America? I've seen every single proposal be rejected in congress.

Re: Vote.org is a non-profit that wants to get the U.S. to 100% voter turnout

#115

Post by debracleaver »

rayvd wrote: post #57
debracleaver wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i tend to think more in terms of progressives and conservatives than dems vs. republicans. given the demographic makeup of our country, the majority of citizens are progressive: they assume that the future is brighter than the past and long for forward thinking policies. then again, i can't see into a crystal ball. i will say this, however: both major parties would have policies that represent the will of the people…

... and I'd argue that the progressive ideas tend to actually be more regressive and that us 'conservatives' actually have the brighter outlook. :)

oh, interesting. i guess i know doom and gloom people from both sides of the aisle, but more from the conservative side? at the same time, americans are overwhelming positive as a people, are we not? why get up every day if you don't think the future is bright enough to justify shades.

(yes, i just made a corey hart reference in public. i think i just dated myself)

Re: Vote.org is a non-profit that wants to get the U.S. to 100% voter turnout

#117

Post by izacus »

igorgue wrote: post #114

I have a theory that since that the USA doesn't make election day a federal holiday is one of the major factors the working class of america is not voting, usually it takes too long to vote, and it's not paid for employees, especially blue collar ones. I wonder what are your thoughts about it, and how can it happen in America? I've seen every single proposal be rejected in congress.

Hmm, here the elections are on sundays because of that. USA votes on workdays?

Re: Vote.org is a non-profit that wants to get the U.S. to 100% voter turnout

#119

Post by cpeterso »

ausjke wrote: post #50

whenever a local election comes up, the first thing I want to know is that who are running for what, and what's their key difference and if available, track records. A quick comparison chart/table will serve the purpose but I rarely if ever found that, hope someone will create a website like that for all, so voters can know the quick-facts before voting relatively easily.

http://www.smartvoter.org/ gathers pretty good, non-partisan comparisons of candidate information and ballot measure arguments.

Re: Vote.org is a non-profit that wants to get the U.S. to 100% voter turnout

#120

Post by cag_ii »

izacus wrote: post #117
igorgue wrote: post #114

I have a theory that since that the USA doesn't make election day a federal holiday is one of the major factors the working class of america is not voting, usually it takes too long to vote, and it's not paid for employees, especially blue collar ones. I wonder what are your thoughts about it, and how can it happen in America? I've seen every single proposal be rejected in congress.

Hmm, here the elections are on sundays because of that. USA votes on workdays?

No one works on Sundays where you are?
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