Voting is Depressing

[Thoughtful Monk]

Yesterday, there were 5 local races on my ballet plus 3 state wide ballot initiatives.

2 races were one candidate only.

1 race was a foregone conclusion. (The winner got 60% of the vote.)

Only 2 races had any part where the voters vote mattered.

If it wasn't for the state ballot initiatives, I'm not sure I would have voted. Voting is sure depressing and practically meaningless when you live in a one party area.

[KingsGambit]

Voting really is pointless as the chances of any one vote ever tipping a race is nearly zero. I do it because it's fun but that's it.

[Zymologist]

Voting really is pointless as the chances of any one vote ever tipping a race is nearly zero. I do it because it's fun but that's it.

Alright, I'll say it: dude, you need a hobby. Have you ever considered watching professional sumo?

[Chaotic Void]

Alright, I'll say it: dude, you need a hobby. Have you ever considered watching professional sumo?

... Or Lucha Libre.

ETA: I live in a similar situation. The way Canadian Federal Elections work... the election has already been decided by the time I vote. It all depends who's pissed off Eastern Canada the LEAST. Also, I really don't have a Libertarian Candidate where I live, so I'd just be going to the Polls to spoil my ballot or have it go on record I refuse to vote for any of the boneheads they've got running.

[rogue06]

Voting really is pointless as the chances of any one vote ever tipping a race is nearly zero. I do it because it's fun but that's it.

Years ago I had a book that contained a relatively long list of elections, with a couple being important, that were decided by just one vote.

[Thoughtful Monk]

Voting really is pointless as the chances of any one vote ever tipping a race is nearly zero. I do it because it's fun but that's it.

I get your point. On the other hand, it would be nice to get the next morning and not already know the results before I turn on the local news.

[KingsGambit]

Years ago I had a book that contained a relatively long list of elections, with a couple being important, that were decided by just one vote.

I remember seeing a debunking of a similar list somewhere.

[rogue06]

I remember seeing a debunking of a similar list somewhere.

I'll bet you pee in the punch bowl when you go to a party, don't you?

[KingsGambit]

There was an entire chapter in Freakonomics basically arguing the same thing I've said in this thread. The only online write-up that they did was in the NY Times and is paywalled.

[Mountain Man]

It's only depressing if your side loses, which seems to happen about 50% of the time.

[Teallaura]

Voting is a duty, first and foremost.

All votes count - and it was never about winning by 'just one vote' - it's about people having a say in who represents them. The idea is for a bunch of people to say the same thing or you end up with no representation at all - and ten thousand candidates.

[EvoUK]

[Teallaura]

It would require a constitutional change - depending on which level of government you are talking about.

I think it's a mistake to look at voting as if it were a simple equation with positives and negatives cancelling each other out. It's actually a measure - more like volume - and the aggregate numbers DO matter.

[EvoUK]

[Teallaura]

Pretty much - but the map does change over time. Much of the red territory now was once solidly blue and vice versa.