eep?

[wisdomeagle]

Why I didn't vote, and why I don't feel guilty about it.

I didn't vote because they (TPTB, the IIC, the dark cabal that rules everything) wouldn't let me register. Twice. First when I was seventeen and got my learner's permit and tried to proudly register as a Democrat and they said, wait till you're eighteen.

I said, I will be eighteen before the next election, 'ho.

Then register then, they said.

But I'm turning eighteen the day before the next election, I said.

Register when you turn eighteen, she said.

BUT IT WILL BE TOO LATE, I said.

Next plz, she said.

So I didn't vote in the tiny little dinky state elections last year.

So this year? I kept on putting it off. And putting it off. And putting it off.

I almost filled out the registration form in MA over 4th of July weekend, then I got to the checkbox that said, "Do you consider Massachusetts your home?" And I was like, HELLZ NO. Wait. That's probably the wrong answer. But I can't lie on the voter application form! They'd like, stone me to death! So I didn't fill it out.

Then this fall I go to rockthevote.com and get an application and fill it out and send it in and bide my time and lo and behold? My application is rejected. Because I didn't put down my driver's license number. Because I don't have a driver's license.

So could I have fought it? Yeah, sure, probably. Would it have taken more than five minutes of my time? Way more. Was it worth it?

Well, possibly. But not to me.

So I'm not voting today (and I didn't vote absentee) because I can't drive, is the long and short of it.

And I don't feel guilty about it. No, really? I don't. Well, I do, mostly because the flist is poundingly adamant that everyone MUST VOTE OMG or they eat babies and are going to hell. Which makes me not especially want to do anything except defriend my entire flist, by the way. Guilt is not a good tactic, people.

So anyhow. If I had registered, it would be in Massachusetts. I could possibly have legally registered in Virginia, too.

Neither MA nor VA will swing. No, darlings, they won't. Massachusetts is solidly Kerry. Kerry will carry MA. It's not even a question. With or without my help, my state is going to my candidate. If I'd voted today, it would still go to Kerry. If I'd voted for Bush, it would go to Kerry. If I'd voted for Nader, it would go to Kerry. If I'd voted for Woodrow Wilson, it would go to Kerry.

I'm failing to see the logic where my vote (or lack of vote) is making a difference.

On the other hand, I totally wish I lived in New Jersey! That is a) home and b) exactly tied. If I lived in NJ, my vote could totally make a difference.

But I don't dammit.


Whatever. Watching returns tonight. Should be fun horrifying.

Write me porn. It's (going to be) my birthday.

Comments

[hammersickle.livejournal.com]

+1 kerry in pa.
for all of ari's dreams to come true.

[wisdomeagle]

Thank you Jen!

[sangerin.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you're in a lousy position.

But Happy Birthday!

(And I hope my "I don't understand why people don't vote" hasn't been guilting you. I'm just coming at things from a completely different upbringing, in a compulsory voting country...)

[wisdomeagle]

*sighs* Thanks.

No, actually, your post made sense to me. I wish there were compulsory voting *here*. If they made it REALLY EASY to do it and I didn't end up in jail for being all confused about where I lived or something.

*twitches violently*

*hugs*

[mellfromva.livejournal.com]

I almost filled out the registration form in MA over 4th of July weekend, then I got to the checkbox that said, "Do you consider Massachusetts your home?" And I was like, HELLZ NO. Wait. That's probably the wrong answer. But I can't lie on the voter application form! They'd like, stone me to death! So I didn't fill it out.

It's not a philosophical question, 'where does your heart lie?'; it means 'where do you receive your mail?'.

I'm sorry if that sounds bitchy, but I can't stand people who whine and complain about something yet do absolutely nothing to fix the situation. If you're not going to do one thing to try to make things better then you don't have any right to complain when things don't go your way.

That wasn't aimed at you personally; it's just a general pet peeve of mine.

For future reference, go to your nearest college campus, visit the registrars office. There's tons of papers; find the voters registration one. Take it home, full it out. Mail it in. You'll receive your registration card in the mail. It's not that complicated.

Next time, don't try talking to someone. Civil servants rarely know of which they speak. Just get the papers and do it yourself.

And the woman was wrong; you can register when you're 17, so long as you will be 18 at the time of the next election.

Luckily Massachusetts isn't a toss-up state, so it's not a huge loss.

[wisdomeagle]

This summer, I received mail in: Ohio. Massachusetts. Virginia. Kansas.

There's tons of papers; find the voters registration one. Take it home, full it out. Mail it in. You'll receive your registration card in the mail. It's not that complicated.

Did you miss the part where I did this (well, went to rockthevote to get the app, but same general thing) and received a "your application to vote has been rejected" letter?

And the woman was wrong; you can register when you're 17, so long as you will be 18 at the time of the next election.

I know she was. Doesn't make me any more registered.

[http://users.livejournal.com/if_/]

first of all, happy birthday to you! :)

yes, that's a smile, and an honest one. i don't think you are a cannibal, i don't think you're horrendous, etc, etc, etc. but i think you're missing just one important point: the presidency isn't the only election going on. in terms of political figures, it happens to be the most publicized and arguably most important election going on, but it's not the only one. every year, especially this year, there are many issues that are put forth on that little ballot. it's not just a question of kerry vs bush, it's questions about education. health care. state reps. gay marriage. abortion. important issues that deserve important citizens' attention, and by that i mean all of us. i think you should keep that in mind next time, and i don't say that to try to guilt you into it. i say that honestly only to ask you to think. if you still think that massachusetts is liberal enough for your lack of a vote to make no difference, then that happens to be your opinion. but there are some issues where even a state like MA which is considered to be liberal finds itself in a pickle - for god's sake, our governor is godforsaken Mitt Romney, how fucking liberal can we be?

believe me, i understand the problems with calling a place that isn't home to you "home." but i have to say that you have to register in whatever place is the most convenient for you. paperwork is a pain, and i know we have work to do, but honestly, how much work would you really get done in that time when you're filling out those damn papers? so online registration failed for you. so the woman you spoke to was stupid. relying on merely speaking to people and listening to the internet never got anyone anywhere. this morning we look at indecision because of faults in the system. they exist, it's not news to anyone. any system has faults. but i do honestly believe that it is your responsibility to find a way to register to have your voice heard, because i guarantee you that your vote affects you.

last night, oregon went to john kerry. last night, oregon also banned gay marriage. the issues and the presidency aren't tied up in a bundle. look beyond the faces, ruth ellen, there's a lot going on here, and you need to have a say in it.

[wisdomeagle]

happy birthday to you! :)

Thank you. :)