Having the right to vote but not having the right to choose who you want to vote for is that really a right?
101706
If you never voted in the primary elections, you have no right to complain about the candidate that is chosen to represent your political party.
7505
As I understand it, one of the great strengths of a Democracy is not so much the right to vote someone into office but the right to vote them out if you are unhappy with their performance.  Many elections are foregone conclusions and people stay away from the poles.  My parents elected a state representative with only their own two votes when it was discovered that the incumbent had moved and was no longer qualified to run.  They actually favored the imcumbent but knew he only planned to run one more time then retire.  They just wanterd to get the new man's name on the ballot results for next time - but got him elected.  So every vote does count.
753676
What bothers me is the idea that a person can vote for Candidate A (the person listed on the ballot), and their party can instead choose to count that is if you had voted for Candidate B (the replacement).\n\nSeems to defeat the entire concept of voting, if the person you cast your vote (according to the ballot) for isn't the person who your vote is counted towards.
684874
It's my country. I have the freedom to disagree with it if I don't agree with it's policies. I have the right to vocalize my disagreement. I have the right to form groups that challenge the government. I have the right to run for office, and support candidates that run for office. \n\nI am an American. I have the right to challenge and question my government. That's what freedom is about. Questioning authority. If you can't question those in power, you don't live in a free society.
218009
its your duty as a citizen of the United States. The government we have is made under a social contract, and under that, the people make the government, therefore they have the right to change/and or abolish it. You need to vote, and if you don't, don't complain when something you dont agree with happens beacause you did nothing to change it.\n**Voting goes to more than just the president!
449912
The votes were counted, it just didn't turn out like some people were hoping for. Anyway, they do have the right (freedom of speech) but they're credibility on the issue goes right out the window since if they didn't vote
1050338
Yes, you have every right to choose right now.\nso go ahead and do so.
847750
maybe I'm wrong but,i think people vote for the man or woman that stands for the rights of the people so we can have the better chose of our freedom in things like health,jobs and better pay,lower cost for meds and then retirement.\nwe need to vote for things that will help us to make life a little bit better then it is now.\nthis person has to make me really believe that he or she can make my life easy to make it better for me to live.\nnot turn around and tax the hell out of me.
561029
Suffrage is the civil right to vote, or the exercise of that right.\n\nGovernment policies about suffrage have been shaped by many influences, including political parties, special interest groups, lobbyists, the media, and public opinon. \n\nWhen you consider that everyone is (supposedly) represented by their governments, it is only NATURAL that all those different groups would want the right to vote.\n\nPolitical parties and special interest groups (labor unions, etc.) want their members to be able to vote because their people would be given more power to further their ideals. Therefore, they would be very vocal in wanting to shape government policies about voting.\n\nLobbyists, the media, and public opinion would also affect government policies on suffrage. They would each bring specific issues to the table, hoping to have a voice in governmental policy. This can happen on radio talk shows, with public opinion polls, and through paid corporate lobbyists.\n\nThe legitimacy of democratic government is usually considered to derive primarily from suffrage.\n\nThat is my understanding, anyway.\n\nCheck out the link, it has a lot more info that you will find helpful.
343597
Losing the right to vote.
686612
It's OK, but I would start by introducing the topic. "The idea of requiring potential voters to take and pass a test before being allowed to vote is a controversial one. My team and I concur that this is an unfair requirement which violates many American's constitutional rights."
1162569
peoples apathy.  you get what you vote for.  if you don't vote you dont have the right to complain if what you get is not what you want.
437817
There is more power in the vote. It is the final answer to petition, however to bring an issue to vote sometimes you have to petition to do it.
812824
If people don't vote, they need to accept everyone else's decisions becuase that is why you have the right to vote.  You each have to exercise that right or you don't have anyone to blame but yourself.
299326
I vote, but I live in the U.S.  In my opinion voting is definitely important.  I also think that people that don't vote should not run their mouths about who is currently in office because had they taken the time to go vote they may have been able to sway the outcome of the election.
881290
I don't think that voting should be compulsory.  There are a lot of people that know nothing about the issues, and they shouldn't be voting.
529195
I think that somone who is willing to vote not base on what he thinks is right is an inherently corrupt person. We live in a republic wich means that we elect leaders to vote and make descisions. If we wanted every descision to be based on popular opinion then we would live in a democracy.