why should a citizen vote?
151339
to make a difference...and to get called in for jury duty! Ha!
59762
We are the voters.  We are the one responsible for them.  If people paid attention before voting, we would not have these kind of problems.
791747
Because they have a choice on what is important to them.  This starts a life long trend of voting.  Let's them know that they can make a difference and contribute to society.  Gives them more power on issues that are important to them.
286715
People should vote every day, by having government limited enough that they're mostly ruling their own lives, not being told what to do by some distant, bureaucrats in Washington...nor even local ones in the town council.\n\nShould your toilet tank be a 2 gallon one, or the kind that doesn't clog up regularly because it doesn't have enough water? That should be something YOU vote on by buying...or keeping...your own toilet. Not by some arrogant idiot in DC who doesn't understand that YOU don't live in Arizona, and have a more or less unlimited water supply.\n\nThis is true of most decisions you make in life.\n\nTRUE democracy is about ruling yourself, not having to pick between two government-approved thugs to rule OVER you, once every few years. \n\nSee the link for more details:
44418
It's a privilege that's a responibility, meaning if you are a felon you loose the privilege to vote.  If you aren't an US Citizen you can't vote.  \n\nNow it's a responibility because it is a part of good citizenship.  A right not used is a right denied.
537191
you get what you vote for maybe!!! one vote for each person registered means the majority wishes are represented by congress and senators if they  only did what we wanted it would be great but once elected they lie cheat and steal .nothing you can do except elect really poor stupid people who have more sense then the currnt idiots running things . you should be from the projects and have been arrested at least once to run for office that would scare the shit out them !!!!!!!!!!!!major companies would flee to other nations even start there own like maybe the cayman islands or something.
817545
Because it's a right for us to see who were electing. Thanks to all those who fought for our right to vote, we can decide what to do. Voting means that you can control who you're voting for in the elections and if that representative does a lousy job, you can vote him/her out. Of course, it would be better if you had a field of options not like the average race where you have between 1 and 3 at the very least.
1151202
It makes sense. Some people ARE American citizens but struggle with English. You wouldn't want them to vote for the wrong person just because they couldn't read the ballot. Right?\n\nI see many people bringing "issues" into play. And I'd like to mention that they could have been very interested in the issues. There are many Spanish (and other language) news channels in the U.S. that cover American issues (as well as closed captioning in other languages) in which case they'd understand them perfectly. So that can't be used in a debate against multi-lingual ballots.\n\nThere's multi-lingual tax forms and they pay American taxes, so why should voting be treated differently? If they are American citizens they have EVERY right to vote as one. (Actually probably even MORE of a right then random rednecks in nowheresville USA that don't even have a tv to watch the debates or anything else.)\n\nJust thought of an analogy here (I'm not trying to start a fight, just make a good debate).\n   Say you were taking a foreign language in school or something. We'll say French. You're pretty good at it, but not great. It's still a little tough. Then you go to France and still hang out with a lot of your English-speaking friends and family and use English a lot. Don't practice your French too much. Then you need to do something REALLY important. Would you want to do it in French? I mean, your French isn't all that good, and it IS really important, you wouldn't want to mess anything up. You would ask to do it in English. Right? (personally, I know I would).\n      Same thing.\n\nAgain, no offense (seriously, I don't want to piss anyone off, I'm not being sarcastic or anything), I'm just trying to help make a sturdy, well-founded argument. Many people don't seem to have a clear grasp on WHY exactly we have multi-lingual ballots. I think it's perfectly fair and everyone should have a chance. But hey, that's just me :-)\n\nPS: Back to Bow Wow. I know it takes 7 years to become a citizen. But have you ever tried to learn an entire language in 7 years? It's HARD! I mean seriously HARD. I have been taking Spanish for almost 9 years and I'm STILL not fluent and I've studied abroad twice. And Spanish and English are at least somewhat similar languages. What about if they're from Japan? They need to learn a whole new alphabet, new numbers, a new political system, new everything! That must be even harder! So that can't really be used as an excuse either.
128174
When you vote you are speaking up and saying how you believe government should be run.\n\nWhen you don't vote you are letting others speak for you.
492275
.. just incase you didn't already know, AMERICAN citizen voted the REPUBLICAN into office!\n\nIf your opinion is that they are not fit, then you got to VOTE, exercise your choice.
1089093
Thanks for the question. I think it is sad how few people vote in every election. People argue passionately but then never vote in elections.\n\nGet registered and vote!! It is your duty as an American citizen.
725693
It gives the public an opportunity to see and hear the candidates that they will be voting for.  A chance to understand their views and decide if they are worthy of getting a vote.\n\nPublic debates, along with the recent 'Town Hall Meetings' that have popped up in the last few years are vital in allowing voters to size up and interact with candidates and make a somewhat informed decision.
276515
You should vote for the canidate that represents the values & principles that you lead your life by.  You should vote for the canidate that you agree with.  You are wasting your vote if you are just voting against someone.  At least this is America and you have the right to vote.
703911
Only those who want to vote should vote ,other wise you would have people voting who where not well informed.
164909
Plenty is done for the people, including those  who do not vote. Even if an election result does not go the way I voted, I know that I had the opportunity to make my opinion known to those whom with I disagree. \nIt takes quite a bit of effort for anything to be placed on a ballot, people must support a candidate or issue and take proper steps to complete the process. If things that matter to you need voter approval, get out and volunteer with a group that supports your views, getting involved will give you a greater satisfaction with the political process. Your effort does matter and you can make a difference in your community,  good luck.
1051273
It should not be. Nor do I think voting should be a requirement to voice your opinion.\n\nA vote is saying that you affirmatively approve one candidate over another. If none of the people on the ballot are ones that I actually support, I wouldn't vote for them.\n\nHowever, because I am still stuck with whatever laws the majority-elected government chooses to enact,  I absolutely have the right to voice my opinion about those. Especially since I don't actually have the opportunity to vote for most of those laws directly.
701475
Voting is important. It shows how stupid people keep electing greedy non-caring politicians in their districts so that they can have something to complain about.