Can I just ask that since when did the RIGHT to vote become the obligation to vote? If it's a right, it's something we have as human beings and something we can therefore CHOOSE to act upon. Not voting doesn't make anyone less supportive of a candidate nor less helpful towards change. I'm not voting because I don't like either candidate enough. Obama is not the perfect candidate to me and I'm not going to settle for less than ideal, nor will I be guilt-tripped to voting for someone I don't agree with just because another person can't.

Ummm then don't complain.

"I don't like either candidate"

Then vote Green. Seriously, it says more than not voting at all. Large percentages of people haven't been voting for a while and I haven't seen many politicians show concern about that or change their strategies based on non-voters.

Ok, so I have no right to complain because both candidates suck?

Actually, I do.

And I shouldn't HAVE to vote for anything if I don't like anything. That's like telling me that I have to choose A- The batterer or B- The manipulator.

This isn't black and white. Telling someone to "just do it" is not very feminist because it's telling them to do what YOU want of them and not what they want for themselves. And I figured feminism was about choice, and helping women make choices for themselves, regardless of what those choices were.

If I "just do it", then I'd be part of the blame if I voted for a candidate that screwed this country up. So no thanks, I'll pass. I've never supported one person making all the rules anyway.

First of all, I never said you had to choose one of the candidates that "suck," as the above commenter mentioned, you could vote for the green party, thus taking away votes from both of the candidates that you dislike.

Second, yes voting is a choice, I am aware of that, but when so many feminist issues are political issues, it seems unfeminist, in my opinion, to just sit back and do nothing.

I did not intend to "guilt trip" anyone by mentioning important historical achievements in the right to vote, if you honestly feel guilty from that, then that's your problem. I was simply showing that voting is not something to be taken for granted.

Also, with 538 representatives in the electoral college, it is entirely possible to have a tie (269 vs. 269). You just never know.

I don't understand the point you are trying make with this. In the event of an electoral tie, the popular vote doesn't prevail.

Jen: Just because you didn't mean to offend doesn't mean that your comment was not offensive. As feminists, we should be sensitive to this - how many times have we heard, "Oh, you're just overreacting, I didn't mean it in a sexist way"?

I disagree strongly with your comment "don't complain." Governments serve everyone, not just those people who vote them in - an overwhelmingly Democratic Congress and a Democratic President would still have obligations to the people of Texas and Kansas and Alaska.

For my part, I personally would like people in swing states to vote for Obama because I think he would be the better president. On the other hand, I don't think it's a citizen's duty to vote. I think a citizen should educate herself about the issues and the candidates and then vote or not, for whom she chooses, based on this knowledge. And what if AbortionParty doesn't like any of the third-party candidates, either?

Also, with 538 representatives in the electoral college, it is entirely possible to have a tie (269 vs. 269). You just never know.

I don't understand the point you are trying make with this. In the event of an electoral tie, the popular vote doesn't prevail.

I would love to, but I can't.
I'm fifteen-years-old.

I've always been a fan of the saying "If you don't vote (not can't vote, DON'T vote) you can't bitch"

So, hopefully, I won't be hearing anything from Abortionftw or whatever her name is for quite some time.

In my mind, NOT voting is as a legitimate choice as voting itself. I happen to vote every time there's an election, I even vote in local elections. But I was offended by this post as well. Because, let me repeat, I think NOT voting is a perfectly legitimate CHOICE. And who is anyone else here to try and take that choice away from someone. And so, foxdie, I'm just as offended by what you said, as I am the post itself. Apparently there's some hypocritical "feminists" here who don't understand what the word choice means. Seriously, some people need to go back and learn a few things from "feminism 101".

Thank you for this post. Voter turnout in the U.S. is shamefully low - in most democratic countries, voting is either legally required (e.g., Australia) or so socially fundamental that it wouldn't even occur to most people not to vote (e.g., much of Europe). As for voting or not voting being a "personal choice"... Well, if McCain gets elected and starts a war with Iran, or further burdens the world's poor with disastrous economic and environmental policies, or appoints Supreme Court justices who might oppose even contraception as well as abortion, people who chose not to vote can try to explain their "valid personal choice" to those most affected. The point is, voting or not voting isn't a personal choice any more than drunk driving is - its consequences affect people far beyond the initial decision-maker.

There are those who object that Obama isn't a perfect or an ideal candidate, or an unproblematic one. They're correct. But if they're waiting for someone to feel "properly enthusiastic" about - i.e., a candidate who isn't seriously flawed in some way - they're looking forward to a lifetime of disappointment. In terms of whether the system is rigged, electorally based, and prone to corruption of various kinds - of course it is. And by not voting for that reason, you're handing a victory to those forces of corruption. Every person who can object to a violation of their voting rights makes the corruption machine's job harder. If you don't vote because of them, they've done their job.

To AbortionParty and anyone else who doesn't want to "settle": I hate to break it to you, but you are going to settle for someone. In November, either Obama or McCain is going to win, and they will be in charge of your country.

There are things I dislike about both candidates, but if you want things to get better, you have to do something. Voting in a presidential election certainly isn't enough, but if you can't handle taking an hour out of your day once every four years, I doubt you'll be able to find any other acceptable means of making a difference.

And finally, if you think not voting is a protest, you're quite mistaken. A non-vote is a vote for the candidate you like least. In recent elections, Republicans have loved the fact that disillusioned young people haven't been voting. Stick it to the man by giving them exactly what they want?! Right...

Lol, meenie, you've got my confused for something I'm not.

But I am glad I offended you so easily.

*huggles*

I know and respect several people who don't want to actually vote for either candidate, but I think there is some harm in not showing up at all.

By not showing up, it perpetuates the whole cycle of "well, candidates don't focus on my group (whichever that may be)" and politicians saying "well, that group never votes, so why should I bother."

What I propose instead is for those who have legitimate reasons to not vote for the candidates available, to still show up on Election Day, sign in, step into the voting booth, and simply not choose anybody. I think if more people did this, and were vocal about it, it would send a bigger message to politicians to focus on the issues important to these groups in the future and to take these people seriously.

After all, if you are willing to take time out of your schedule and get to the polls and then intentionally not cast a vote for any of the candidates, then you are obviously serious about voting and very disheartened with the choices you have.

To Rebecca and Meenie:

I am really sorry that I offended you with my comments (and the post itself?), you were right that it really wasn't feminist of me, it was more out of frustration and anger than anything else, and I know that that is not a valid excuse.

Since I've been able to calm myself down and read other people's comments, I've realized that you do make some valid points and that it really isn't feminist of me to try to force anyone to vote who doesn't want to. I guess this post was more of a rant than anything else and I was just sick of hearing all the different excuses that my friends tried to make. But you're right, it is a choice and I am hypocritical to try to make that choice for any human being.

Therefore, I think I would like to take this post down since offending people (especially fellow feminists) is the last thing I want to do.

My deepest apologies,
Jenny

Just because you have the right to vote doesn't mean you have to. Being forced to vote is just as bad as not being allowed to vote, in my opinion.

In my mind, there are some valid reasons not to vote--I know a man who refuses to vote because his ex-wife isn't allowed to, for example. But just because you don't like either candidate enough? Please. That's like stamping your foot and refusing to eat because no one is offering you your favorite dish. Unfeminist? Hardly. Feminism is about activism, about citizenship, about making your voice heard. Not about temper tantrums.

I was a Hillary girl. However, I'm not going to vote Green or write Hillary's name in because I'm not going to be the vote that put McCain in office. And that's exactly what third party or refusing to vote is going to do. It's going to give us another four years of setbacks to the feminist cause.

JenTheFem, I thought your open letter was opinionated and polite. I'm not saying people aren't offended by it, but I found it to be useful and I don't think you should take it down.

Of course voting is a choice. Nobody HAS to vote. This was one person's opinion on why she thinks you should. And I think it's dangerous to start calling people "unfeminist" when they support something you disagree with. (I feel a little contradictory because I don't consider Sarah Palin a feminist, but I'll try to reconcile those thoughts).

"When your kids ask you... "
seriously?
Are you assuming that everyone is going to have kids and therefore that is a worthy argument?
Vote in this election so you can brag to your children about voting for a female VP candidate (not the first) or a Black presidential candidate?
Seriously? Bragging rights to your children?

As for complaining before during or after a vote, not voting is a form of complaint.
People have the right to complain, they have the right to take action, they have the right to do nothing.

I've been voting, not just in the presidential elections, but, whenever there is a vote, since I was 18. I don't vote for bragging rights, I vote cause part of me still hangs on to the hope that it is not as corrupt as it probably is.

"We have to fight"
No, we don't.
It is a choice. Not voting is also a choice & it sends a message. That message may not be crystal clear, but, it's still out there.

Feminists participate or choose not to participate in all sorts of things.

Jenny,
Thanks for that last comment. Now I feel sad that you are regretting your post. Actually, I don't think you should take it down because look at all the conversation it has brought up. It's healthy to debate and (rant, if you want) about this stuff. I certainly understand your frustration, and don't get me wrong either, I really sympathize with where you are coming from...But I've also had lots of these "voting" conversations with my friends, many of whom don't vote for reasons they feel are very important to them. And so I've always taken the view of "if they feel so strongly about it, who am I to criticize them, or tell them that they are wrong?". We all say stuff out of frustration at times and often it doesn't quite come out as we meant it. I don't mean to call you anti-feminist or anything. So also I think my reaction was a bit of a knee-jerk as well....Sowwy. Don't be sad.

Foxdie, I just thought this part of your comment was a bit rude: "Hopefully, I won't be hearing anything from Abortionftw or whatever her name is for quite some time."

I'm sorry but "AbortionWTF?" Ummm, she has a name, even if these are internet names, I would be kinda upset if someone referred to me as "WTF". I dunno, was that just supposed to be a joke and I'm just not "getting" it?

But also, I was expressing my disagreement with this as well "I've always been a fan of the saying "If you don't vote you can't bitch"."

Well, I also believe, as the last commenter (Hara) pointed out, that not voting, is a form of complaint, it sends a message, no matter how small that message may be. And those who don't vote have every right to complain (right, free country, supposedly). But, I mean there's so many different reasons for not voting. I know people who don't vote in solidarity to ex-inmates who have had their right to vote taken away from them. I know some people who don't vote because they are protesting the electoral college. And yes, I know people who don't vote because they truly do feel THAT disenfranchised.

So, it's not as black and white as "If you don't vote you got no right to complain". And actually, the fact that the voter turnout is so low in this country, should send up a red flag for the rest of us...It means that a majority of people are CHOOSING not to vote for whatever reason...and that in my mind is a very important message. We should be asking ourselves, why? The issue of voter disenfranchisement is a BIG one. What can we do about it?

I commend the nations where voting is mandatory.

There are options when voting other than picking a democrat or a republican. There are third-parties, there are Independents, you can even write in whomever you want. But we live in a nation that gives us a voice, and right now, it's one of a dwindling number of advantages we have.

meeneecat is right; there are reasons other than the ones JenTheFem listed not to vote. Some of them are pretty compelling, even though I don't buy them myself. But the fact is, most of the people I know who aren't voting don't use any of those compelling reasons; they use the whole, "What's the point?" or "I don't like Obama or McCain" excuses. And sorry, but I think those are just bad excuses.

It seems like the point of this post is to make people more carefully consider their decision not to vote. If you have strong beliefs about the problems with our voting system or if you're an anarchist or etc., and have put a lot of thought into your decision, then you have every right to stand by it, and I won't criticize.

But too many people don't vote because they see it as too much of a hassle, because they're apathetic, and they use the reasons JenTheFem listed as excuses. And to THOSE people, I say wholeheartedly, "Fine, but don't complain in January."

In short, it's not so much that I have beef with people not voting; but I definitely have beef with some of the cop-out reasons some people use to justify that act. We are incredibly lucky to be able to vote and turning down that opportunity is no light matter. Think hard, everybody.

Complain all you want - Vote if you want or not.

I agree with you Jen, and BrittanyAnn - everyone should vote. If you're not voting, it shows a lack of involvement and knowledge about the candidates and how our two-party electoral system works.
If we had proportional representation – where if 10% vote Green Party, then 10% of our government is Green Party, then everything would be fine. I wouldn't care if you voted or not. But we live in a country with a two-party system. There's no chance that Nader will get elected, as much as I love his views.

The only problem I had with your post Jen, was that in the beginning you said that you 'respect everyone's judgment and opinions'.
Well, if you don't vote, then I don't respect your opinion.
You have the right to voice your opinions, and you still have the right to complain even if you didn't vote, but you have lost my respect.

Maybe my respect doesn't mean anything to you. I don't really care, because if you don't vote you're just another person who could have stopped our country from getting President McCain and Palin elected. And I have little respect for anyone who prevents a Democrat from getting elected.

Yeah, there might be many reasons for not voting but three main reasons are "I don't know enough about the candidates", "I don't have time" or "I don't feel like the issues affect me". For the first, that is very easy to fix by a little internet reading. For the second, more understandable but there is advance voting. For the second, I think Americans should be able to register on voting day and it should be the law for employers to make sure they have time to get to a voting station. For the third, I understand some people feel that way though I wish people could then vote for the people they know who are affected by issues.
As far ex-inmates, that they cannot vote is an offense against democracy, particularly with the U.S. imprisoning so many people (especially black people) for small drug crimes. The people who didn't have voting rights in Florida in 2000 could have changed how the election turned out. But not voting says nothing about that issue to anyone else. There seriously need to be a movement or a court case to change that law.
Low voter turnout should raise a red flag but is it? Particularly to those in power? Are there youth voting days even though their votes don't count? Are there efforts to make voting very easy by letting people vote on voting day by presenting ID and proof of address? Are there efforts to emphasize civics in schools? Maybe there are. Has anyone heard of such efforts?