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What's Normal? - Do you typically vote in NON-PRESIDENTIAL elections? (1 Viewer)

Do you typically vote in NON-PRESIDENTIAL elections?

  • Yes

    Votes: 97 68.3%

  • No

    Votes: 45 31.7%
  • Total voters
    142
I voted no, because I wouldn't call it "typical". If there is a candidate or issue I am passionate about, I will.
 
I generally do not. Just don't follow the candidates enough in non-presidential elections. I have when I knew the person running on a local level.
 
Yes

Got 2 statewide issues (abortion and marijuana), 4 local tax levies (school, 2 mental health and a parks) and 3 school board positions on the ballot today. I took some time Sunday to research and inform myself a little more and will go vote after work today.
 
Sometimes. I also will be voting, if allowed, in the primaries this time around. By "if allowed," I mean to say that I believe California has a system whereby the parties can allow voters who decline to state a preference in parties at the time of registration to participate in the primaries.

I'm especially interested in the Republican primary this time around, but I'm not sure if they'll allow me to vote for someone. (I absolutely refuse to be on record as supporting or not supporting a particular party. It ruins the whole idea of a secret ballot system.)
 
I typically do. Most of the ballots are a bunch of unopposed candidates on both sides, but most of the time there is a issue on the ballot that was worth my 10 mins of time.
 
For us in this election, the entire general assembly is up for election. Incumbents will mostly win but the GA could flip to one side or the other and that will be huge to future policy in the state.
 
I generally do not and up until recently I really haven't voted in the presidential election cycle either. In California your vote is typically useless because it is so one-sided as it is.
 
Godsbrother said:
Yes. In many cases the local elected officials have a bigger impact on your life than the presidential, especially when it comes to school and property taxes, zoning, etc.
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While it isn't the case for us this year, echo. Well, I suppose there is a levy, but local officials not so much. I'll be stopping on the way home to vote on the levy and the 2 issues @Galileo mentioned.
 
I used to, but not anymore. The only way I would bother to vote in a non-presidential year would be if there was something special on the ballot, either an initiative of some sort or a statewide race that I really care about for some reason. The days of me dutifully showing up to vote out of civic responsibility are over.
 
Not really. Only when there's a particular issue that I care about, which isn't often. Or when there's a race that is at all close, which is even less often. My town is like 90-10 and today is all unopposed except for one which might as well be.
And my wife is out of town, so I won't get pressured to do it with her. I don't even have to go through with my whole routine where I ask who she's voting for and then tell her I'm voting the other way and ask if she still thinks I should go vote with her.
 
About half the time 🤷‍♂️

Our state is rather “crimson” so it seems most issues and elections are set. Unless maybe if there’s talk about your relations with children 🤢
 
Keerock said:
BTW... if you voted "No"... FYI today is election day :D
Click to expand...

Maybe counter to expectations ... but Election Day is not observed in all 50 states in odd-numbered years.

In Louisiana, there are two rounds of voting for state and local offices in odd-numbered years (like this one). One Saturday in October and another Saturday in November for run-offs as necessary. For instance, our gubernatorial election was last month.
 
I vote anytime I have an opportunity to.

Something weird happened today though. I went to my normal voting spot to vote, It was for city mayor, Water Commissioner, and a couple of city council seats. I walk in and give my ID. They tell me I do not TECHNICALLY live within the city limits, and cannot vote at that location. They direct me to a fire house down the road, where I was able to vote for Fire Commissioner.

Came home and looked it up. Seems I live in an 'unincorporated' area. I still have the city mailing address, but do not live in the city....technically. I will say I live out in the sticks.
 
rockaction said:
Sometimes. I also will be voting, if allowed, in the primaries this time around. By "if allowed," I mean to say that I believe California has a system whereby the parties can allow voters who decline to state a preference in parties at the time of registration to participate in the primaries.

I'm especially interested in the Republican primary this time around, but I'm not sure if they'll allow me to vote for someone. (I absolutely refuse to be on record as supporting or not supporting a particular party. It ruins the whole idea of a secret ballot system.)
Click to expand...
Looks like you have to register Republican to vote in their primary.



Frequently Asked Questions :: California Secretary of State

Find answers to frequently asked elections questions to the Secretary of State's Office here.
www.sos.ca.gov www.sos.ca.gov
How are presidential primary elections conducted in California?
Qualified political parties in California may hold presidential primaries in one of two ways:

Closed presidential primary - the party only allows voters indicating a preference for that party to vote for its presidential nominee.
Modified-closed presidential primary - in addition to allowing voters indicating a preference for that party to vote for its presidential nominee, the party also allows voters who did not indicate a party preference to vote for its presidential nominee.
If a qualified political party chooses to hold a modified-closed presidential primary, the party must notify the California Secretary of State no later than the 135th day before Election Day.

History of Political Parties That Have Adopted Party Rules Regarding No Party Preference Voters :: California Secretary of State

Learn about the history of political parties that have adopted party rules regarding no party preference voters in California here.
www.sos.ca.gov www.sos.ca.gov

Since January 1, 2001, California has had a "modified" closed primary system that permits "no party preference" (formally known as "decline-to-state") voters to participate in a party's primary election if authorized by the individual party's rules and duly noticed to the Secretary of State. If authorized by a party, no party preference voters would be allowed to vote for the office of U.S. President for that party.

Listed below is the history of the political parties who adopted a party rule permitting no party preference voters to request a party ballot in recent primary elections for partisan offices.

March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election
American Independent Party, letter dated October 10, 2023
Democratic Party, letter dated October 19, 2023
Libertarian Party, letter received October 17, 2023
March 3, 2020, Presidential Primary Election
American Independent Party, letter dated October 16, 2019
Democratic Party, letter dated September 23, 2019
Libertarian Party, letter received October 11, 2019
June 7, 2016, Presidential Primary Election
American Independent Party, letter dated December 31, 2015
Democratic Party, letter dated January 15, 2015
Libertarian Party, letter dated January 25, 2016
June 5, 2012, Presidential Primary Election
American Independent Party, letter dated January 23, 2012
Democratic Party, letter dated January 19, 2012
June 8, 2010, Statewide Direct Primary Election
Democratic Party, letter dated January 7, 2010
Republican Party, letter dated January 25, 2010
June 3, 2008, Statewide Direct Primary Election
American Independent Party, letters dated January 22 and January 24, 2008
Democratic Party, letter dated January 8, 2008
Republican Party, letter dated September 24, 2007
February 5, 2008, Presidential Primary Election
American Independent Party, letter dated August 23, 2007
Democratic Party, letter dated September 19, 2007
June 6, 2006, Primary Election
American Independent Party, letter dated January 10, 2006
Democratic Party, letter dated January 4, 2006
Republican Party, letter dated January 23, 2006
March 2, 2004, Primary Election
American Independent Party, letter dated September 30, 2003
Democratic Party, letter dated October 20, 2003
Republican Party, letter dated October 20, 2003
 
Dezbelief said:
Looks like you have to register Republican to vote in their primary.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I knew the party had to allow you, but didn't know Republicans hadn't since 2007 or so.

I voted in the Democratic primary last time around, so that 2019 letter allowing it sounds right. I actually got electioneered by a Republican voter telling me to go home and not bother with the Democratic Party. It was awkward.
 
Voted today as well. Just state delegate and state senator on ballot in Virginia, but, hey, those positions are pretty important too.
 
Absolutely. I had a civics teacher that pointed out that in primary, midterm and local elections, your vote counts way more. Simply due the fact that there are so many less people voting then.
 
rockaction said:
Sometimes. I also will be voting, if allowed, in the primaries this time around. By "if allowed," I mean to say that I believe California has a system whereby the parties can allow voters who decline to state a preference in parties at the time of registration to participate in the primaries.

I'm especially interested in the Republican primary this time around, but I'm not sure if they'll allow me to vote for someone. (I absolutely refuse to be on record as supporting or not supporting a particular party. It ruins the whole idea of a secret ballot system.)
Click to expand...
I have switched parties for the primaries in order to have my vote heard. And then switched back.
 
We have a different system here obviously, but voted no. Mainly because anything other than a general election is completely meaningless. I do, however, make the effort to spoil my ballot to indicate the level of contempt I have for the candidates in question, to not do that indicates you are happy with the status quo and we can't be having that
 
my state has spent a lot of time telling me that elections are rife with fraud. i assume they mean every election, i mean how can you rig just one election at a time and not all of them, so i am not voting.
 
Local election for state senate which could end up being pivotal for control of the senate has a margin of <100 votes. Voting matters.
 
Godsbrother said:
Yes. In many cases the local elected officials have a bigger impact on your life than the presidential, especially when it comes to school and property taxes, zoning, etc.
Click to expand...
:goodposting:

Turnout/margins of victory in these off-year elections are relatively tiny as well, making your vote far more valuable than in Presidential years.
 
3C's said:
Not only yes but until this year I was an election official. No line no waiting for me and I got paid like $5/hr too!
Click to expand...

3C's said:
Local election for state senate which could end up being pivotal for control of the senate has a margin of <100 votes. Voting matters.
Click to expand...
Almost certainly going to a recount. Not gonna lie, I'm okay with not having to be there for that.
 
DA RAIDERS said:
Absolutely. I had a civics teacher that pointed out that in primary, midterm and local elections, your vote counts way more. Simply due the fact that there are so many less people voting then.
Click to expand...
This makes sense, but I’ve ignored civic responsibility most of my life.

I was never really interested in the process, but briefly got involved with an outdoor recreation bill. It basically shifted liability to individuals participating in outdoor activities, rather than land owners, including the state*. I sat in on several public hearings along the way, worked with a national advocacy group, and submitted testimony in support of the legislation.

Everything was proceeding smoothly, with only one person speaking in opposition to the bill. He was a personal injury lawyer, who had vested interest in lawsuits resulting from people getting hurt. But none of the committee votes were close, and the bill easily made it to the final vote before the Senate.

I was confident the bill would pass. Unfortunately, it was never brought up for a vote, as the meeting went over time. Since it was the last day of the session, it was turfed, and would have to go through the whole process again the next time the legislature convened, essentially starting at square one.

As it turned out, the bill wasn’t reintroduced, and to this day, many outdoor activities in Hawai’i are limited due to liability concerns.

I later learned the committee chair, an injury lawyer herself, was seen eating breakfast with the lone voice of dissent, the day of the senate vote. I’m sure that meal influenced the outcome of the bill far more than any of my efforts, including voting in local elections. To add insult to injury, the chair is now our lieutenant governor.

All that said, I voted for the first time in the 2020 Presidential election. Although my vote didn’t “count” in a very blue state, I couldn’t risk POTUS 45 getting re-elected. As long as there are candidates of his ilk, I’ll keep voting.

*The state paid a $15.4 million dollar settlement in 2012 after two hikers, one a prominent lawyer, fell to their deaths while hiking on a non-state-sanctioned trail. AFAIK, it’s the largest payout ever for an accident related to outdoor recreation. Most states have recreational use statutes, which acknowledge wilderness is wild and unpredictable, and participants in outdoor activities do so at their own risk.
 
I used to skip them, but started in 2018. Some mix of a response to Trumpism and decent online resources to quickly come up to speed on topics and candidates made it feel more important and made me feel more informed.
 
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