Non-Voters Overwhelmingly Back Obama

[WI_DEM]

A nationwide USA Today/Suffolk University Poll of people who are eligible to vote but aren't likely to do so finds that these stay-at-home Americans back President Obama's re-election over Mitt Romney by more than 2-1.

"Two-thirds of them say they are registered to vote. Eight in 10 say the government plays an important role in their lives. Even so, they cite a range of reasons for declaring they won't vote or saying the odds are no better than 50-50 that they will: They're too busy. They aren't excited about either candidate. Their vote doesn't count."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/08/15/non-voters_overwhelmingly_back_obama.html

these people disgust me. I'll bet they will be among the first to be up in arms when Romney/Ryan make brutal cuts to Medicare or Medicaid or some other program that might affect them, but they were too lazy to take a few minutes out of their lives to vote.

[FBaggins]

1. No... They don't

This is a democracy - where the exercise of the franchise is our duty.

People who "back" a candidate vote for that candidate.

[Lucy Goosey]

3. ...exactly.

"No the don't" was my first thought when I read the headline, too.

People who don't vote make me very angry.

[CreekDog]

21. sorry, you don't define things for the rest of us

much as you constantly seek to tell us what we must believe.

[bigdarryl]

2. This is a stupid ass poll if there not in the voting process

there's no since in polling them

[WI_DEM]

6. When you look at polls they ask how likely you are to vote

and these are the people in the extreme end. Most polls when released now include only the 'likely voters.'

[barbtries]

4. we need to change that demographic

but it's an uphill battle. my own 28-year-old son will not vote and i have appealed directly to him many times.

[progressivebydesign]

9. being of draft age, I'm shocked that a young man would not vote.

But I hear that Iran is very nice in the Summer. Seriously. Does he not get it that a non-vote is a vote for Romney and a war with Iran, and a draft?

[barbtries]

10. please,

don't think i haven't tried. i have tried.
r&r say they're bringing back the draft? anyway. he's already served in the military.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

5. Turn them into voters....

Every Democrat should identify one apathetic voter who isn't likely to go to the polls in November and tell them, "If you come out and vote with me, I'll drive you to the polling place and then buy you a beer afterward."

[Amonester]

14. A beer probably won't cut it with them. ;)

If you can afford it, jack it up to a six-pack (to celebrate victory like in the old days).

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

16. As long as they're sharing! (nt)

[Amonester]

17. Great idea for the celebration! :)

And for moderation on the (3 each).

[dragonlady]

18. Not to spoil the fun, but there are laws against that

It's illegal to offer anything of value in order to get a person to vote. That applies to anything over $1.00 in value, so keep it under that unless you want to risk a Class I felony.

[Lionessa]

7. Since we do not have popular vote elections for Pres.

the concept that "my vote won't count anyway." Is a totally legitimate argument in blood red states.

With that in mind, perhaps instead of being disgusted, Democrats should attempt to convince these folks that perhaps at the Congressional and Senatorial level, where popular vote counts, their votes could make a huge difference.

However to be angry or disgusted with folks who know the score in their state that their electoral votes will go for Rmoney regardless of whether or not they vote, is simply disgusting and surely not the way to alter their choice to not vote. Get them instead focused on those candidates wherein their votes will count, and then perhaps for the grins of it they'll vote for Obama, and find out just as they said, they're vote for Obama won't count, but the rest might well and that's the beginning of turning these tight red states a bit bluer, locally and at the state level.

Lastly, if the only race to be considered is the presidential, then there's also a lot of concern that though Obama is the lesser of evils, he's still been presiding as a pawn of the big corps and the banksters, which really dampens enthusiasm for him.

Again, don't hate, think! Accept their claims of their votes being washed away by the electoral college, and remind them where their votes do count, and let's get a functional Legislature for Obama.

[LongTomH]

13. Some of those states aren't as 'Blood Red' as you might think!

Mr. Obama lost my state of Missouri by only 4,000 votes in 2008. That's not that much if we can turn out people willing to vote for Democratic candidates!

It all boils down to voter turnout! Get Out the Vote!

[PlanetBev]

8. Jeebus

Who the hell thinks these polls up?

[Jamaal510]

11. It's sad that we have such a huge problem with voter apathy in this country.

I'll bet you that more people would show up to vote if they instituted some type of lottery ticket system, though, where every voter is automatically entered for a chance to win $1M.

[Amonester]

15. Yep. They would come a night early to sleep outside in tents for that!

Isn't it true we've got the best ideas for true change for real Democracy?

That would be awesome to collect them all in one place (like a wiki or something).

[milwaukeelib33]

20. Here in Wisconsin

We've been under attack by bagger policies and have been voting practically non-stop fro the past two years, fighting back, initiating recalls.

One tactic that has been employed to get out the "apathetic voter" is to hold neighborhood BBQ's. Community groups will hold a large BBQ in a park and get some vans. Voters are given a ride to the polls and when they return get a meal. It's been successful in getting those unlikely to vote otherwise to do so.

I don't think this is anything new. I'd be surprised if activities similar to this aren't taking place everywhere in effort to GOTV.

[Myrina]

12. Well, that's awful helpful ...

[GallopingGhost]

19. I just read a comment

over on newsvine that said something to the effect of, If Obama isn't even leading in a Rasmussen poll, I'm not going to bother to vote.

So ridiculous.

People the world over die for the privilege and so many here cast it aside.