I just think to consider voting as a duty is very silly. I think voting should not be done just because it would be 'unamerican' or 'undemocratic' not to. Nationalism nor sense of civic duty should not come into whether you vote or not. You should vote for the right reasons.

Low turnout in elections is not neccessarily a bad thing for democracy. It shows politicians that their policies aren't what people want or their message isn't reaching the whole demographic of the electorate. Ustwo is spot on about education. My Granmother votes on whether the person seems a nice man or not. She votes because she thinks that what you should do. I'm not saying her vote shouldn't count but what I am saying is democracy only truely works if people are educated enough to make informed decisions. This relates to the press as well. There is not enough done to make programs or news stories of serious content, instead we are presented with sensationalized and sometimes very one sided shit, that Goebbels would be proud of.

I personally am highly skeptical of politicians and the political system both in the UK and US. However this is my opinion. I would never encourage people not to vote but before they do I would ask them to vote for the right reasons. Do not vote simply because you live in a democracy. Do not vote because of any benign sense of nationalism or civic duty. Do not vote because someone tells you must. Vote because that person/party represents your values and is who you want to have in charge. If they do not, why are you giving them power?

Mmm, I vote because I want to be one of those anonymous jittering white balls in the government's giant game of "Hungry, Hungry Hippos."

Of course we have a choice. Let others decide for us, or offer our dime. Does anyone really think that not voting makes a statement? Yes, the newscasters will mention that there was low voter turnout. Party X had a higher turnout than Party Y. How's that going to influence what happens the next four years?

Exactly the point. So if all the well-educated, well-informed and highly opinionated member of TFP skip the polls, your grandma and my grandma, the only ones voting, are deciding if their grandsons will be going to war, if their granddaughters will be making choices and how far their dollars will go?

That's why I feel that it's my civic duty. Just as I would never give up my right to serve on a jury. It's everyone's one chance to put up or shut up. If you don't like the choices, go for the nomination.

Well put. Far from convincing the powers that be to change tack to attract the disaffected, low turnout does just the opposite, with campaigns turning to the committed base of their respective ideologies to attract the votes of those they know will show up. It is when turn out is high that the candidates that are more moderate, or represent new thinking do better.

This will be my very first presidential election in which I can actually vote. (turned 18 in 2006) I probably will even though I'm not too keen on either of the candidates from my chosen party. Although I have to remind myself, everyone has skeletons in their closet especially politicians.
As for you MUST vote Shani, I say no. A few small amount of the population actually does. If you don't find the need to do so because of your choice on the candidates then don't. No harm no foul.

I voted for a third party. I'm not thrilled with the guy, but his campaign platform didn't have any deal breakers for me.

Nobody. I said before that I don't think I'll be able to support any of the ~20 candidates. After thinking about it, I'll probably just write in the guy I support if he loses the primary.

I liked this:<br><br><IMG SRC="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2203/2180883911_ccf811a615.jpg?v=0">

It should also be noted - since it hasn't been said yet in this thread - that not all states allow write-in candidates.