It's Election Day in the US. This means you'll see a lot of folks saying that they voted, or how they voted, or telling people that if they don't vote*, they lose all rights to complain about politics for the next two/four/six years.
I am just amused by the process of how I decide to vote. In general, I figure that, because I am exceedingly liberal even for a New Yorker, and especially for an American, my choices for state and national politics are usually either Green or Democrat** (or protest write-in vote). This is usually based on what the candidates say, but I also have the peculiar constraint of refusing to vote third-party in a close race. Thankfully, I live in New York, where the only way there will be a close race is either:
1. State legislature/senate or county/town level things. Maybe House of Representatives. Basically, anything that doesn't require the entire state of New York to decide something.
2. The New York Republican Party ignores the national level office and runs someone who might actually win.
The reverse happened in Nebraska, where Ben Nelson was about the most to the left one could go, and everyone was kind of shocked when Omaha's electoral college vote went to Obama. I've never really lived in a state with an exciting election, so I have to live vicariously through blogs.
(Though I kind of want to be like John Scalzi, who lived in rural Ohio and talked about how he never saw yard signs because he lived in the most homogeneous region ever, and it wasn't like neighbors saw much of each others' front yards. And then the guy he was voting for for US Representative actually drove out to give him a yard sign.)
That and the only local office under an opposed vote is the sheriff. County clerk even has the same person running under both parties. (This is possible in New York).
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* And are US citizens age 18 or above. Teenagers cannot be stopped from complaining that Old People Ruin Everything by anything.
** And then which line I want to vote for for the Democrat. New York state law lets people run under multiple party lines, so the Democratic candidate is usually also the Working Families party candidate, and the Republican candidate is usually also the Conservative Party candidate. Though there was some drama when the Conservative Party ran a different candidate (possibly one who lost the Republican primary) in a special election in another district, and the Republican dropped out and endorsed the Democrat.
I am just amused by the process of how I decide to vote. In general, I figure that, because I am exceedingly liberal even for a New Yorker, and especially for an American, my choices for state and national politics are usually either Green or Democrat** (or protest write-in vote). This is usually based on what the candidates say, but I also have the peculiar constraint of refusing to vote third-party in a close race. Thankfully, I live in New York, where the only way there will be a close race is either:
1. State legislature/senate or county/town level things. Maybe House of Representatives. Basically, anything that doesn't require the entire state of New York to decide something.
2. The New York Republican Party ignores the national level office and runs someone who might actually win.
The reverse happened in Nebraska, where Ben Nelson was about the most to the left one could go, and everyone was kind of shocked when Omaha's electoral college vote went to Obama. I've never really lived in a state with an exciting election, so I have to live vicariously through blogs.
(Though I kind of want to be like John Scalzi, who lived in rural Ohio and talked about how he never saw yard signs because he lived in the most homogeneous region ever, and it wasn't like neighbors saw much of each others' front yards. And then the guy he was voting for for US Representative actually drove out to give him a yard sign.)
That and the only local office under an opposed vote is the sheriff. County clerk even has the same person running under both parties. (This is possible in New York).
--
* And are US citizens age 18 or above. Teenagers cannot be stopped from complaining that Old People Ruin Everything by anything.
** And then which line I want to vote for for the Democrat. New York state law lets people run under multiple party lines, so the Democratic candidate is usually also the Working Families party candidate, and the Republican candidate is usually also the Conservative Party candidate. Though there was some drama when the Conservative Party ran a different candidate (possibly one who lost the Republican primary) in a special election in another district, and the Republican dropped out and endorsed the Democrat.