Elections are all about "Turnout". Whether it is inspired by party loyalty or a sincere belief in the candidate or the parties' ability to mobilize its organization to get voters to polls, the turnout usually will decide the outcome.
Voters can be divided into three groups: (1) The "Saints" are those who will vote for their party's candidates "no matter what". (2) The "Sinners" are those who will vote against your party's candidates "no matter what". (3)The "Savables" are those who are not affiliated with any party who you may be able to persuade to vote for your candidate. These are also known as "Independents".
Those loyal party members who always vote for their party probably don't examine their candidates as thoroughly as those who are not affiliated. Those who do may sometimes, rather than vote for someone who is unacceptable, just not vote. They vote by not voting. Turnout is affected by the "none of the above" syndrome.
The "Independents" have to be considered the most thoughtful of the groups because they have no prejudice one way or the other. When they decide, facts, not party, are their guide. Unless one party is able to produce an overwhelming turnout, Independents, whose numbers are growing, will decide many outcomes.
If you have decided to not vote, you are making a serious mistake. The way our system has evolved, special interests have gained an advantage over the common man. If we, as individuals, participate in elections, whether we pick the right person or not, our sheer numbers will dilute the votes of the "wise guys". Even when all our votes are divided and we vote for different people, the concentrated power of the brokers is diminished. It's been called "people power". At the ballot box, the dumbest and poorest among us has as much power as the smartest and the richest.
Voters can be divided into three groups: (1) The "Saints" are those who will vote for their party's candidates "no matter what". (2) The "Sinners" are those who will vote against your party's candidates "no matter what". (3)The "Savables" are those who are not affiliated with any party who you may be able to persuade to vote for your candidate. These are also known as "Independents".
Those loyal party members who always vote for their party probably don't examine their candidates as thoroughly as those who are not affiliated. Those who do may sometimes, rather than vote for someone who is unacceptable, just not vote. They vote by not voting. Turnout is affected by the "none of the above" syndrome.
The "Independents" have to be considered the most thoughtful of the groups because they have no prejudice one way or the other. When they decide, facts, not party, are their guide. Unless one party is able to produce an overwhelming turnout, Independents, whose numbers are growing, will decide many outcomes.
If you have decided to not vote, you are making a serious mistake. The way our system has evolved, special interests have gained an advantage over the common man. If we, as individuals, participate in elections, whether we pick the right person or not, our sheer numbers will dilute the votes of the "wise guys". Even when all our votes are divided and we vote for different people, the concentrated power of the brokers is diminished. It's been called "people power". At the ballot box, the dumbest and poorest among us has as much power as the smartest and the richest.
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