Do you vote strictly party lines and why?

[hobbsyoyo]

So I'd like to know:

1) Do you vote along strictly party lines?

2) Why or why not?

3) If you do, what about our political system and/or political parties would have to change to get you to not vote along party lines?

I know this is a very US-centric topic, but I'm interested in hearing whether or not this even applies to the politics of other countries.

Please don't bash people for holding negative views of other parties. I think we would all get more out of this thread if we focused on systemic issues within the parties and the entire party system itself rather than just attacking each other for our beliefs. So please don't do that.


I'll start:

I'm a liberal as some may have already figured out. There are actually some conservative ideas that I'm really attracted to. In the past, my wife and I made a point of gathering as much information for all of the candidates in all of races we would vote in before election day to pick our candidates. They were largely Democrats, naturally. But neither of us had any problem voting for local republicans who have done a good job in local offices (mayors and such). We also had no problem voting for republicans in uncontested races and we even occasionally crossed party lines on some important races.

Now we have made the decision to vote strictly along party lines this year. We both feel that the Republican party has drifted so far to the extreme on many issues (social issues in particular) that we don't feel comfortable voting for any Republicans. We feel like we should punish them by not voting in uncontested races and voting Democratic in all others.

I want the Republicans to come back to the center on a lot of things and push out the extreme birther and tea party types.

tl;dr

1)Yes

2)Republicans are too far to the right in general and I feel I must punish the entire party at the ballot box in response.

3)I think open primaries would help both parties come back to the middle. It seems the primary goal of both parties is to win elections and defeat the other party rather than govern. Abolishing closed primaries could help boost more moderate candidates. More moderate republicans = more republicans getting my vote.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

So I'd like to know:

1) Do you vote along strictly party lines?

Nope.

2) Why or why not?

They're all crap. Every time it's a challenge to find the least crappy one.

Which usually still is crap, and I never feel satisfied with my vote.

 

[Zack]

Theoretically (since I can't legally vote yet), yes, for the reasons you described. The Republican party has become waaaay too conservative.

 

[galdre]

No - I don't belong to either party. I see them as wings of one party really, they both follow the same overall policies

 

[civver_764]

The interests of the two major parties are almost opposite the interests of most of us, so of course I don't support either.

 

[GhostWriter16]

I can't vote, but if I could, I wouldn't vote for either of the two major parties this year.

I see no point in supporting someone in an "Uncontested" race. They're going to win anyway, so unless you actually do like the guy, it would make more sense to write someone in.

I'd find it very hard to vote for Democrats, ever. That doesn't mean I would never ever do it. But most of them want to increase government control of something. I want people that will shrink the government, not increase it.

I find it hard to back most Republicans as well. They also want to make the government bigger.

I agree with Ron Paul about 90% of the time so that would mostly be where I come from. I really hope the Republican party eventually becomes more like Ron Paul, even if more moderate, but I don't think it will.

 

[Murky]

I think the danger with voting party is you could end up voting for someone you probably wouldn't if you closely looked at their record. It's best to at least Google who is on going to be on the ballot and find out what they stand for. For instance, if you vote a straight Republican ticket you would probably end up voting for far-right nut jobs that don't share the same values as moderates. Also, you would probably end up voting in a few Republicans-in-name-only instead of Blue-dog democrats the caucus with your party.

 

[Dachs]

1) Do you vote along strictly party lines?

Nope.

2) Why or why not?

Don't like any of the parties.

 

[downtown]

If you look at ever person I have voted for, I think you'll find I've voted for 60% Democrats and 40% Republicans, and a majority of my congressional votes have been for Republicans. I have never voted for a Republican for President though.

Local politicians and local issues are different. Under the right circumstances, I could totally vote for a Republican for mayor. I MIGHT be convinced to vote for a Republican for Gov. Given the current state of the national party though, I'd never vote for one for President.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

For those who don't vote along party lines and also hate the parties, do you vote at all? Just curious, not criticizing.

I saw an interesting interview on PBS Newshour last night. This former Republican congressman was advocating open primaries and a primary system where the top two candidates (regardless of party) advance to the general election. Then you could have two Republicans or two Democrats or even some Independents on the ballot. He seems to this would help break the current mentality of the parties.

 

[Luckymoose]

I don't vote along party lines, but based on candidates.

 

[Ajidica]

Unless any of the democrats in my area do something particularly abominable, I'll probably vote straight DFL. I can't stand either the GOP State House Rep or House Rep (both are strongly in the crazy wing of the GOP), and Klobuchar has done just fine as Senator.
Plus the Dems for the local election I've either met before or have the support of people whose opinions I value.

 

[GoodGame]

No, because every politician has to earn my vote.

 

[bombshoo]

So I'd like to know:

1) Probably more often than not.

2) Usually because I simply don't like any of the Republican or even a good deal of the independent candidates running. I have voted for Republicans and Independents a few times though. Mostly in local elections and at least once for my congressman.

3) Have the Republicans simply put better, more moderate candidates on the ballot more often and put measures in place to give independents more exposure.

 

[downtown]

For those who don't vote along party lines and also hate the parties, do you vote at all? Just curious, not criticizing.
.

Since I turned 18, I have voted in every single election but one, including for city council.

 

[Borachio]

I change my vote every time on principle. I am now thoroughly disillusioned with the lot of them.

At various times, I have:

• voted for all left of centre, and environmentalist,
• spoiled the ballot paper:
  • with a small picture,
  • a very small essay,
  • with the words "any of these",
  • with the words "none of these".

I am beginning to run out of options.

Yet to be presented with an Independent.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I think the danger with voting party is you could end up voting for someone you probably wouldn't if you closely looked at their record. It's best to at least Google who is on going to be on the ballot and find out what they stand for. For instance, if you vote a straight Republican ticket you would probably end up voting for far-right nut jobs that don't share the same values as moderates. Also, you would probably end up voting in a few Republicans-in-name-only instead of Blue-dog democrats the caucus with your party.

You are absolutely right and part of me feels guilty; it's almost as if I'm giving up some civic duty by not researching them. I'm just so burnt out with the current Republican party that I feel the need to punish them. I don't care if I vote for someone I don't actually agree with that much as long as I'm sending them the Republicans the message that they need to step back from the brink.

I imagine most conservatives feel the same about the Democrats.

 

[Mark1031]

I vote strictly for Dems. I have in the distant past voted for 1 or 2 liberal republicans for local office. It (party lines) is the only way to vote given the current system. Even if you like your local congress person, say the rare sane Republican, and you fancy yourself a sophisticated "moderate" so feel good about your reasonable self voting for both parties...you are wrong. The very first vote a "moderate" senator like Olympia Snowe will make is to hand over all power to the radical base of the party by voting to put Mich McConnel in charge of all the levers of power. She will then vote 95% with the party and do one or 2 cross over show votes after extracting everything she wants in a bill so she can run back to tout her New England moderateness. A vote for Snowe is as good as a vote for Jim DeMint.

This is the system we have. The same goes for Repub voting for a Dem however the Dems have less party discipline and are more likely to crossover esp. to help some corporate interest in pursuit of re-elect $$$.

 

[GhostWriter16]

Not quite, but certainly for the US senate, since that's so partisan it doesn't even matter because like all the members of a given party are basically identical.

 

[downtown]

^^I think thats only true if the Republicans control the Senate. I would be comfortable voting for a Snowe if she didn't get the chance to recommend DeMint to lead a committee. During years when the control of the Senate (or House) is in play, I can understand being a little more tactical with the votes.