Why don't more Soldiers vote?

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 13:35:25 -0500

Today I gave anyone in my company that wanted to vote the ability to miss PT as long as they gave me the "I voted" sticker they hand out once a ballot is cast. Not a single Soldier took me up on this offer. Approximately 80% of my company are residents of Tennessee so being away from their polling station does not apply. When talking to the ones that aren't residents of Tennessee all of them told me they didn't mail in a ballot for one reason or another. Why do you think Soldiers, Warrant Officers, and Commissioned Officers chose not to vote? This is a right they are willing to lay down their lives for through their military service however they chose not to.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 6:46 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 18:46:38 -0500

SGM Private RallyPoint Member, this is troubling "news." I'm not surprised though, because so many Americans decide not to vote. I guess they can't be bothered. I posted elsewhere on RallyPoint that 40 to 50 percent turnout in a non-presidential election is considered a very good turnout. In a presidential year, 50 to 60 percent is considered good.

I guess people assume their one vote doesn't count for much, but - as you so rightly point out - we (active duty Soldiers, anyhow) put our lives on the line based on the decisions our elected officials make.

It's very disappointing to hear this, but not surprising. Check out the chart in this article. It's pitiful, really.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/07/24/voter-turnout-always-drops-off-for-midterm-elections-but-why/

Voter turnout always drops off for midterm elections, but why?

Voter turnout, no matter how measured, is consistently lower in midterm elections compared to presidential election years. Political scientists aren't sure why, but have some ideas.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 4 at 2014 6:56 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 18:56:38 -0500

Great thread Top. If you don't does not vote, then you are un-officially not allowed to complain....lol

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Nov 4 at 2014 7:25 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 19:25:40 -0500

SGM Private RallyPoint Member The only thing that I can think of is that many feel that their votes don't matter.

I would argue that with this many positions up for grabs, this election cycle is crucial.

And, I agree with SFC Mark Merino if you don't vote, I don't want to hear anything, not a word. You may not get what you want out of the elections, but at least you got to say something.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 7:47 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 19:47:49 -0500

Apathy, it's killing America.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 7:54 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 19:54:50 -0500

I believe to many folks get hung up that their vote doesn't count when it comes to POTUS so why bother. They forget about all the critical local or state issues that will effect them. They just really don't see the big picture with the house and senate and how important it can be. They also think about all the corruption and BS that surrounds our politicians. So all we can do is keep at them and convince them it is their civic duty and responsibility to leave our country in good hands for future generations.

Response by PO2 Jonathan Scharff made Nov 4 at 2014 8:25 PM

PO2 Jonathan Scharff — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 20:25:12 -0500

SGM Private RallyPoint Member I have to applaud you for doing what you can to help motivate your soldiers to get involved. 2 thumbs up!

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 9:43 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:43:38 -0500

Many Americans are more interested in voting their top idol or talent artists than vote for who governs them.

Response by MAJ Michael Scharff made Nov 5 at 2014 8:45 AM

MAJ Michael Scharff — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 08:45:20 -0500

That is sad!

Response by SrA Marc Haynes made Nov 5 at 2014 9:25 AM

SrA Marc Haynes — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 09:25:24 -0500

I asked at my polling location and they said that it was one of the best turnouts they have had in a long time.

I allow any of my employees time of to go vote. Yesterday it was only 50% that went and voted.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 5 at 2014 9:56 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 09:56:38 -0500

Because they are uninformed, while this is not a good thing, I wish more people who did not understand what they are voting for took the opportunity to not vote.

Pushing people to vote, who have no idea about the issues or the people on the ballot gets us personalities instead of people of substance. There is little difference, in my opinion, between the two parties. Most of the electorate does not even understand what it means to be a Republic…heck most of the electorate does not even know we are a Republic?

Last, I would not want to miss PT to vote...there are less important things to miss...but I will find the time to vote.

Response by Cpl Shawn Hueter made Nov 5 at 2014 10:04 AM

Cpl Shawn Hueter — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 10:04:52 -0500

When i was in Iraq i voted absentee, its a right for us to vote. I know a lot of the Marines that I worked with didn't vote, because it seems like what we have to say doesn't matter.

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Nov 5 at 2014 4:17 PM

PO3 Sherry Thornburg — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 16:17:32 -0500

Voting was a big thing when I was in. However, after several major elections where it was reported that the military vote was thrown out, under counted and otherwise tossed out, I'm not overly surprised. Voting is also a hit or miss activity by age and other statistics. The break down in this pdf. shows, in a nut shell, that lower income people, those with short residencies, the young and minorities have low turn out. Sad but its so. Those are exactly the people that need to be voting.
http://www.nonprofitvote.org/documents/2013/09/america-goes-to-the-polls-2012-voter-participation-gaps-in-the-2012-presidential-election.pdf

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2014 6:48 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 18:48:17 -0500

I think many soldiers take issue with what they consider to be a lack of quality candidates - or even of political ideologies. It's the inherent flaw in a two-party system. We've all heard the jokes about choosing the "lesser of two evils" in elections, but I think there is some actual merit to this notion (at least, in attempting to understand voting trends).

If you break it down objectively by where the parties are at today, you see this:

The younger demographic (the bulk of our fighting force) is predominantly left-leaning on social issues. But where the Democratic Party would pick up these votes, they simultaneously lose them because of the "anti-military" stigma that the party carries (be it right or wrong).

Meanwhile, the GOP is having a hard enough time reaching lifelong Republican voters, much less young voters. Despite its hallmark "pro-military" appeal, the Republican Party can't win the votes of these young voters because of the aforementioned social issues.

I also think that more and more young Americans are inclined to identify with third-party candidates. And so this is the issue that we face:

"If I agree with Candidate A on 2 out of 10 issues, and I agree with Candidate B on 3 out of 10 issues, why would I vote for either of them?"

So, if it is apathy, I think it's a different kind of apathy. Not "my vote doesn't matter," but rather, "it's just two sides of the same coin, which I want nothing to do with."

Response by TSgt Phillip L. made Nov 5 at 2014 7:47 PM

TSgt Phillip L. — Wed, 05 Nov 2014 19:47:54 -0500

My experience was that most active duty military didn't feel that any of the candidates represented their interests. I can easily articulate how one party tends to represent and endorse pro-military/veteran viewpoints than the other...but ultimately many of them are right. We don't have a strong veteran party in this country. I'd be up for being a part of fixing that. But then....I'm the crazy guy that thinks we need to overturn some of the voting amendments and reform our voting system. Civil/Military service or own property....or you don't vote on national elections. It forces those who are voting for "free stuff" to have some skin in the game.

Response by PO1 Pj Gabe made Nov 6 at 2014 1:40 PM

PO1 Pj Gabe — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 13:40:31 -0500

For some, when you see the recent attacks by all parties on the backs of military and veterans.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/11/01/senator-questions-system-allowing-triple-dipping-veterans.html?ESRC=navy-a.nl

http://spousebuzz.com/blog/2014/11/dear-school-principal-veterans-day.html

and this was just today's news from military.com

It is disgusting by the lack of backing for troops and all they have accomplished and done to protect the 90% of pop. who have no idea what it is we have sacrificed.
I for one don't care if i am recognized for my service, but when they start attacking our pensions, compensations(not benefits) and deciding where you can fly the Flag. That is where many get sick and tired of the lack of support by the elected officials.
I am good enough to go fight for you anywhere at any time, but when i am done and i have returned in a damaged manner i can be given a pat on the shoulder and shown the door.

Senator Questions System Allowing 'Triple Dipping' Veterans

Nearly 60,000 veterans were triple dippers last year, drawing a total of $3.5 billion in military retirement pay plus veterans and Social Security disability benefits at the same time, congressional auditors report.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jan 24 at 2015 9:22 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 21:22:05 -0500

Actually, I think this comes to representation in the modern era.

As the times have changed the military voter has changed as well.

We can no longer be classified as primarily Republican or primarily Democrat.

Although more military votes Republican than any other party (35%-40%), that figure really doesn't mean much, because of the actual spread.

As more studies come out, most military are starting to "identify" not as the classic R/D parties, but generally as independent. That in turn means that the available representation, those who they can vote for, is not who they want to vote for.

Just because I have a vote, doesn't mean the candidates on the ballot are entitled to it. In many cases, I have looked at both (or all candidates) and said, I would rather have none of them have it than give it to any of them. These people do not represent me, my beliefs or what I want in this country.

The two reigning parties have political philosophies which have many good points. They also have points which are so bad that I cannot in good conscience support at all. The question of "How can you support a person to condones X?" comes up, and not having a valid answer is reasonable.

So I don't necessarily think it's apathy. I think as our forces are getting smarter, and they have access to more information more easily, they have a harder time choosing.