The less you vote, the more you back Trump

I want to vote more, but when I try to vote more than once the poll workers get upset and tell me to leave.

I’m voting as hard as I can
you need to be a republican governor's son. if you are, you can vote illegally as many times as you like and no one cares.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/northern-virginia/glenn-youngkins-underage-son-tried-to-vote-in-virginia-governors-election-officials-say/2870695/
You should try being a republican.

The less you brain, the more you back Trump.

I am really not following all the vitriol in the comments, are people not only ignoring the article to react to the headline but then also mis-reading the headline?

It's not saying anyone ought to vote a certain way, it's just pointing out that low-propensity voters tend to support Trump.

I suspect this is due to the recent polarization around education. Highly educated people tend to vote more, and over the last decade they have tended to vote more and more for Democrats. And vice versa for low-formal-education folks.

Yeah, when I read the headline I figured it was saying that if you don't vote, that means you're actively supporting trump. But after reading the article, it's definitely not saying that as far as I can tell.
I chalk it up to the headline being worded weirdly, and just the fact that people have been saying things sorta like that.

This has been a recipe for a democratic win for a for decades. High turnouts favor democrats.

Yup, which is why the Republicans try to make it as difficult as possible to vote, especially for minorities. Don't forget Trump said if minorities vote, Republicans will never win another election.
- Also, why they focus on voter suppression and divisive propaganda every election to get the lefties all riled up about whatever makes them stay home. I wonder which issue it is right now!?
The entire premise of the article is the exact opposite - that Trump did better when turnout was high.
A new poll suggests it's Republicans who should be rooting for higher turnout.

You could literally put a half eaten turkey sandwich against Trump and I'd vote for the sandwich 100% of the time.

As an outsider, though neighbor in Canada, I can't truely comprehend why Trump has the support he does. I sort of get it when looking at specifics (some people enjoy racism, others think he'd stir things up and create change) but the Evangelical support alone is baffling. I'm not religious but went to schools with religion as a subject (didn't always focus on Christianity in the Anglican one but other one did) and the idea that anyone remotely Christian, or anyone that thinks they have religious values could vote for him makes me want to do the exorcist head spin and spew green pea soup. I didn't think of that idea in a religious way just an absurd reaction to the situation but it sort of fits.
I'd definitely vote for the inanimate carbon rod over Trump, but the sandwich has merit too.
- I think a lot of Trump's support is imaginary. We've had several elections, including the 2022 election, where the polls said we were going to get destroyed, but the Republicans way underperformed their polls. Perhaps it's over-correction for 2016 when the polls overstated Democratic Party chances. Perhaps they're over-sampling Republicans, not accounting for the fact that many older, more Republican-leaning people who distrusted the science behind COVID got themselves sick with COVID and then died from it. Or maybe they're just making wild-ass guesses and don't have a fucking clue because asking 1000 people what 220 million people are going to do six months away is always a tough thing to do.
  That said, I'd still campaign like I was 5 points down in the polls if I was Biden, going 50 State Strategy to get ALL the votes he can, even the ones that 'don't count', and if I was a voter that's even REMOTELY aligned to the Left, I'd VOTE like he was down 1 point in the polls, and make damn sure I got my vote in for him. The alternative is just that much worse.
- Historically, different Christian denominations used to rally behind the two political parties against each other, back when everyone was Christian. If I recall, if you had Catholics on one side, you'd usually find Protestants on the other. Of course this was also back when Republicans were the progressives, and Democrats were conservative.
  Things are different now, but there is definitely still a more liberal contingent of Christians who are more in line with 'separation of church and state', and the more fundamentalist side whose schools have literally taught their children that it's their Christian duty to vote for Trump.
- Exactly... I think it's horrific how politically behind we are here in America compared to most other industrialized nations.
- Trump isn't racist. That's a narrative the Left has been throwing around for years. He's won numerous black awards, has had numerous black support, and only when he ran against Democrats was he labeled by the left as a "racist."
  Religious people will always vote conservative, no matter who the candidate is. My Mexican family are very religious Catholics, and even they vote for Trump because they always feel that a Republican better protects their religious rights.
  The Democrat party is doing everything and anything to stop him from running, and this only makes his case stronger.
Meanwhile, there's MILLIONS who are going to vote for him because everyone keeps telling them not too...I love how minorities are told that they're "not good enough" to vote Republican.
- If you wanna drink the right wing Kool-aid, that's your own prerogative

I want to repeat this as much as possible because I think it's incredibly important. When you vote for a president, you are not voting for one person, you are voting for thousands. You are voting for an entire branch of government, possibly 2. The president appoints an insane amount of positions, so when you vote for the one person you need to also think about all the other positions they will be nominating people for. Hundreds of federal judges, hundreds of secretaries, dozens of heads of departments and agencies, hundreds of ambassadors, and most importantly, potentially lifetime appointments of Supreme court judges, which can flip an entire other branch of government. There are also tons of lower level positions on top of those, and if that's not enough already, many of these appointments span multiple presidencies, so you're not just voting for the next 4 years, but potentially long after that.

So when you're looking at the ballot, do not think about the names on the paper, think about the thousands of incredibly important, powerful, and influential roles that they will fill. As powerful as the president is, when you add up all those other positions, they are even more important than the one position of president.

And if you want to know why we haven't made much forward progress, well... we flip parties every 8 years.
If you want to know why we're backsliding, it's because when Republicans have an advantage it's 58/42 and when Democrats have an advantage it's 51/50 for two weeks.
Over the past 50 years Republicans have had more political power in this country.
- Democrats held a comfortable dual majority during four years Obama's presidency and aside from the ACA did fuck all with it. And that's just in recent history. Go back a bit farther and they had 8 straight years. Go back a bit farther and Democrats had comfortable dual majorities for 26 years straight.
  https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Combined--Control_of_the_U.S._House_of_Representatives_-_Control_of_the_U.S._Senate.png

Well, this is a fun discussion!

...Anyways, I like to think that the title implies you're supposed to vote more than once lol

It also implies that not voting for Trump somehow counts more than voting for Trump does
- The article is actually about how people that have voted more consistently will vote for Biden and people that vote more inconsistently will vote for Trump.
  Very different from how I interpreted the headline.
- Ok then! One vote for Trump is better than multiple not-votes for no one, so I'll vote for Trump!
  /s

The less you campaign for electoral reform in your state, the more you support the republican party.

Switching away from first past the post voting allows people to vote for who represents them best while still counting their vote against those they dont want to win. Just search for videos on FPTP voting if you want an explanation on how and why the spoiler effect exists.

Electoral reform is possible in each individual state (for now), we dont need federal reform! Maine and Alaska have already passed electoral reform.

Republicans are moving to make alternative electoral systems illegal in their states. Why would you want to use the same voting system republicans prefer?

More political parties means a higher percentage of the population is representedby their choices in the voting booth. More people involved in the electoral process, more people engaged.

Its a win win win all around for not just the people, but also for the democratic party. More people voting means more democratic votes. The numbers dont lie. So what’s the hold up blue states?

You believe it’s critical to vote for the democrats to beat the Republicans, thus you should 100% be fully invested in passing electoral reform in your state.

Electoral reform needs to be the number one priority for every democrat. This is a existential threat to our nation, so we must use EVERY tool at our disposal. No more waiting. This especially goes for those in blue states.

Consider starting a campaign to change how we vote in your own state! Force our representatives to compete with fresh outside ideas. We deserve the best representation, not excuses.

Electoral reform needs to be the number one priority for every democrat.
Never going to happen.
- Yeah, I've wanted instant runoff voting to be the system the US uses for decades, but it's clear that it's never going to realistically happen.
  We can't even get rid of the dumbass electoral college after all this time, lol.

In other words, more elections years you voted in since 2018 makes it more likely you voted for Biden.

This makes sense because Trump pushed turnout for the Dems with his deeply unpopular presidency. And this same dynamic can sink Biden in 2024 if he continues to be more unpopular than Trump.

This ain't no big revelation to anyone. Since the 1960's Republicans have relied on liberal voter's apathy to win seats in government. It's liberalism's greatest weakness and failure - the belief that someone else should be responsible because they can't be bothered.

Since the 1960’s Republicans have relied on liberal voter’s apathy to win seats
Makes you wonder why Democrats continue to foster that apathy.
- A controlled opposition

What if your a lifelong red voter and you vote less?

Like I get where your coming from, but it’s only because your audience are the sane ones.

I had difficulty parsing the article title. I thought it meant that not voting means you back trump (since this is a common narrative by democrat supporters), but actually it's saying that people who vote less consistently support trump more.

I had difficulty parsing the article title.
That's because it was deliberately written to be misleading. Don't imply that that's your fault, it's a standard trash clickbait headline.

I'm not sure why you think liberals are the solution. They're just as much a part of the problem and not in a "liberals have slowly shifted to the right" way.
Keep in mind, Eugenics received pretty heavy support from liberals. Liberals are just as responsible for the corporate hellscape we're currently entering, they're just the parent in the abusive household that comes in and makes sure you don't make problems for the other one that just got done beating you.
Idk what the solution is, but something makes me doubt it's liberals teaming up.
- Clearly we’re not talking about the same “liberals” if you think the liberals I’m referring to would support Eugenics.
  I deleted my post btw since I read the article and realized my comment had nothing to do when it.
- What's your strategy?
  I'm not saying you're wrong on some points, but tell me how you're going to fix the "corporate hellscape."
  And not a simple, "vote for a 3rd party" response. Provide a viable, long-term strategy for getting out of this mess.
  Then tell me which candidate gives you the highest likelihood of executing your strategy.

I dont really understand the math behind it, can some one explain to me please ?

When you don't vote you are voting for the guy who wins.
You hate trump but you hate the other guy too. You don't vote. That's one more vote not going against the guy who wins.
Say you have 100 people voting. 60 people decide not to vote. Out of the 40 people who vote 25 vote for guy A and 15 vote for guy B. Guy A wins majority even though only 25 people out of 100 voted for him. This means that guy A caters to the 25 people who voted for him and the 60 people who didn't bother to vote get zero representation even though they're the majority.
If the 60 people who didn't vote decided "he's not great but he's better than guy A I will vote for guy B" guy B would win with 75 votes, an actual majority.
Sometimes it's better to vote for the lesser of two evils and push the not great guy to do better than to just resign your fate to the worst guy and let the entire thing just burn.
- That may be true and all but I take it you didn't read the article, because that not what it was about.
  They polled people and those who are regularly vote in past elections tend to be pro Biden, those whom hadn't voted in recent elections tended to be pro Trump.
  Which is ironic because if everyone just got out and voted we might just have a send Trump presidency on our hands. I could be wrong, but I suspect that's the opposite of what you are thinking would happen.
- He's in office right now, the time to push was the last three and a half years and for the next 6 months.
- I feel like if I pushed Biden on anything he'd fall over and break a hip.
  Still voting for him tho

Vote like your (or someone you love's) life depends on it and convince everyone you know to do the same, because it does.

This is true, but why? Because we have plurality voting and the electoral college. STAR voting, approval voting, ranked choice voting. Any of those voting systems would fix that, along with ending the electoral college. 1 Citizen, 1 Vote.

Wouldn't that mean the opposite then? Voters more likely to vote will vote Biden, so if the less likely to vote don't vote that gives Biden an edge?

Wow, this article sure did get the bot trash buzzing lol.

so is the line now that even though the biden administrations policies are wildly unpopular there's no reason to be worried or examine support held for the party because the turnout will make up the difference?

shoo!

You were probably taught in school that democracy is a wondrous ideal thing.
When you become an adult you realize democracy isn't about voting for who you like the most. It's about preventing bad people from getting power. You will never get to vote for some ideal perfect person, and even if you did the general muddiness of politics would prevent that person from being able to make the change they want.
Yes, it's "the line" now. But to be more accurate, it's always been the line.
- It's what US democracy is. In a lot of countries, you get to vote for people who represent you, and the system works out stopping people who are widely disliked by parties forming coalitions after the vote.
  Look at the NL, and how it deals with a Trump-like candidate. He got a plurality of the vote, yet is unable to form a government because none of the other parties cooperate.
- You were probably taught in school that democracy is a wondrous ideal thing.
  This is your idea of something worth saving?
- Yes, it’s “the line” now. But to be more accurate, it’s always been the line.
  You're not wrong, but also, when one of the parties purposely manipulates your vote by using the premise that you described, because they have a bad candidate, then they're no better than the other party that are the "bad guys".
  There are more than just two candidates available in the whole United States of America that could run for president.
- The bad people are already in power. Always have been, at least in my lifetime. Am I supposed to find comfort in voting for bad people because other people are worse? It's as hollow of an argument as "other people have worse lives than you do so you're not allowed to care that your life sucks."
- Uhh…
  If you support Biden or hope that he’s elected this article should deeply disturb you.
  Polls are looking bad recently and instead of having a party line of “we’re gonna change, we recognize that no one wants to suffer under rising inflation while their government supports a genocide.” They’re saying “it’s fine that the polls are bad, our supporters will come out and vote for us no matter what”.

How to piss off everyone at LW, watch:

I am voting for neither. I'm going to match what I care about with a specific candidate, because I don't like Trump or Biden. [/opinion]

Now I'll just sit and wait for the "you idiot" comments and the vitriol geyser to blow. This should be entertaining to watch people think my vote's going to make a difference in the electoral college.

Thanks for surrendering what little choice you have to me.
- Here's that guy that was foretold by the prophecy. The one who doesn't understand the electoral college. Lmao
- Cool, have fun picking between fascism and genocide.

I tried to vote, but the DNC cancelled the Democratic primary in my state.

You have another vote coming up.
In any case, no they didn't. The Democratic National Convention didn't cancel any state primaries. Your state party did. Your local Democrats decided to not have a primary.
- That's not how it happened. Yeah, sure, it's technically up to the state party, but it was at the request of the DNC. There is authority, and then there is soft power.
  Getting to pick between two candidates chosen for me by oligarchs doesn't seem like Democracy to me.
I don't know why you're getting downvoted. This is accurate. They did not want your vote.
- I'm getting downvoted because it's accurate.
  I actually agree with OP that everyone should be voting Biden in the general, but this constant messaging is tone-deaf as Hillary Clinton and is going to be self defeating.

"Everyone should only vote Democrat, and only vote for Biden." Sincerely, Lemmy.

Pretty much, yeah. I realize you’re just engaged ins some tankie sarcasm in some twisted attempt to dissuade voting for Biden, but this time we do need to vote for Biden. Sitting on your hands is a vote for trump and fascism, turning Israel loose on Palestine, and handing Ukraine to Russia. But you tankies should have spent more money on buying a better republican instead of this absolute idiot trump. But that would probably mean someone smarter who wouldnt buy your BS.
- I won't be voting for Biden. I'll be voting 3rd party.
  Turn you ire towards Biden, establishment Democrats and the moderate and liberal voters who dominate every election.
"Otherwise democracy dies. We can tolerate a genocide but not another Trump presidency".
- you think trump winning means genocide is gone?

The more conservative BS you let the DNC get away with, the more you back Trump. Im not gonna vote for conservatives no matter how bad one of em is.

And elect Trump. Cool. Nice principles. Hope they keep you warm in the camps while you watch your family dragged away and killed. Or maybe it will be your neighbors and not your problem bc you're not a target demographic. Yet. Thanks for your service hero. You're affecting change with all your logic and practical action.
- You're electing Trump by not allowing any viable candidates to be considered
Me and my queer family are thrilled to be sacrificed for your ideological purity. Hopefully we'll get to watch from the camps as the Trump-led US helps Israel "finish the job" (Trump, 2024) in Gaza and "stolen" elections are eliminated in America.
- Really weird to try using Bidens failings as a warning for what might happen if he's not reelected.
It takes a truly privileged position to ignore that Repubs will make life worse for women, minorities, LGBT people, oh, and the entire planet because of climate. "Joseph Bidden isn't helping the climate," yeah I agree, the alternative is dismantling the EPA and ramping up emissions even further.
- Hilarious when statistic are saying that of the voters getting apathetic they tend to be black and/or female. But stand on the name of those groups while you ignore how they're actually moving some more.
- I dont think things are currently going well for any of these groups
There has never been a wider gap between the Democrats and the Republicans than there is right now.
I get it you want to prove your hardcore che guevara t-shirt socialist cred. But you want to be credible at all you gotta at least sometimes look at the facts.
- what a chasm of a gap. Except for like, immigration now https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/28/senate-dems-asylum-ukraine-money-00128970

Dems still trying to shame people to vote for Genocide lmao.

Yeah, I'm sure Trump will help Gaza all day long if elected...
You have the choice between someone who doesn't care enough and someone who doesn't care at all. I'll vote for the one who doesn't care enough.
- I believe Trump already made the comment to just glass Gaza.
- And then they love to pretend that there's no other candidates 🤣
- Genocide Joe certainly isn't trying to be a lesser evil anymore.
- Neolibs trying to shame people into voting for and keep whining when called out.
  Consider reading the title of this article.
Don't just think about the position of president. Think about the thousands of appointments they make. It's not voting for 1 position, it's voting for an entire branch of government, potentially 2. Whatever you think about them, remember that it's gonna be either Biden or Trump appointing all those positions, so even if you hate both of them equally, add up all the incredibly powerful positions they appoint and compare the sum of it all. It's a compounding magnitude, so I cannot imagine how anyone can not have a preference when you are considering the full reach and impact that the 1 position has. Supreme court justices, federal judges, agency and department heads, countless secretaries, regulatory board heads, ambassadors and more and more, plus all the influence on positions those appointees have below them.
- Biden ignores all his staffers telling him to stop supporting Genocide.
  The good Biden staffers have quit
- Oh no not the strange tribe of people that don't condone Genocide. From the cult of "Nazis are not cool".

votes third party

That's just voting for Trump with extra steps.
- No it isn't
- Nope. And either way these posts are really good at making protest voters
- Ironically, in that episode, voting third party was best because both candidates were monsters.
  Today one is a monster and the other is the not a monster but still mostly represents monsters, but some people too.
How does this make any sense in the context of the article?
- It doesn't. They didn't read it.

Alright. RFK Jr. it is then...

So, you voted for Trump.
Bro is publicly selling out to the highest bidder while pedaling antisemitism, vaccine denial, and whatever other grift he can. At least choose the right high horse like Cornel West or something jfc
You’re really gonna stick it to…whoever you wanna stick it to, I guess.
- They’re going to stick it to themself.
Ew.

so does this include the US dissidents not allowed to vote legally?

fuck that

politicians like Biden crafted and wrote laws over the years that culminated in mine and others votes being taken away

not our fault people keep voting Demopublicans in

we need to get rid of both these corporate bought parties

[Citation Needed]
- According to the article:
  Source: NORC/University of Pennsylvania Department of Political Science
dissidents not allowed to vote legally
Do you mean criminals? Are you referring to the insurrectionists or simply people who speak out against the government? Because one of those is legal.
Presuming you’re talking about disenfranchised citizens, that’s mostly felons. And IMO it is abhorrent to take away a citizen’s right to vote unless that citizen committed a specific type of crime against the government (being that it is the representative of the people), like sedition, treason, or insurrection. And even then, disenfranchisement should not be permanent.
But notably people are disenfranchised by their state and city jurisdictions. The federal government does not determine whether you can vote in any given election, just the rules that apply to all elections. If you want to blame a federal body, there’s plenty to go around - SCOTUS has upheld disenfranchisement as constitutional and Congress has not really passed meaningful laws defining and regulating the practice. But I can’t think of a law that Biden has been instrumental in that contributes here, other than, of course, his 1994 crime bill. That’s not a small deal but it is far more complicated than “Biden took away voter rights”
You're not being oppressed. You post this every single time.
It's like you've never picked up a US history book.
Back before women were allowed the vote, they would still go out and work for candidates.
You lost your voting rights… how?