Canceling Each Other's Vote

[mlynn]

I was talking to DH about Oprah's show on encouraging people to vote last night (I thought it was excellent, BTW) and we got on the topic of "canceling" each other's vote. Both of us think it’s a silly argument--why should we have to agree just because we're married. I'm sure we've voted for different candidates over the years but I don't see it as canceling his vote, I see it as using my voice, and DH using his.

Just wanted to know what other people on this board thought, since I find I learn a lot from reading what all you wise people have to say.

[Jessica]

I didn't see the show but that strikes me as a silly argument. Everyone has the right to vote. DH and I have disagreed on candidates in the past, but we both vote anyway. Often, there is more than one race on the ballot and we will agree on some candidates and not on others.

MN often has more than two parties on the ballot. In the last gubernatorial election, DH and I each voted for a different candidate and neither one got the governor's seat!

[jellyben]

DH and I will cancel each other out, but we both still plan on voting. It just seems like the right thing to do!!

[lhall]

Originally posted by jellyben
DH and I will cancel each other out, but we both still plan on voting. It just seems like the right thing to do!!

Same here. DH has tried to convince me to vote for his candidate for President, but it won't happen. Although, I'm sure there are some candidated we agree on.

Leigh

[stefania4]

I'm a diehard liberal, married to a man who's a Republican for a living. We both vote and if we "cancel each other out", so be it - we've both been heard and fulfilled our civic responsibility.

[muriel3002]

I don't cancel out with DH, but I'm sure there are others that I might cancel out with.

The idea is also to be counted - the %age of the population that votes is fairly low, isn't it? So are we getting a true count on the vote of what the American people want? Or is it only for those who realize their civic duty? And does that accurately reflect what a democracy is supposed to be?

[donleyk]

Yes, the right to be counted and the right to b*tch about the government because I DO vote. How can you complain if you don't vote? DH and I have cancelled each other out before but mostly see eye to eye.

[Gecko]

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who do not vote. Of course in Australia we don't have the choice not to vote - don't vote then you will recevie a nice little fine in the mail :eek:- but that's another story.
I guess I am another who believes that you can't complain about the government is you didn't exercise your right to effectively change things.
Of course I can't vote at the moment because I do not have citizenship as yet, but you can bet that I will when I do get it.

[mlynn]

Just wanted to share this quote from the Oprah show I mentioned earlier. I have a new respect for Drew Barrymore.

Quote of the Day

"Sometimes we feel like our one vote won't make a difference. But in the voting booth, we are all equal. And we all have the same amount of power."
— Drew Barrymore on Voting

[lorilei]

DH and I are pretty politically aligned, so we discuss the election and try to vote in sync. We do feel as if being together on the issues is a statement.

But I don't agree with the "cancelling" analogy. We're still individuals when we vote.

[RunnerKim]

In Oregon we vote by mail. It's really nice that DH and I can sit down and go through the ballot together. We don't always vote the same but I enjoy being able to take my time figuring out who/how to vote for each position or issue as I vote. We've voted opposite before and will again (but not for this presenditial election). It would only be cancelling if vote totals dind't also send a message about how strongly people feel.

Kim

[jmarie]

I remember, as a child, hearing my mom and dad teasing each other about cancelling out each other's vote. I am not sure if she really cancelled his vote. He was a Democrat. She now votes Republican, so I guess they did. My husband and I have never cancelled out each other's vote, thus far.

I wouldn't be mad at him if we did and he wouldn't get angry with me because we sure disagree about other things!