Here in the People's Democratic Republic of Kalifornia, an election or two ago, someone was working to get a "None of the Above" added to our ballots.  Of course, it failed - but was a good idea, and right for the wrong reason (IMHO.)

As planned, NotA would have simply added the option to a ballot.  A mechanism for this already exists - it's called "not marking the ballot."  It is possible to vote NotA for the whole election simply by getting a ballot, and turning it in compleatly unmarked.  This constitutes little more than a protest, but is possible.

Now, for a vote of NotA to be useful, it MUST be tabulated.  Look at is this way -

Say there's a position to be filled on the ballot.  We have four candidates, and "None of the Above."  NotA takes 57% of the vote.  This should immediately force a review of the position and its necessity, and the next vote on it can be to continue or to strike it.  In the event of a mandatory position (Senate, House, or whatever) a runoff election should be forced with NEW candidates.  What do you all think?

"Spirit of '76 - Re-elect nobody!"

FFZ

Although it could possibly happen, the chances of NOTA forcing a run-off or re-do in real life is [b]ZERO[/b].

That leaves us with two residual effects.

1) It has no affect on the outcome. It wastes your vote so you might as well stay home with the other non voters who are probably telling their spouses that they don't vote as a protest to the corrupt system.

2) Your wasted vote allows the idiot to win and the guy who would have fought for your rights goes back home.

If you want to make a difference in elections, get involved with the campaigns before the primaries. Support and aid people who can do the job as you would like to see it done. Get them on the ballot. Help them get elected.

Don't just sit at home and bitch that neither candidate is worth voting for. Grass roots gets people in office.

If you don't exercise your RIGHT TO VOTE,

You aren't allowed to exercise your RIGHT TO COMPLAIN.

It's way to easy to vote. Just do it...

Not going to the polls is not a protest, it is being a lazy jackass.

Going to the polls and drawing a ballot and NOT MARKING IT before you turn it in is a protest.  It may have the same net effect, but a protest reqires at least minimal effort!

If you must insist upon protesting the system, you must at least put forth a modicum of effort.  Cast your empty ballot, get busy writing letters to all and sundry (make sure the letters editor at your local paper knows your name!  Having him groan when he finds out you are on the phone is even better...) but DO something, dammit!

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" - Chinese proverb.

FFZ

Do something. On that we agree.

"Marking" an empty ballot and writing the editor of the evening gazzette [I]after the election[/I] is not doing anything constructive.

If you want people to represent you, you have to find them and get them elected. Wasting your vote in protest is lame and fruitless.

"There may not be anybody to vote [b]FOR[/b], but there is always someone to vote [b]AGAINST[/b]."

Robert Anson Heinlein


Scott

[beer]

Me:
"Hillary or Lazio?  Hmmm, who's Lazio?  Oh yeah, that prick that wouldn't nominate your brother for West Point.  Hillary?  I hate that fucking bitch, I guess I'll vote against her!"

(Happy/unhappy ending, he got into WP anyway and Hillary beat the nobody.)

I see someone trotted out a Heinlein quote on me - good thing, as I find I often agree with him...

The problem is, we need a mechanism for change in our system of government.  It is, of course, built in - but it is not going to happen when we leave it up to those we elect.  These elected "representatives" are more interested in maintaining their own petty  little empires than they are in actually doing their job - the one we "hired" them for!

Question - what really is the lesser of two evils anymore?  Democrats are little more than rank socialists anymore, Republicans are leaning to the left, and "third parties" really aren't viable as long as there is a solid 40% vote to each party as a given.  The swing vote is not enough to carry a viable third party - even if there were such.

BTW - Very rarely do I leave a blank on a ballot.  I offer it as an alternative to simply not going - and as a means to stay involved.  Writing letters should not be an "after the fact" happening - like I said, hearing the letters editor groan when he gets on the phone can be a good thing.  Keep your presence known.

FFZ