What do you think is the best way to get people to go and vote? I'm not talking about any particular candidate or any particular age group, gender or background. I'm just talking about generally getting people to vote. What do you think is the best way to go about it?

I heard a unique idea ( most likely illegal) but it was that each state make a lottery out of it, with perhaps a large payoff to be paid to one person who votes, as you register you name goes in the pot to vote.

Since on the average more people play the lottery each week than vote, esp at mid term elections. But of course for those religious that are against any "gambling" some say that would stop them from voting?

But in general most people don't believe their one vote can make that much of a difference, and I think the political parties are to blame, with so much complaining about each other party.

And as I ramble, also a lot of people will get out and vote for issues but often not for just the canidate. At best lately only about 1/2 of the people vote.

So think of that, if 30 percent of the people still like Bush, but if those 30 percent all went to vote, most likely he would still get elected today since only abut 50 percent go vote. It is sacary ( not Bush, just that a minority of people could control the vote since so few people vote.

Lol well Bush scares me, especially the fact that his approval is 35% percent, when if you ask me, it should be 0 or maybe 10%.

I know why people don't vote, I'm asking how we can get them to. I actually am on the Democratic side of one of the tighest races (though one of the least covered in the news) in the country, so I'm doing "Get Out The Vote" this weekend by going door-to-door and calling people, but what I'm talking about is figuring out how to get those people that say "I don't vote" to change their minds.

I know of at least one person who says he doesn't vote as a protest to the system. I told him that if he wants the system to change, he should vote, because all he's doing by not voting is perpetuating the status quo. Basically I want to be able to be nice about it, because I know a lot of people are not as into politics as I am, but I want to get the message out there.

BTW, the person I said that to does not live anywhere near me so I wasn't promoting any candidate, just the voting itself.

Depends on how many is your goal, if millions, or hundreds of thousands, buy a TV ad or newspaper ad, if just a few like your neighbors, knock on their door, call them or attend local events and give a speech on the advantages of exercising your right to vote.

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Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

I heard a very unique idea ( most likely illegal) but it was that each state make a lottery out of it, with perhaps a large payoff to be paid to one person who votes, as you register you name goes in the pot to vote.

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That could work Fr Chuck.

However, anyone can register to vote, that doesn’t they actually go and VOTE.

So, their name should be put in the lottery AFTER they vote.

Or, another idea, as they do in Australia, is have mandatory voting.

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Originally Posted by CaptainForest

Or, another idea, as they do in Australia, is have mandatory voting.

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I LOVE that idea!! LOL!! Considering the dismal American voter turnout, that would actually be a good idea, but no one would go for it because they want the right not to vote as much as they want the right to vote.

Yes we have compulsory voting. Once again it doesn't mean everyone votes. Some will go and simply have their name marked off the register and leave, but you will find that the large majority actually vote. They are at the voting booths to have their name marked off so they generally vote.

If you don't vote, you are fined. I'm not sure what the % are but I'm pretty sure it is very very high!

I think it is a good idea and have been surprised that we are one of the very few nations who has it.

Some say it is undemocratic to have compulsory voting. It may be but I still think it is a great idea!

To me the best way to do it would be to reintroduce civics into the grade school curriculum . Too many children are raised without the basic understanding of how the government and society work. They are not taught the value of voting and how their vote affects the decisions that our leaders make .

Lets do away with the legislative system. Scrap senators, scrap congresspeople, scrap local legislators. Lets create a TRUE democracy. We now have the technology to truly implement the one person one vote. Concept.

Issue all citizens a secure ID card. Provide all homes with at least a voting terminal. Provide public terminals for the indigent. (this would be paid for by the enormous savings from doing away with legislator's salaries and expense budgets). Then bring all laws up for a vote from eligible voters.

The executive branch would be responsible for drafting, explaining and implementing all legislation. We don't like a law, we vote against it.

The system of government the US currently has was developed over 200 years ago when technology was vastly different. It was, at the time, the best formatted govt ever developed. It is still the best that currently exists. But we now have the technology to do better. I think its time we considered using that technology.

Each person in this country who has a birth certificate should be able to vote, they can just mail the ballot, you vote and mail it or drop it off the polling place. No standing in line----just vote.

Here in sunny AZ we have a proposition on the ballot to establish a $1 Million lottery for people who vote, and another to send mail in ballots to all registered voters, not just to those who request them. I voted by mail a week ago, to avoid the long lines today. AZ has a 4 page ballot with 19 propositions (the longest in the nation). I voted against the lottery idea, because I would rather not have some uninformed idiot cast a vote merely to get a lottery ticket. I voted for the mail in ballots, because the demands of jobs, children, and traffic, makes it nearly impossible for many people to vote on the chosen Tueday. I happen to be a naturalized citizen of the US and take my civic responsibilities seriously. Too many people in this country are apathetic and ill-informed, casting their vote for the candidate with the best hair, if they even bother to vote. Then they b***h and complain about the scoundrels who were elected. Enough of my rant; I feel better now.

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Originally Posted by blondiechika05

What do you think is the best way to get people to go and vote? I'm not talking about any particular candidate or any particular age group, gender or background. I'm just talking about generally getting people to vote. What do you think is the best way to go about it?

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Hahah best idea?

Freebies.
People will do anything to get something free.
Just alter what it is depending on the person you want to vote.

Also... competition of any kind always attracts attention
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