Are you planning to vote this year (2014)?

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 12:06:36 -0400

I voted today (early voting in Maryland started on 23 October). I guess I will always count it a duty and a privilege to vote.

I'm assuming everyone in the RP community feels the same way, but I could be wrong, so I'm asking.

Do you plan to vote on 4 November (or early, if that's an option for you)?

Response by SGT James Hastings made Oct 27 at 2014 12:17 PM

SGT James Hastings — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 12:17:01 -0400

I mailed my ballot in the other day. I've voted in each election since I turned 18. My first vote was for Eisenhower for President. I don't always like many of the choices I have to vote for and find myself often choosing what I feel is the "best choice out a bunch of losers."

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 12:32 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 12:32:51 -0400

No clue, I should vote and have the information and time afforded to me but will not. Maybe I suck at being an American.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Oct 27 at 2014 12:37 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 12:37:17 -0400

Actually I've already voted. I elect to receive an absentee ballot each year (Ohio gives everyone that option). It gives me a chance review the choices completely, research, and vote at my leisure.
This brings up a question that I have been wondering about, maybe someone on here has an answer. In a state such as Ohio where you have the option of requesting an absentee ballot, why is 'early voting' necessary? Seems like a lot of additional expense to me.

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Oct 27 at 2014 12:45 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 12:45:22 -0400

Its one of the few options in life where you get to vote for your boss. Why would I not do that?

I've reviewed the choices and have my decisions laid out, so we will see what happens on Tuesday.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 1:02 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 13:02:01 -0400

Here's a "selfie" I took after voting today.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Oct 27 at 2014 1:27 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 13:27:53 -0400

Always a great day, regardless of the outcome.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 2:04 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 14:04:00 -0400

Actually, I mailed my absentee ballot last week. I have not missed voting in a Federal election since my first one in 1982. In fact, I've only missed a few non-Federal elections since then - a school board vote in California and a couple of MD primaries when I didn't have a fixed address in enough time to get an absentee ballot (this year I was en route to Afghanistan at the time I needed to submit an application).

When I lived in CA, we got the stub of our ballot - I called "My Complaining License."

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 2:32 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 14:32:40 -0400

Locally, and at a state level. Absolutely...it fuels my coals when someone says it doesn't matter, I never vote. My reply: I never want to see you complain. About our government and the decisions they make on your behalf. Some people go their entire lives without voting, can you believe that?

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 6:42 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 18:42:14 -0400

I VOTE EARLY AND OFTEN!
(for those of you who jump to conclusions, I mean legally in every election every year!)

Response by SSgt Thomas A Tullis Jr made Oct 27 at 2014 8:39 PM

SSgt Thomas A Tullis Jr — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 20:39:34 -0400

Why vote for LIARS AND THIVES? All politicians appear honest until they have sealed the deal and then their true colors are shown.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 9:14 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 21:14:59 -0400

Already did My family and I served and fought for the right and dang right I am going to.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 27 at 2014 9:15 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 21:15:34 -0400

Yes and safely like the good soldier wearing his reflective belt LMAO!!!

Response by SSG Maurice P. made Oct 27 at 2014 9:21 PM

SSG Maurice P. — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 21:21:56 -0400

both the dems and repubs the last 6 years are destroying our country...the DEMS actively ........the REPUBS by inactive inner confusion.......................
BOTH PARTIES ARE SEVERLY CUM DRUNK

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 9:26 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 21:26:06 -0400

Sent our ballots in the mail today. The state of Washington is a mail in state.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 9:37 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 21:37:34 -0400

(R) too

Response by SFC Melker Johansson made Oct 27 at 2014 9:41 PM

SFC Melker Johansson — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 21:41:00 -0400

I have already mailed in my absentee ballot.

Response by SFC Lamont Womack made Oct 27 at 2014 9:54 PM

SFC Lamont Womack — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 21:54:50 -0400

I'm on leave and I get to vote in person this year. Last time I voted in person I was 18.

Anyway, voting is important but what's more important is to make sure you know the positions of the candidates you are voting for.

I'm a Democrat (by default) but I spent the first half of my day today researching all the candidates up for election in my state. I went to all of their websites and looked at their positions on all the issues. After doing my research, I found a few Democrats, Republicans, a Libertarian and a Green Party candidate I'll be voting for this year. I'm glad I did my research and didn't just blindly vote down my party line.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Oct 27 at 2014 10:48 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 22:48:18 -0400

Absolutely, gotta roll back some of the madness!

Response by SrA Marc Haynes made Oct 27 at 2014 11:04 PM

SrA Marc Haynes — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 23:04:25 -0400

I always allow my employees to take time to vote. One my older nurses never does & she and I have had debates about this more than once. It is sad.

On the other hand I always brought my son with me before he could talk (coherently that is) to the polling place & explained to him the process and the reasons it is important to me.

Response by SPC Richard White made Oct 28 at 2014 6:08 AM

SPC Richard White — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 06:08:50 -0400

Im a permanent mail voter.My vote is already turned in

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 7:22 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 07:22:25 -0400

I think of those soldiers at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Vietnam, Flanders Fields, Anzio, Normandy....and feel that I am also voting for them.

Response by LTC Jason Strickland made Oct 28 at 2014 7:26 AM

LTC Jason Strickland — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 07:26:47 -0400

This year - and every single year that I'm able!

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 7:26 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 07:26:58 -0400

Nope. Pretty much a waste of time to try to choose between republicans and democrats, and there's no way a third party will even get into the double-digits of the vote percentage.

Response by Cpl Anthony Pearson made Oct 28 at 2014 8:31 AM

Cpl Anthony Pearson — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 08:31:02 -0400

No matter how frustrated I am, I vote.

I know the system isn't perfect - far from it.

Response by SSG Mark Ives made Oct 28 at 2014 9:42 AM

SSG Mark Ives — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 09:42:45 -0400

I just moved to Texas and missed deadline to register to vote, this year. It'll be the first time in about 37 years I haven't voted.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 1:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 13:35:57 -0400

I do plan on voting next Tuesday. My personal opinion is I don't care who people vote for but they should exercise that right otherwise they have no reason to complain about the leadership in our democratic republic. Besides how can we we go abroad and attempt to set up some sort of election system and encourage people to be active participants in that system, when we ourselves are not active participants in our own system.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Nov 4 at 2014 2:01 PM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:01:54 -0500

This poll may be biased. I find that rallypoint members are more engaged in events happening around the globe and in the military, so they realize the importance of voting. I would be interested in seeing a study done on an unit level to get a more accurate statistic.

Yes, I am voting. The only reason I do not vote, is when election officials for some made up reason or another cannot get my ballot to me (this happens quite frequently). I cannot tell you how many times I have not recieved a ballot due to 'post office error'. My mother is a senior level supervisor with the Post Office and trust me I know how hard they work to send ballots out. I really loved the time when I was in Iraq and they claimed that my ballot was returned undeliverable. I don't see how this is possible because my boyfriend worked in the base mailroom, and every other package got to me with no issues. The only mail I have problems recieving are my election ballots. Thankfully I am now an Alaskan resident and they sent me a last minute electronic ballot because I did not recieved mine in the mail. I'm starting to wonder if something like this is happening to military ballots: http://www.business2community.com/government-politics/wisconsin-gop-election-ads-thrown-away-by-usps-worker-01056497

Wisconsin GOP Election Ads Thrown Away By USPS Worker

A mail carrier in Wisconsin is likely about to lose their job. The carrier has allegedly been throwing away political ads from a Republican candidate. The campaign adswere sent out via USPS to resi…

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2014 9:11 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Dec 2014 21:11:53 -0500

Maybe.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Spencer made Dec 30 at 2014 2:09 PM

SSG Jeffrey Spencer — Tue, 30 Dec 2014 14:09:22 -0500

I must respond this way.

I do not 'plan' to vote. I go as a duty to my country. It is the same as going to work or any other regular redponsibilty. If you don't vote, you have nothing to complain about if you don't like the results.

Response by SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT made Dec 8 at 2015 10:38 PM

SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT — Tue, 08 Dec 2015 22:38:25 -0500

Yes