LogFAQs > #980106215

Umbreon posted...

Cool. So vote anyway. What could you possibly lose?

I said, among others. Also, it's a waste of time.

SilvosForever posted...

It doesn't affect THIS election but it affects FUTURE elections and I'll explain why. The political parties dedicate campaign financing to different states based on the outlook or probability it will make a difference. Over time, if a state shifts colors a bit, the party will dedicate more funds there to continue that push. So slowly over time even a red state (for example, Georgia from years ago) can eventually become less red. Then purple, then even blue. But that only matters if the parties see that votes in the state are changing. So while you may not flip one individual election, it will help "shift" the perception of the state and allow future people in the state more confidence to vote the different way. Your vote IS being counted and people ARE paying attention to the numbers. But if they see the same ratios all the time, then yeah they won't change strategy. If they see numbers shift 2%, 5%, 8% election over election, you bet your ass they will run more door to door campaigns and commercials in a shifting state.

Do not try to use game theory to rationalize not voting. Just vote for the candidate you think would be better and leave it at that. That is how democracy is designed to function - with an assumption that many, many people participate. When people stop participating, that's when you get ruling fringe groups and other crazy shit that harms the country.

My reasons aren't solely the numbers, but that is a big part of it. Future elections will be handled by demographic shifts, much more than me, personally, going to vote against Trump.