How important do you consider your vote?

Do you feel like the fate of the free world rests in your hands? Do you feel like voting is a waste of time? ...or are you somewhere in the middle?

My speculation is that the vast majority of people greatly overestimate the significance of their vote,...

and that's the reason for the de facto two party system in the US.

...so?

Toadaly, Perception is reality. Of course no one vote is impactful on any national election. I don't think anyone really thinks that their one vote will sway the election. Particularly in very red or blue states. In NY, any republican voting for McCoot is not going to matter because the state is going to Obama. But the act of voting is still extremely important to our democracy (or more accurately, our representative republic). I am really not sure why you are always trying to discount the value of voting. If we all took that attitude voter turnout would be absolutely dismal. It already is low compared to many other countries. No one vote is more important, or less than any other vote. But not voting, (or in my opinion voting for a non-viable candidate), is not just less important, it is a complete waste.

Voting is not important to me cause a president only can serve a 8 year max. Now in other places it's very important cause one man or women serve until they voted out of office. But Obama Is cool.

Well, I live in Washington State, which is a very democratic state, and as far as voting for the president is concerned, I think we will always vote for whoever the dem. canditate is. I tend to vote Republican for president, so I don't think mine counts that much.

I disagree with your opinion that most people overestimate their significance. If people thought there vote would count more we would have a higher count of people voting.

well if every american thought like you what would happen

but I think it like those dollar donations it doesnt help but you get 2 be able to part of a cause

*** "well if every american thought like you what would happen"

...things would be better, of course.

I think voting is completly pointless the only votes that matter are the electoral votes and no civilian has any real power over that so ya

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In national elections I don't think it is important.

In state elections I haven't made up my mind.

In local elections I think it IS important.

*** I am really not sure why you are always trying to discount the value of voting.

...because it represents reality, and I'm all about assessing reality as it is, rather than as I wish it were. I don't care what the consequences of that are.

at least for national elections, I feel like my vote doesnt count, its not based on popular vote, so whats the point?

One person can do little against an employer when bargaining for salary and benefits, but a group of empoyees (a union) will have a tremendous impact on negotiations. Single votes don't matter, just a a single employee doesn't. But collectively they do. That is the reality of the electoral process. One person not voting is not impactful, but large groups of them are.

And large groups are made up of sigle individuals.

The way our electoral college works most individual votes do not count.

I live in a red state. It will go Republican, the only question is how large a margin McCain will win by. Since each state is its own winner-take-all mini-election my vote has no chance of making a difference.

Candidates know this. McCain won't waste much time campaigning here because he knows he has it in the bag. Obama won't waste much time campaiging here because it is a lost cause. Both candidates will spend their time in swing states. If you don't live in a purple state you will be ingored by both candidates.

The easiest fix would be for all states to go to proportional voting where instead of winner-take-all each state's votes would be cast according to the proportion popular votes. If one candidate got 75% of of the popular vote 75% of the electoral votes would be cast for them.

The problem with this is that any state that changes to porportional voting will give an advantage to the minority party. For example, California is a blue state and Texas Red. If California went to proportional voting but Texas didn't all of Texas's votes would go for the Republican candidate while only most of California's would go for the Democrat. The minority party would pick up some "free" votes. If all the states decided to go to proportional voting at the same time this problem would be avoided.

Only 40% actually vote.
And I would be considered part of that 60% that does not. im only 19 and I am already deciding not to vote regardless of hearing how much my vote counts I stand firm to my decision you should check out my question I asked the same thing you did.
thanx.