Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by criddell 3248 days ago
I've never not voted due to intimidation or coercion.

Long lines or inability to get to the polls on time has contributed to my not voting. Plus it's great to be able to sit with a ballot over the course of a night or two and really think about what you are going to choose. Being at the polls with people waiting behind you applies some pressure to pick the fastest option - ie choose all Democrats or all Republicans (the machine I was on had a shortcut button for that).

1 comments

This is an excellent point. Also sometimes during an election, there are referendums or other races for positions that are overshadowed by the main race, e.g. Trump v Clinton, making it hard to make an informed decision on the spot like is possible when at home with access to a computer to research.
When I voted in Oregon, they mailed a newsprint book with the ballot that had a lot of text about each item with supporting and opposing groups contributing. You're right though that these days, a website would be a better way to do it.

Last election I voted in Texas as people voted quickly. It seems like they either are only voting for one or two races or they are just pressing the button that selects all Republican (I live in a red area) candidates.

I've never heard of a district that didn't make ballots publicly available some time before the election. If you don't know what is on the ballot before going to vote, it is your own fault.