Full Version: Vote swapping
Since I have listed myself without a political party affiliation, I couldn't post this in the 3rd party debate. So, at the risk of offending Republicans (sorry!)...
In 2000, a couple of guys in California came up with an idea for Nader voters to “swap” their votes in important swing states with Gore voters. The CA D.A. at the time (Bill Jones) shut them down in a hurry with threats of federal charges and prison.
Since this year's election promises to be as close and contentious as the last one, the vote swapping idea has returned.
I’m torn on the idea. I like the idea of helping a swing state swing towards Kerry, but it feels odd to vote for someone I normally wouldn’t.
Is vote-swapping a good or bad idea? Why?
If you live in a swing state and intended to vote for a third party candidate, or are a Kerry voter in a solidly "blue" state, would you “swap” your vote to increase Kerry’s chances of winning?
In 2000, a couple of guys in California came up with an idea for Nader voters to “swap” their votes in important swing states with Gore voters. The CA D.A. at the time (Bill Jones) shut them down in a hurry with threats of federal charges and prison.
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On its face, the Jones cease-and-desist letter was pure bluster. It referred to sections 18521 and 18522 of the California Elections Code, which criminalize vote-buying and vote-selling. But, of course, neither vote-buying nor vote-selling takes place in vote-pairing. No money changes hands. Nothing of material value is exchanged. A vote cannot be a thing of "material" or "pecuniary" value under the vote-buying statutes: The statutes themselves say that clearly. Indeed, the whole interaction in a vote-pair consists of pure political expression in the form of mutual persuasion and political coalition. And, in the final analysis, of course, there is nothing contractually binding about any of it since all participants are on the honor system and vote according to their own political values and considerations. Slate
Since this year's election promises to be as close and contentious as the last one, the vote swapping idea has returned.
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A group of liberal activists has created a Web site that helps John F. Kerry's and Ralph Nader's supporters trade votes in this year's election -- in the hopes of defeating President Bush.
The site, VotePair (www.votepair.org), introduces Nader supporters who live in swing states to Kerry backers from non-battleground states. The participants agree to vote for each other's candidates, in an elaborate attempt to maximize the Democratic nominee's chances of winning the November election without, in the process, taking votes away from Nader. WA Post
The site, VotePair (www.votepair.org), introduces Nader supporters who live in swing states to Kerry backers from non-battleground states. The participants agree to vote for each other's candidates, in an elaborate attempt to maximize the Democratic nominee's chances of winning the November election without, in the process, taking votes away from Nader. WA Post
I’m torn on the idea. I like the idea of helping a swing state swing towards Kerry, but it feels odd to vote for someone I normally wouldn’t.
Is vote-swapping a good or bad idea? Why?
If you live in a swing state and intended to vote for a third party candidate, or are a Kerry voter in a solidly "blue" state, would you “swap” your vote to increase Kerry’s chances of winning?
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Is vote-swapping a good or bad idea? Why?
I'll only address this question as I am in a swing state and already voted for Kerry.
I don't think this is a good idea, given that the Internet has such a broad reach. The problem I see potentially happening is that Nader wins the former shoe-in, while Kerry gets a state with fewer EC votes.
If everything were done on popular vote, then both this idea and the problem go away. Swapping votes would be a zero-sum game due to each popular vote carrying the same weight.
Fundamentally, I don't trust the other voter to go my way anyway. This is probably another problem, where one of the swappers doesn't follow through, thinking that two votes just went to the initially preferred candidate.
Is vote-swapping a good or bad idea? Why?
This is a horrible idea. I applaud Ralph Nader's work over the decades, but his current race is at the wrong time. Nader is not on the ballot in Texas, so I couldn't barter my vote if I wanted. Although Texas isn't in play, I want to keep Bush's margin as low as possible in hopes of adding to Kerry's popular vote totals and prevent Bush from sweeping more Republicans into office on his coattails.
If you live in a swing state and intended to vote for a third party candidate, or are a Kerry voter in a solidly "blue" state, would you “swap” your vote to increase Kerry’s chances of winning?
Absolutely not, but its a moot point since Nader isn't on the ballot in Texas. My gut level feeling is that where vote swapping does occur, it will have miniscule impact on close state races.
BTW: I cast my vote for Kerry the first day of early voting. I would have a struggle with my own conscience if I voted for any other candidate on the premise of vote swapping to help Kerry.
This is a horrible idea. I applaud Ralph Nader's work over the decades, but his current race is at the wrong time. Nader is not on the ballot in Texas, so I couldn't barter my vote if I wanted. Although Texas isn't in play, I want to keep Bush's margin as low as possible in hopes of adding to Kerry's popular vote totals and prevent Bush from sweeping more Republicans into office on his coattails.
If you live in a swing state and intended to vote for a third party candidate, or are a Kerry voter in a solidly "blue" state, would you “swap” your vote to increase Kerry’s chances of winning?
Absolutely not, but its a moot point since Nader isn't on the ballot in Texas. My gut level feeling is that where vote swapping does occur, it will have miniscule impact on close state races.
BTW: I cast my vote for Kerry the first day of early voting. I would have a struggle with my own conscience if I voted for any other candidate on the premise of vote swapping to help Kerry.
Is vote-swapping a good or bad idea? Why?
I think that it is a GREAT idea. Not for the fact that it benefits Kerry, but for the fact that it exploits the flawed electorial system that is in place today. We should find additional loop holes until the EC is restructured to assure that all votes are not only counted, but that they count.
If you live in a swing state and intended to vote for a third party candidate, or are a Kerry voter in a solidly "blue" state, would you “swap” your vote to increase Kerry’s chances of winning?
Ahh, now you are making it personal. Would I do it? I don't think so. I would swap it with my mother, but I do not know that I would trust anyone else with my vote.
Keep exploiting the system until the system gets fixed.
Democracy at its finest.
I think that it is a GREAT idea. Not for the fact that it benefits Kerry, but for the fact that it exploits the flawed electorial system that is in place today. We should find additional loop holes until the EC is restructured to assure that all votes are not only counted, but that they count.
If you live in a swing state and intended to vote for a third party candidate, or are a Kerry voter in a solidly "blue" state, would you “swap” your vote to increase Kerry’s chances of winning?
Ahh, now you are making it personal. Would I do it? I don't think so. I would swap it with my mother, but I do not know that I would trust anyone else with my vote.
Keep exploiting the system until the system gets fixed.
Democracy at its finest.
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