I think there may be something to the idea of "voter fatigue," but it has to do with the number of initiatives on the ballot, not so much the frequency of the elections.

I've already filled out my ballot. This one wasn't much work, with only two ballot measures to vote on. But some elections have a whole passel of complex initiatives. They can take a lot of work to try to make an informed choice - and even then I'm not sure I made the best choices.

That's not an excuse for not voting, though. But I do agree that if someone is too apathetic to vote, we can do without their votes.

Couldn't agree more with Jim, and not just because he is my boss. I have long regarded non-voters as slackers, and don't have any patience with their excuses.
In fact, I think they abdicate the right to complain. Don't feel like voting? Then just shut up and go away.

I submitted an Op-Ed to the Bee’s Valley Voices about a month ago on my outlook on the voting process. I was pretty sure that it would be rejected because it was too cynical and negative. It was so critical of career politicians, that it might have depressed the voting process. I know it depressed me. But I wrote it anyways. Sometimes it’s important to vent.

In it, I expressed, "after voting for 38 years, after repeatedly affirming, ‘that I’ll always vote,’ I’m thinking of not voting. Nothing ever changes. What’s the use?" I then, rhetorically, asked the question, "is there anything more pathetic than voting knowing it won’t do any good?"

Well, I’ve pretty much decided to vote. I had to talk myself into doing it. One thing I won’t do is vote for the clowns listed on my ballot. It’s either a write-in or a "no vote cast." On my ballot there are 25 possible votes. I will be voting on 7 of them. What a bunch of losers!

I left some blanks on my ballot, too. I decided I'm not voting for anyone simply because he or she is unopposed. If I think they did a good job, fine. If not, I just leave it blank now.

I used to do the absentee ballot as it was easier, but changed back to experience the whole event and the privilege of the voting process. Voting SHOULD be experienced as it IS how you can change the way things are done or who rules the school! (Unless of course, your Candidate wins the popular vote in a presidential election.. ahem)

I know several that passed on the Absentee ballots, and decided to wait till June 6th because they were undecided regarding some of the races and ballot measures. Even though EVERY vote counts, some of these races will be so close they depend on everyone stepping up to bat and hitting it out of the park.

The media was reporting low numbers trickling in as to the absentee ballots, but I think the turnout will be bigger than expected just due to so many undecided are leaving it till the last minute. I just know I'm going to be there first thing, to "announce my presence with authority" (said like Tim Robbins in Bull Durham) hopefully getting a winning home run for my choices!

Vote June 6, 2006!

Well, I voted early this morning, for all the good it did. For the first time ever, I had to actually force myself to vote. I’ve always been an enthusiastic voter who took voting seriously. Not this time. What is there to be serious about? Nothing will change! Same old politicians who shamelessly run for office and then run for cover.

How appropriate that election day is on 6/6/06. The Apocalypse is upon us!

The problem? Politicians! Smarmy, loathsome, sniveling, slimy, snake oil salesmen, all! Let’s face it, the closest equivalent to a politician in action in the state of California is a drive-by shooting.

I voted first thing, and as I walked into the room I had about 9 workers all jump in to assist me in this great event. I told them I felt like the fatted cow found out by a bored lot of pirahna.

As to the whole purpose of it, you just gotta believe that it DOES make a difference and with a positive attitude, staying in touch with those you elect, and letting them know by the lack of your vote when you're NOT happy with the job they've done??.. THAT is the way it works. Whining and accepting things as they are, just keeps you in the middle of the muck going nowhere. Votes matter as without them these 'sorry politicians' wouldn't get into office without them! I used the write-in option for the first time on 3 sections. It may not matter but at least I know I didn't vote for someone I can't believe in or support.

This election has several offices up for grab and will be tight races at that. Thus I went in believing that my vote counted, and feel that it was a great way to balance out this cursed 06-06-06 day. If you believe that it won't matter, then why vote? One could save the stamp, the gasoline, or the time involved, but then you may not get the cute little sticker that goes WITH it!!
Woo hoo! THERE's the bonus! ha ha.

"I used to do the absentee ballot as it was easier, but changed back to experience the whole event and the privilege of the voting process."

I used to enjoy going to our local polling place, too. But this year they moved our polling place to a busy car dealership on the other side of Shaw, and across Fwy 168 from our house, even though our old polling place is still open, and is literally only a half a block from our house.

So this year, for the first time, we are using absentee ballots. But instead of mailing them, we'll just drop them off at the local polling place, so we still get a bit of the neighborhood voting experience.

Wanted to add after reading that, went over in the Tower District (family home) we had a GREAT polling place as a neighbor used their redesigned garage with Air Conditioning, good light, and nice seats to wait with if busy along with bottled water. Then one year as above, my polling place changed to 4 blocks the other way in what I could say was an upscale porta-potty of a place. Did the same thing as to delivering the absentee ballot. Now I have a huge Church location with some great people working in what will be a warm place later today. Given that our relatives of yesterday had to travel a day's ride just to mark a name, made possible by their ancestors losing lives just for them to do THAT, I didn't mind the redesigned shack so much when I realized I have this kind of power. I was jaded for some time till I got involved years back in a campaign that was hinged on a few votes and my candidate of choice won by just that.

Thank you to those today that assisted in such a system and process as this. Your work IS appreciated!! Nice garage with Evian, or fancy hut in the sun, it's all good!