Does My Vote Really Count?

True, it is virtually unheard of (except in a few exceptional cases in history) that one vote makes all the difference. However, that does not mean your vote doesn't count. Think if *everyone* said "I am not going to vote because one vote isn't going to make a difference..." that just defeats the purpose of letting the people elect their leaders. I personally don't think those who don't vote have much of a right to complain about what's going on since they did nothing to exercise their voice when they had every right and every opportunity to do so. What is important is that you know what you believe in and where you stand so that you can make the best choice (I know people who vote only because they like the candidate's name, gender or just one issue they support and that is not a well-educated voter to me - it's important to know what each candidate stands for and what their intended plans are should they be elected). Bottom line is that everyone's vote counts. It doesn't guarantee a favorable outcome for all concerned (which is impossible since we have one half of our population on one side of the political spectrum and the other half on the other) but the purpose is to give each citizen *equal opportunity* to have a voice.

Your vote should count! However, when it comes to the US presidential election, it is the electoral votes that count - your vote only counts when it coincides with the electoral votes! And electoral votes are moved by big businesses and lobbyists. With most other US elections, special interest groups/lobbyists/pressure groups are what often determine the results! Sad, isn't it? Well, at least you are given the notion that you vote means something (although residents of Houston, Texas, living on Richmond Avenue just found out the plain truth about elections and voting in Texas - oh, Metro (city transportation) decided they will put the metrorail on Richmod Avenue, although presented and voted proposition to the public was to extend metrorail on Westpark!

Heather I really do not know if it does I ask myself that Question to but they always say it could be your Vote that makes the Difference so I really don't know Hugs to you

In Singapore, voting is compulsory. If you don't vote, you will be punished by the law. That's how "neat" things are here. We are quite a one-party system here - you might have heard. There is one dominant party and a few scattered oppositions who are honestly not too impressive. So I vote. If I don't like the ruling party, I vote for the opposition. Here, it is a given that they will win (most of the times at most places). But what's more worth noting is by what margin they win. So by this, they know how pleased we really are of them. But of course, if the opposition is tipped to win and I don't want that to happen, I won't "play" with my vote. I will cast it the right way. :P

I agree with everyone else.. We all need to vote one way or the other regardless if "our" guy/gal wins.. If nobody voted think of the mess we would have.. Not a thought I can personally live with.. So I vote and hope the good guy/gal wins for better or worse.. But bottom line I took a stand and voted for what I think and believe to be right come what may.. Tammy

Your one vote might mean meager to you, but have you considered if all people think that way? Your vote counts, whether you believe that or not. And even if your candidate won't win, you still get to exercise the right that our forefather fought hard for. Go ahead and vote!

If very few people bothered to vote then any numpty can get elected, and your stuck with them and their policies until the next election. That's what happened in the last U.K. & Scottish Elections, when less than 50% of those elegible actually voted. By voting you are showing your support for the candidate of your choice, and if that candidate gets enough votes, then gets elected, the bigger the majority then the more legitimate the candidates election is, especially if more than 50% of those eligible vote for 1 person, the big problem is that a lot of people don't bother to vote because they think their vote doesn't matter. You also have to remember that it is only fairly recently that every citizen in the U.K. got the right to vote (and probably its the same in a lot of other countries as well). There are many countries when no-one gets a vote, or can only vote for one person. It's your vote use it wisely.

I often find myself voting for the lesser of two evils. That's not the way I'd like it to be but I still vote and I believe it counts. I was raised believing that if you don't vote, you lose your right to gripe about it when the other guy wins. In some countries you can lose the right to vote if you don't exercise it. Did you know that in America only 40-60% of the electorate usually vote. That's a disgrace....I'll bet a lot of people in a lot of the world wish they had the ability to vote and Americans throw it away.

you know what, even if the candidate you wish to vote for has the slightest possibilty of winning the election, don't be affected because as a good citizen, you know that you have voted for the right candidate. though he/she doesn't win, your vote for him/her is a good contribution to the society.

Hmmm I don't agree with that idea that one vote doesn't matter. The more people that think that like, then all those one votes do indeed add up. And I prefer to vote for someone I dislike a little less than I dislike the other candidates LOL! I get quite miffed when I hear people slating the elected candidates and then say they didn't vote themselves, they wasted their vote, they could have used it to increase the vote for other candidates. I hope you do vote again, I certainly will be voting when it's time here...

You may think that your vote do not count because it's just one vote anyway but if a lot of us thinking the same way then let us gather and count ourselves, then, you will find out that our vote, individual vote really count!

That is what people say when they cannot be bothered putting the time and consideration into elections! If your vote made no difference then why did so many people sacrifice their lives and liberty to ensure that working class people and women got the vote? You are doing the right thing sweetheart ! xx

I think that if you believe in what you are voting for it makes a difference. Whether your candidates win or lose you have still added to the statistics. Politicians still have to take the opposition into consideration. A close vote means he has to work on things that are acceptable to both sides. Often the elected member is held is check by colleagues of the opposite party, it is supposedly the reason for the two party system. I think everyones vote is important because it is one of the things that makes us a democracy.

i think it depends, in some countries like china , we do not have fair vote, whether you vote or not does not make so much difference, can not change the outcome, but in some countries like US, there is democracy, you vote does count!!!!!

The best way for me to comment on that is to look at the election in Florida.If 10,000 people had decided their vote did not count so none of them voted,would it have meant victory or defeat for the President?When a major turn-out at the polling booth is around 35 %,is that any indication of what the people want?100 voter posibilities and let's say 40% vote means you now have 40 voters.If the winner gets 40% of the votes,that means s/he receives 16 votes.So out of 100 eligible votes,the winner received 16.Yes,your vote does count.

I felt like that the last election I voted in for they had gave us wrong info and it really didnt matter which one we picked it ended out the same like they wanted stopped smokeing in bars of all places! Plus more places only place that ya can smoke now is on the casino floor grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Every vote counts. Voting is compulsory in Australia, which I agree with. I understand voting is not compulsory in the US. This favours the wealthier party with the wealthier supporters.

believe youself