• Fidel_Cashflow@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

    that’s not how voting works. if I don’t vote for trump is that automatically another vote for harris? they don’t take the non-votes and just give them to the candidate you like least. I’ve always found this stance very silly. Even sillier since American elections aren’t decided by the popular vote anyways.

    additionally, withholding your vote is the only way to maintain leverage with politicians, since they do not listen to the policy demands of their constituents. policies that have broad support among the populace (medicare for all, an Israeli arms embargo/ceasefire) are not even a consideration for them. how do you expect them to change if you pledge your support to them anyways? at some point they have to realize that ignoring the demands of their voter base is going to cost them elections, which it should.

    • banshee@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      History disagrees with your opinion. A large part of the population does not vote in any election, and far right citizens are committed to making their voice heard in every one. When left-wing voters withhold their votes, the Overton window naturally shifts right.

      Electors are generally bound to the local popular vote. Candidates can absolutely win the election without winning the popular vote overall though.