Did You VoteOrNot.org?

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Posted by michael on Tuesday September 7, 2004 @07:37AM from the if-you-don't-vote-you-can't-complain dept.

WhiskerBiscuit writes "The boys at Am I Hot or Not have started a sweepstakes to encourage people to register to vote. According to this blogger's analysis, the contest should encourage disempowered people to register (subject to the constraint that poor people don't have computers). The organizers have cleverly split the prize between a lucky winner and whoever happens to have referred them, providing a selection advantage for viral dispersal of the meme."

11 of 540 comments (clear)

Virals and sweeps... by BoldAC · 2004-09-07 07:38 · Score: 5, Interesting

We ran a sweepstakes at tech-recipes.com not too long ago. The prizes were gift certificates to Amazon, t-shirts, etc. I was amazed how much traffic it brought in.

These sweepstakes sites must just have tons and tons of traffic because they turfed a lot our way. If you promoting a new site, I suggest it highly.

The problem with viral campaigns like VoteOrNot is that it is too easy to have multiple on-line personalities. In these days, nobody has one email account... it's easy for one person to be a ton of people online. That's the problem the company will have.

The problem the rest of us will have is these techniques will likely flood every forum in the world with referrals... much like the free iPod, LCD, hummer, hooker, etc. campaigns have.
Wonder Why? by romper · 2004-09-07 07:38 · Score: 5, Informative

In case you're wondering why they're doing this.

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Right is wrong when left is right.
To bad for the rest of us. by agent+dero · 2004-09-07 07:39 · Score: 5, Insightful

Shortly after turning 18 I registered to vote

By voting, I can bitch and moan about politics all I want, because I'm actively trying to change it with my little bit of power

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Error 407 - No creative sig found
Don't vote, don't bitch by onyxruby · 2004-09-07 07:43 · Score: 5, Insightful

Think of this vote as your right to bitch for the next four years. If you don't vote you have no right to complain, because you could have done something about it, and didn't.
Now if you do vote, than by all means, bitch and complain. Ever wonder why younger people always get shafted by congress and the elderly wield lots of power? One reason, and one reason only for this, young people don't vote and elderly people do.
500 some votes put W in power, (never mind contested stuff), so dont ever think your vote doesn't count.
I think it would be much more constructive... by Jhon · 2004-09-07 07:43 · Score: 5, Insightful

to spend time and effort trying to increase awareness of local/state/federal issues -- an INFORMED voter is much more important than getting someone who is too apathetic to even register to vote to get up off his/her arse and actually VOTE. An uninformed vote is as bad (arguably worse) than just flipping a coin.

"Disempowered" indeed. It takes virtually no time to register and virtually no time to apply for and fill out an absentee ballot. Voting is easy and cost free (other than the effort it takes to take pen to paper).
Re:Virals and sweeps.../ URL PLEASE by mr_z_beeblebrox · 2004-09-07 07:46 · Score: 5, Funny

much like the free ...hooker

I need this URL...for a friend.
Mandatory Voting by trifakir · 2004-09-07 07:48 · Score: 5, Interesting

In Greece the voting is mandatory. The one who doesn't fulfill her social obligation to be responsible is fined. Greece is the oldest democracy.
Re:Interesting discussion on the radio... by rainman_bc · 2004-09-07 07:54 · Score: 5, Insightful

Then don't waste your time voting. Chose the lesser of evils because they represent your voice.

The argument "they are all crap" is horseshit. They all stand for different things, and you pick the one closest. Remember, you aren't supporting them; you're also asking them to support you when they are in office.

You should vote in respect for the people throughout the world who die fighting for their right to vote. It's disrepesctful of those who've died for the right to vote to spoil your ballot.

Democracy isn't perfect, but it sure as hell is better than any other alternative out there.

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Re:Sad commentary by tuxette · 2004-09-07 08:00 · Score: 5, Interesting

In Norway, you get your voter card (the one that says where to go and vote and when) automatically sent to your registered address (more or less your tax residency). This is happens for all elections.
Foreigners in Norway are allowed to vote in local elections after 3 years of legal residency. After my third year here, I got my voter card in the mail. Unprovoked. No registration or anything. Very nice.
All of the Norwegians I know find the idea of having to register to vote very offensive and provokative. Some say that the reason why automatic "registration" doesn't exist in the US, is that if it were the case, people might actually vote!

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People say I'm crazy, I got diamonds on the soles of my shoes...
Re:Vote or shut up! by jadavis · 2004-09-07 08:30 · Score: 5, Insightful

Why encourage other people to vote? I'd rather be 1 out of 100 registered voters than 1 out of 100 million registered voters.

What we're really doing when we scrape for more votes is we tell the people who have only seen the rhetoric and catch phrases to make a decision.

People who don't understand economics are just not going to make good decisions at the polls. People who do not understand the structure of our government are not going to make good decisions at the polls (Do states have any individual power anymore? Not really, everything is Federal now because not enough voters know the difference. So much for the United States of America.).

People who don't understand these concepts have a right to vote. But why are we encouraging them?

My theory is that when these people do vote, they vote primarily for one party, and that is the party that encourages them to vote. I don't see much altruism in the "get out the vote" crowd at all.

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Social scientists are inspired by theories; scientists are humbled by facts.
How is registering to vote a bad idea? by mcmonkey · 2004-09-07 09:06 · Score: 5, Insightful

I play a little game whenever stuff like this comes up. I call it 'spot the fascist.'

It's easy. Whatever else someone else says, whatever party they say they're with, whatever point of view they say they are supporting, you know you've found one when they come out against folks getting registered and voting.

In the USA, most places, you have to register before you can vote. If you don't register, you can't vote. Folks (when meeting the legal requirements of age, residency, etc.) should vote; therefor they should register to vote.

It doesn't matter why they register. It doesn't matter why they vote. It matters that they do register and vote.

I'm reminded of a discussion on NPR about prisoner voting. The 'against' side brought up some of the same arguments we hear is the student voting discussions. Dorms/prisons are temporary residence; students/prisoners don't have a stake in the community; have the option of absentee ballet, the usual.

I found myself starting seeing the logic on the side against, when the guy come out with (paraphrasing) 'large prison populations dominate small communities, and we don't like who prisoners might vote for.'

Did you spot the fascist?

In conclusion, I support rules governing the voting process and who gets to vote. I'm not coming out for anarchy. However, someone's motivation for registering or voting, or who they might vote (or not vote) for should have no bearing on their legal status as a voter and should not be used by others as encouragement to not vote.

Vote early, vote often.

BTW, where is it illegal for poll workers to ask for ID?