Does My Vote Matter?

• “No”

  

  “Your Vote "Matters" as a Signal of Your Policy Preferences”

• No Objections Yet

Your Vote "Matters" as a Signal of Your Policy Preferences

Art Carden

Economics Professor, Rhodes College

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Every so often I will talk about the economics of voting in econ 101. With a Presidential election taking place this semester, we will certainly discuss it. We establish that one individual vote is virtually certain not to determine who becomes president (or Senator, or county treasurer, or dog collector). So what is a good reason to vote? Voting can be a very cheap way to signal your preferences or to endorse a particular set of ideas. By voting for Candidate X, you can send a relatively cheap signal that says "I agree with this platform more than the other available choices." Many people will vote for either Barack Obama or John McCain not because they endorse either platform but because they are voting "against" the candidate they like the least. Given, however, that an individual vote is unlikely to matter, people shouldn't lose any sleep over voting for someone who isn't McCain or Obama. Some would argue that the irrelevance of voting means that people shouldn't vote at all. I disagree, but I understand and respect the position.

Next Argument

"No" Art Carden

• It Depends on What You Mean by "Matter"
  2
• Electoral College: Your Vote Matters Less in Presidential Elections
  1
• Your Vote "Matters" as a Signal of Your Policy Preferences
  1
• Not Everybody Thinks This Way, So You Can Take Others' Votes as Given
  1
• Evidence Suggests That Voter Errors are Systematically Biased
  1

"No" Rob Nelson

• Face the Facts. Increasingly Your Vote Doesn't Matter
  1
• Every Vote Gets Counted, But Often it Doesn't Really Count
  1
• There are Reasons for Low Voter Turnout...Apathy is the Least of Them
  4
• Voting out of Obligation is Worse Than Not Voting at All.
  1

"Yes" Rock the Vote

• Letting Your Voice Be Heard
  1
• Independent and First-Time Voters are Proving Pivotal in This Election
  0
• A New Electoral Map Has Brought Youth Voters Into the Spotlight
  0

"Yes" League of Women Voters

• One Vote Can Make the Difference - Will It Be Yours?
  1
• Why Should You Vote in the November 4 Election?
  1
• Why Vote? Your Legislators and Governor are Deciding...
  1

Most Objections

• One Vote Can Make the Difference - Will It Be Yours?
  1
• Why Should You Vote in the November 4 Election?
  1
• Why Vote? Your Legislators and Governor are Deciding...
  1
• Letting Your Voice Be Heard
  1
• Independent and First-Time Voters are Proving Pivotal in This Election
  0

Does My Vote Matter?

• Yes
• No

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