There are many reasons you can select as a reason for voting for a presidential (or other) candidate, and many of them are legitimate based upon who you are. In fact, you can argue that all of them are legitimate since people are afforded the right to vote based upon whatever reasons they want.

My question is, what do you base your vote on?

Best qualified for the position?
Record on:
Foreign Policy
The Economy
Social Issues
Likability
Character
Leadership Ability

Some combination of the above? What are dealbreakers? What are saving graces? I'm curious.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I vote based largely on social issues with a strong consideration for that candidates leadership ability.

The U.S. government is not a one headed monster. Their are failsafes and checks and balances in place in case he is a moron, unqualified, or otherwise deficient in some area. That having been said, I think the president does need a certain air of charisma and decisiveness, and a history of making good decision based on the will of the people.

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Proud LGBTQQ Individual

I try to get as much information as I can about a candidate's platform. Specifics when I can, although that's difficult when they don't want to give anything more than generic answers.

I try to pick a candidate who matches up the closest with my feelings about a subject. Depending on the office, there may be dealbreaker issues that make voting for that person difficult, but I find those situations to be rare.

Depends on the position and after that a balance of their qualifications and positions on issues.
For instance I don't care what a candidate for state treasurer thinks about Israel and Palestine.

But I do have a libertarian slanted litmus test...usually causing me to side with those damn Republicans on most things fiscal and those damn Democrats on most things social.
But my scale of importance is probably 80% fiscal and 20% social so that makes me side with Republican's a majority of the time.
I don't really care about abortions and gay marriage, but I do care about national debt and states rights.

For me, closely examining a candidate is usually only necessary in primary elections...once a general election rolls along, the differences between the candidates will be so stark, a choice is easy.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

I vote based on the color of their skin.

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"Let's just trap Sekera in the caverns underneath HSBC arena." -BlueandYellow

Reporter: "Steve, you guys now lead the league in defensive scoring."
Montador: "It's probably because of how good-looking we are."

this.

I would like to add that with the lying it is hard to know what you're really getting and when a candidate doesn't go through with anything they promise (cough cough) it is even harder for me to bring myself to buy into a politician's bull. So in short, I honestly don't know if I will be voting again unless it is specifically to vote against a candidate.

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Excellent thread.

Currently I vote based on social issues, I kind of figure either party is going to fuck up the economics about the same, but I have to admit I'm largely ignorant of governmental fiscal policies and their actual ramifications for the country. If I was more educated about this stuff, and was able to make an informed decision about economic strategies, then that would factor into my decision and possibly push me more towards the right (assuming the republicans are actually more fiscally responsible). Although the thought of voting for a republican seems pretty unlikely to me, based on the stuff I usually hear them say.

Oh No, You Didn`t!

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Revenge is sweet... Revenge is best served cold... Revenge is ice cream.

social issues. seeing im a liberal, chances are ill be voting democratic.

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If Palin is in the next election my vote will be the simplest decision I have ever made.

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I vote based on what everyone else is doing...that way when the person wins, then I can said I backed them...

Is that wrong?

:LOL:

Truth be told, I actually vote based on track record, military background, and educational background. I very rarely vote on an issue, because more often than not, the candidates don't produce results on those issues anyway. I personally like to vote for people who have strong moral and ethical backgrounds, and those who have served in the military, especially as officers. If a guy graduates from West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, or a prestigious ROTC school, I'm more likely to back them, than say a guy who went to Harvard or Yale.

It's a personal choice, but I've found people who have served in the military, especially as higher ranking officers, have been given the tools to become effective leaders in all walks of life.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

To over simplify: Whoever I feel is less full of shit.

ie, if we share values, and I believe him, he gets my vote. If he's against my values, or seems to be full of shit(or even proven to be), then I won't vote for either. This is the shitty part about a representative republic. Sometimes you get dumb or dumber.

May I ask why? Not being a jackass, just curious.

sorry, dp

First, I read their thoughts, plans and past voting record on education
Then I look at the rest of their policy and see who fits my way of seeing things the best.

I'm a registered Independent, because there are aspects of both the major parties I agree and disagree with (which sucks come primary time!)

I admit, I don't do as much research in non-Presidential elections, however the vote for Florida's next govornor is coming up and it will be my big deciding factor on whether I want to stay here or move.

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"Oh honey, I would but...I don't want to" ~ Karen Walker

Mostly because voting based on promises that may or may not be upheld doesn't really mean much to me. Still waiting on a few things that were promised by the Obama Campaign...

I typically vote based on someone's ability to lead. I feel like strong leaders are developed through military service, so thats why I vote the way I do. Plus typically I agree with guys who have that military experience on a lot of other issues as well.

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"She's like plan C after an 18 pack"

Squanto 7/27/2010

Being the husband of an Air Force chick and a vet myself I tentatively agree with you. That being said, there are a shit ton of idiots in the military just like there are in the civilian sector. I've met a lot of great people in the service but one thing I have noticed is that the people running for a government position were typically officers when they were in the military, and I hate me some officers. Officers tend to be so fucking full of themselves that they don't want to listen to the advice of others unless it's coming from higher up the food chain, and even then it is because they have to.

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Wasn't George Bush a pilot?

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