Voting patterns characteristics

[Democratic Hawk]

What best characterises your voting patterns?

Well, I'm not American but I've ticked Party line, I always vote Labour.

Dave

[Nym90]

Usually party line, as I support the overall goals of my party and generally oppose those of others, so even if another party's candidate was more to my liking I would still be inclined to support my party's candidate, to help the overall cause. However, if the difference was large enough between my views and those of my party's candidate, I could be persuaded to abanon them for another. So I'm mostly a straight ticket voter, but I do still consider the ideology of the candidates. The great majority of the time, the candidate who is closest to me ideologically is my party's candidate anyway.

[Bogart]

For me, it depends more at what level of government we're talking about.  With the exception of Clinton, I've always voted Republican for president and mostly the same for Congress. I did vote for Les Aspin when I lived in Wisconsin as well.  I supported Tommy Thompson as governor several times.

Here in Arizona, state Republicans are kind of a mixed bag and I find it impossible to vote party line. For instance, I voted for our current governor, Janet Napolitano, who is a Democrat. Her opponent, Matt Salmon, was way too reactionary for me.  Same with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. I will never support him even if he survives the upcoming primary, which is questionable.

For city government, the elections are technically non-partisan so it's difficult to say for sure.

[Dr. Cynic]

It's no fun to vote one straight party. I like to split them up if I can.

[John Dibble]

Orientation - if there's a Republican who I think will do a better job than a Libertarian then I'll vote for the Republican. Same goes for Democrats. Advancing libertarian ideals and policies is far more important to me than the Libertarian Party itself.

[muon2]

Other. Generally I work very hard to support Republican candidates. In multi-member bodies like a legislature I would usually rather see Republican initiatives pass than Democrat. However, there are good Democrats who can earn my support, and Republicans who have lost my confidence.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I voted party line. There aren't any Republicans in Minnesota that I can think of that I'd vote for. I might vote third party if the DFL candidate is really bad and will easily win anyway (i.e. Collin Peterson)

But I voted straight ticket in 2002, and there's only 3 partisan elections here this election, President, U.S. House and State House. I'm voting for Kerry (of course), Pomeroy, the DFL candidate for U.S. House even though he has no chance, and my DFL State Rep., John Dorn, who will be reelected easily.

[Fmr. Gov. NickG]

I usually vote for Democrats, but sometimes I vote for the Green Party or other left-wing minor parties...just for local & state office so far though.  

The Green Party candidate in my District actually came pretty close to winning a seat in the State Legislature in 2002...she got more than double the vote of the Republicans!

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

yeah, there was a house district in Minneapolis where the Republican candidate got something like only 17 more votes than the Republican. Of course, Minneapolis DFLers aren't really anymore conservative than Greens, I would probably just vote straight ticket there as well.

I would probably still vote for Dorn even if a Green had a good chance. Dorn's a great Rep, he's a classic blue-collar populist Democrat, but he's also rather liberal on social issues and definately draws in a diverse crowd. I hope he gets some sort of statewide recognition, because he'd be a great candidate statewide. Maybe he'll run for House when Gutknecht retires, rumor is that could be next election.

[A18]

I can't vote yet, but when I can I imagine I'll vote mostly Republican.

[bergie72]

I break it up.  I used to vote straight Republican, but with so many ultra-right wing Republicans out there (Santorum), I'd much rather vote for a Lib or a moderate Dem before casting a vote for some of these a-holes.

[A18]

Who are you voting for for president?

[English]

I vote purely by orientation. Fiscally mod/conservative, social liberal.
I usually vote Labour, however not when the candidate is an unreformed socialist dinosaur, as they invariably are in local elections.

[opebo]

Normally I do not vote, partly because I dislike democracy, partly because I usually dislike all the candidates, and yes, partly out of laziness.  

Last person I voted for was Bush senior, haven't found anyone worth voting for since.

[Democratic Hawk]

Thanks for your comments, they were interesting.

I'm Labour through and through. I'm economically liberal (or Keynesian in a social democratic sense), but fiscally conservative and socially moderate.

In a nutshell, I'd describe myself as a Christian, left-of-centre democratic socio-capitalist.

I'd say I'm closer to the Democratic Party than the Republican Party.

Dave

[Nym90]

Thanks for your comments, they were interesting.

I'm Labour through and through. I'm economically liberal (or Keynesian in a social democratic sense), but fiscally conservative and socially moderate.

In a nutshell, I'd describe myself as a Christian, left-of-centre democratic socio-capitalist.

I'd say I'm closer to the Democratic Party than the Republican Party.

Dave

Wow, sounds like a found another person who I match up with quite well politically on the issues.  

*Puts LucyBeau on the list along with Gabu and NickG*

[bergie72]

Who are you voting for for president?

Badnarik is closest to my views, so unless something unusual happens in the next 2 months, I'll be voting Lib for president.  Bush is about 65%, Kerry is maybe 40%.

[KEmperor]

I think my method is somewhat unique.  It would only work in New York, I think.  I vote against candidates based on what third parties have endorced them.  If the Working Families Party for example, endorces the Democrat, I vote for the Republican.  If the Right to Life party endorces the Republican candidate, I vote for the Democrat.  If these endorcements cancel each other out, I default to the Republican candidate.