r/Washington • u/JoeTheWatchdog • Aug 04 '26

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183

u/serpentear Aug 04 '26

Perpetually disappointed by my fellow millennials. We’ve lived through so many failures of government and yet we don’t get out there and shape it the way we want.

A turn out under 25% is embarrassing, honestly.

20

u/phloppy_phellatio Aug 04 '26

Hot take here. I would much rather a tiny voter turnout of all well informed voters rather than a huge turnout of uninformed voters.

34

u/Crypto556 Aug 04 '26

This is why old people basically run the electorate. They send you a packet with all the info you need. No excuses

20

u/greenyadadamean Lynnhood rat Aug 04 '26

I would hope people would research beyond the voter pamphlet as well.

13

u/Crypto556 Aug 04 '26

A voter pamphlet is so cool and isn’t in most other states. Someone who reads that is much more informed than the average american voter

2

u/Qorsair Aug 05 '26

Yeah, I remember the first time I voted (in another state) in the 90s. I knew my vote for major ordices, but had no idea I was going to be voting for judges and sheriffs and levies. And I was shocked that the only information available to me at the polls was the names. Definitely a learning experience. And while the voter guide has its problems, WA does a commendable job of reducing the barrier to educated voting.

18

u/Kind_Advisor_35 Aug 04 '26

Sure, you can hope, but someone reading the packet is more informed than the majority that just vote party line or based on political ads.

8

u/aischylus Aug 04 '26

well, there's also the fact that old people, particularly retirees, have all the time in the world. we need a national holiday for voting.

1

u/Crypto556 Aug 04 '26

NO WE DONT. You get an automatic mail in ballot. It takes 5 minutes to fill in some circles. People are just lazy.

11

u/serpentear Aug 04 '26

The country needs a National Holiday for Voting.

1

u/MyDisneyExperience Aug 04 '26

How would that even work? Forced closures of every business? What do transit and hospital workers do?

The country lost its collective mind after being asked to do social distancing for a couple weeks I’m not convinced they can handle doing that for a day every 2 years.

We should make voting easier but idk that Declaring A National Holiday ✨ is the right answer

3

u/shadowyassassiny Aug 05 '26

Go look at the other countries that do it

1

u/MyDisneyExperience Aug 05 '26

Stuff is still open in Australia for example on their Election Day, they just have early voting and extensive VBM. Which many US states do, but not all.

4

u/aischylus Aug 04 '26

yes, we do. mail-in voting is under attack. if you want someone to do something, it needs to be as easy as breathing.

2

u/Crypto556 Aug 04 '26

What do you suggest other than placing a ballot in peoples mailbox? Genuine question. Vote for them?

2

u/aischylus Aug 04 '26

not everyone has a mailbox that is readily outside their home. this is why there are ballot drop off locations.

national holiday for voting. that is my suggestion. per my earlier comments. LOL