If I vote, you're voting too, dammit

The thing about me and brilliant ideas is that I usually have no idea how to implement the brilliant ideas I come up with....

A few weeks ago, a friend and I were talking about how apathetic our generation was, specifically in reference to voting.  We, as a generation, have not been voting in the numbers we should be.  I said that I didn't know what to do about it, because after getting the word out, what can you do?  But then I had an "a-ha" moment.  I called it the "Buddy System" and I sort of envision it as a volunteer movement that harnesses the energy of the people who will vote no matter what (like me) and uses that energy to drag others to the polls. 

So, on a college campus, for instance, you could have each concerned voter recruit someone (roommate, hallmate, sorority sister, frat brother, classmate, annoying drunk-dialing friend, etc) who wasn't going to vote and promise to be their "buddy".  The buddy who was a voter would then see that the other person registered, and even then go and find them on election day and drag them to the polls.  I know it seems like one person is doing all the work, and that's exactly what's happening.  But I would totally be someone's buddy and do this, because I feel so strongly that voting is the most important thing we can do as American citizens.  I'd rather have to do this, make an effort, than allow another person in my generation to go without voting.  (In some ways, I did this with S.  I waited to vote until he got home from work last election, mostly to reassure myself that he was going, even though he knew that if he didn't go, it would be bad.  He was nearly as gung ho as me about voting last time.)

Anyway, the point is, I think this idea has potential.  But I don't know for sure that it does, and I definitely don't know how I go about seeing if it will work.  The next presidential election is not for another two years, and I think the buddy system would work most effectively on the national election level.

I should make clear that I don't necessarily see this as a partisan effort.  I think it could be run that way, but I'm not sure that's quite what I am envisioning; I am basically just concerned that people just get their asses to the polls when election day rolls around.  Let's eliminate voter laziness by making SURE they go to the polls.

(Any reproduction or use in full of this post is expressly forbidden, unless approved.  Please don't steal!)

Comments

[tim]

I like the idea, but....didn't we all basically do that in 2004? Everyone that I know how cared about this stuff was cajoling their friends and family into voting...and we still had the turnout that we did. We had Rock the Vote, and Vote for Change, and Vote or Die and on and on. I'm not saying that your idea can't work, I just feel like there are a lot of people who just absolutely don't give a fuck, no matter how much you lean on them. Those people need to have it impressed upon them that their vote matters, but thanks to the election fraud of the last several years that's damn near impossible to do.

[Dad]

Any idea that will mobilize people to take advantage of their right to vote is good. Having said that I'm afraid the ideal and reality of what's possible are worlds apart. I don't blame the voters entirely. I blame the ill conceived, outdated,ineffective two party system.

Tim, election fraud was the reason elections were invented. It's a chicken and egg thing. The last several examples of election fraud were just so amateurish that any blue blooded election stealer would be embarassed. I think apathy stems from the fact that the officials we send to Washington don't have any idea what representing their constituents means. I have written to my represetatives a number of times in the last few years. I really appreciate the heartfelt canned letter I receive in return. Sometimes they even get my name right. Our federal government has insulated themselves from us. I do vote but my vote only really seems to matter in local elections. In the last presidential election I could have voted for King Kong and, one way or another, a candidate more unpalatable than Mr. Kong was going to win. There are indeed a lot of people that don't give a fuck (about what We the People care about). Unfortunately most of them work in Washington D.C.

I'm thinking of hating politics...how am I doing so far?

[M]

The City of Chicago under Daley the First made voter buddies into an art form. They were called Ward Captains. You voted or else; even some dead people voted. Their ability to get people to the polls is most famously credited with the election of John F. Kennedy.

I completely agree with you on the importance of participating in elections. I registered to vote right after my 18th birthday, I have only ever missed voting once - a local primary - and I encourage (nag) others to vote too! Voter apathy will never change anything.