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Capricorn2481 6 hours ago

I don't have a stake in forcing people to vote or not, because I generally agree that uninformed people shouldn't be pressured to make a last minute decision if they don't want to. I think everyone knows elections are at their least honest days before the vote.

But to engage with your question, not voting is the same as voting. You are forgoing your voice and giving more weight to the people that do vote. It's limited to your district, yes, but whatever the outcome, you gave the majority power to do that. So it's not surprising that people get frustrated when non-voters see themselves as "outside" of politics, especially when they complain about the state of things.

llmslave2 2 hours ago | parent [-]

I'm not so sure not voting is the same as voting (if you meant the opposite my apologies). Imagine the train switch scenario but it's an unknown amount of people on both tracks, do you pull the lever? If you don't, do you still assume culpability for the outcome? I don't think there is a simple or easy answer to that.

Also a lot of people who chose not to vote have become disillusioned by the common narrative around political action, the democratic process, and even the concept of political authority. It's extremely grating to be berated (not saying you, other people) about not voting when they still believe the things their middle school teachers taught them about politics and tend to be the least politically knowledgeable out of everybody.