Each year when election time rolls around, we are sternly reminded from all quarters that it is our “duty” to vote. Here’s some intellectual ammunition on behalf of the other side. If you know of some good anti-voting links that ought to be here but aren’t, drop me a line.
Links to Individual Articles:Webmaster’s note: I actually think the libertarian case against voting is overstated (for my reasons, see here and here). But since I also think that the anti-voting arguments are generally far closer to the truth than the pro-voting arguments while receiving far less attention, I put this page together.
Is Voting an Act of Violence? by Carl Watner
Act Responsibly, Don’t Vote! by Wendy McElroy
Violence, Including the Vote, Cannot Bring Liberty by Wendy McElroy
Why I Would Not Vote ... Even Against Hitler by Wendy McElroy
Your Obligation To Not Vote by Alex R. Knight III
Be Patriotic – Don’t Vote by Tom DiLorenzo
Please Don’t Vote by Alex Ryan
Abstain From Beans by Robert LeFevre
Party Dialogue by George H. Smith
Is It Wise To Vote? Getting My Head Ready for Freedom by Rich Hammer
I Won’t Vote! by Don Boudreaux
Why I Do Not Vote by Michael Rozeff
The Only Choice by Lew Rockwell
How Can Anyone Think Voting Matters? by Wilton D. Alston
Why Don’t You Go In Politics? by François Tremblay
Stop Voting by David K. Thomson
Voting – Again by Robert Klassen
Democracy Takes Too Many Lunch Hours by Jeffrey Tucker
Why I Am Not Voting by Gary McGath
Politics for Anti-Politicians by Tom Knapp
Voting Anarchists: An Oxymoron or What? by the Boston Anarchist Drinking Brigade
The Truth About Electoral Politics by Michael Chisari
Our Enemy the Party by Samuel E. Konkin III (PDF file)
In Which I Fail To Be Reassured by Charles Johnson
Voting Is Bad, M’kay? by Db0
198 Methods of Nonviolent Action by Gene Sharp (PDF file)
Reply to the Argument “If You Don’t Vote, You Can’t Complain” by Herbert Spencer
Against Woman Suffrage by Lysander Spooner
Links to Pages of More Links:Strike-the-Root’s Non-Voting Archive
The Anarchist Case Against Voting and Elections