Elections and telephone pests

Is there anyone who likes these telephone calls I think we all get before elections and on election day?
Many of them are recordings from famous people asking you to vote for this or that person.
Last Nov. when we were electing a new governor in this state I got over twenty calls starting at 8 AM on election day. . They were all 'reminding" me to vote.
I voted at 7:15 AM !
I can't imagine that anyone needed a reminder. We could't drive out of our driveway without seeing a million signs posted along the road. Everytime I turned the TV on there were ad after ad for the elections.
You would need to be living in a cave not to know it was election day!
Most of the calls I got were recordings but when I did get a real person on the line I asked her, does anyone like you calling to remind them? She laughed and replied, no, everyone hates it. I said, well, why do you do it, aren't you a volunteer? She said no, I don't even know this person I am asking you to vote for. I don't even live in your state.
She works for a co that was hired to make these calls and she was just doing her job.

I'll never donate to anyones campaign if money is used for hiring people to
make these stupid calls!

So what brainchild started this idea that it would be useful to call voters
and pester them all day long?
I know some people don't get as many calls as I do. My sister in Florida said she only got about 4 on election day.

I wrote to the Congressman in my area and his reply was insulting .
Something like... there are certain excemptions to the do not call list.. he went on to name them with politicians being on the list.
Then he ended his letter with how happy he is to always be of service to his those he serves! yeah right... he never gets it... he's not getting my vote either!

[PrincessPerky]

This is one reason why I don't like to register to vote. It is annoying, you want to do the right thing, but regestering signs you up for annoying spam phone calls.

[nanamom]

I've been voting since I was 18 (never mind how long ago that was) and I never got an election day phone call. I think I would tell whoever called that I was going to vote for their candidate until I got the phone call!

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I don't get nearly that many calls. More of them are before election day than on election day. I'd say though that half are recorded, half a real person.

What bothers me more is that if a campaigner comes to the door and I ask some specific questions about the candidate's positions, most of the time they don't have an answer. So I ask if they have literature to give me that I can read on my own time. They'll give me a couple of brochures and fliers which are so vague, la-de-da, and meaningless. "Strong supporter of local education." "Believes it is time for a real change that will give ordinary people of the sixth district a voice in the legislature." "Will coordinate executive committees for more effective response to the neighborhoods." "Brings the qualities of focus and leadership to the auditor's office." "An outstanding record of public service.".... Why must they blather on like that without saying anything? Waste of paper!

[Ima saver]

I let my answering machine answer all my calls.

[What bothers me more is that if a campaigner comes to the door and I ask some specific questions about the candidate's positions, most of the time they don't have an answer. So I ask if they have literature to give me that I can read on my own time. They'll give me a couple of brochures and fliers which are so vague, la-de-da, and meaningless. "Strong supporter of local education." "Believes it is time for a real change that will give ordinary people of the sixth district a voice in the legislature." "Will coordinate executive committees for more effective response to the neighborhoods." "Brings the qualities of focus and leadership to the auditor's office." "An outstanding record of public service.".... Why must they blather on like that without saying anything? Waste of paper![/quote]

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I know exactly what you mean.
Last year a guy was running here who seemed to only be interested in bashing the other guy.
None of his ads, brocheres or anything would say anything about him. He lost and deserved to lose.

Originally Posted by nanamom

I've been voting since I was 18 (never mind how long ago that was) and I never got an election day phone call. I think I would tell whoever called that I was going to vote for their candidate until I got the phone call!

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I started voting when I was 21. That was the age requirement then.
It's only been in the past few years we have gotten all these calls.
While listening to the radio yesterday I heard some recordings some of the people in California are getting from "stars" who want to get people to vote for a certain person.
It's annoying and both parties do it.
With so many people signed up for the do not call registry, I would think those running for office would know that the majority of people don't like telephone solicitations. But I'm probably a fool to think they give a rats @ss anyway what people care about.
Don't ever make the mistake to send a representative an email. You need to give your full name and address and before you know it you are on their mailing list. And that means one thing: Contribute money!
Ha! Even if I had money to contribute I would never contribute to a politician!

[tgavin71]

As most of you would be aware voting is compulsory in Australia. It can be a bit of a pain sometimes to get to a polling booth especially if the weather is crappy but at least it means we don't have to put up with as much crap as you guys seem to. We get a little bit of advertising but not that much. A leaflet here and there but thats about it.

Originally Posted by tgavin71

As most of you would be aware voting is compulsory in Australia. It can be a bit of a pain sometimes to get to a polling booth especially if the weather is crappy but at least it means we don't have to put up with as much crap as you guys seem to. We get a little bit of advertising but not that much. A leaflet here and there but thats about it.

~~~~~~~~~
That would be refreshing to only get a few leaflets!
We get bombarded with so much before elections.
The amount of money spent is mindboggling.

[abowers]

I've been voting for the past 5 years and I don't get phone calls.

Put your name on Do Not Call registry; don't give out your phone number when you're at stores like Best Buy, etc that ask for your phone number when they are ringing you up at the register. They sell your number to other companies.

[PRICEPLUS]

Well, I am one of those annoying people who makes the phone calls. We call only members of our own party and independents. Some people I call get annoyed. Most of the responses I get are neutral to positive.

I also put up those signs you see on roadways. I stand in front of supermarktets and at bus stops to hand out literature. (By the way I do know the candidates stand onmost of the big issues.)

If I am confronted with a question I cannot answer I ask for a phone number where the person may be reached. I always try to get an answer to them.

I believe that the right to vote is sacred and precious. I believe that asking for someones vote is part of the democratic process. I also recieve those calls at my home. Democracy in action.

I am asking for your vote when I call. It is a request that is extremely serious to me and to many others. I really do not call to be annoying.I am calling as a citizen for your support. How else can I ask?

Well there you havemy little .02 cent contribution to the conversation!

[getforfree]

My number is on do not call list and they still called me. I hate when people that I don't want to talk to call me and make me to stop whatever I am doing and run to the phone. Its too disturbing. Especcially when I am trying to put my kids for a nup. And believe me, I am very rude, when they call, and tell them like hold on and take a pen or something, and knock on the speaker, and then ask them how they like it. They usually don't.

[abowers]

Telemarketers/People calling about elections probably don't know that at 2pm every day you are putting your kids down for a nap - turn your phone ringer off and don't answer wen your kids are sleeping. Or get called ID so you can see it's an unimportant call.

[PrincessPerky]

My phone is on buzz, it never rings, and I never get it when I am busy, cause I wouldn't have noticed the blinky light! (buzz does nothing wehen it is on a soft couch!)

Some people think I am crazy and it is definatly well known among my frineds that I am not often answering, but I find it allows me to put my family first.

Originally Posted by PRICEPLUS

Well, I am one of those annoying people who makes the phone calls. We call only members of our own party and independents. Some people I call get annoyed. Most of the responses I get are neutral to positive.

I also put up those signs you see on roadways. I stand in front of supermarktets and at bus stops to hand out literature. (By the way I do know the candidates stand onmost of the big issues.)

If I am confronted with a question I cannot answer I ask for a phone number where the person may be reached. I always try to get an answer to them.

I believe that the right to vote is sacred and precious. I believe that asking for someones vote is part of the democratic process. I also recieve those calls at my home. Democracy in action.

I am asking for your vote when I call. It is a request that is extremely serious to me and to many others. I really do not call to be annoying.I am calling as a citizen for your support. How else can I ask?

Well there you havemy little .02 cent contribution to the conversation!

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I understand the importance of voting and I really do have appreciation for those who volunteer. There is an election here in N VA today and my husband has volunteered at the polls.
Maybe policies are different in some areas.
We get calls from both parties even though we both vote for one party.
I wouldn't mind one or two calls but over twenty calls in one day is too much. And we are not 5 year olds who need calls to "remind" us it is election day.
And there is no way to even talk and ask some of these callers to tell them I have been called endless times in one day.... unless I want to speak to a recording!

[getforfree]

Mostly I turn it off, but sometimes I forget. And I DONT WANT TO PAY FOR CALLER ID, no way! But it could be that someone that I wouldn't mind talking to would call, and I don't want to miss it. Sometimes I would turn my phone off, and forget to turn it back on for a few days. To be honest, the reason I keep the home phone is because of internet, otherwise, I would disconnect it.