Stupid Reasons to Decide Who to Vote For
by Joe Wallace-For City-County Observer
OCTOBER 21, 2024
The reasons people give for voting the way they do can often range from the carefully considered to the downright absurd. While voting is a fundamental right, it’s concerning how frequently people base their decisions on factors unrelated to policy, competence, or character. Let’s explore some of the more questionable reasons people use when selecting candidates and consider how much of the electorate might be swayed by such thinking.
1. Candidate’s Race or Gender
Some voters choose a candidate simply based on their race or gender, often believing that a shared identity will lead to more representation of their interests. While representation is essential, voting solely on these criteria can overlook important factors like policy positions, experience, and leadership abilities.
2. Celebrity Endorsements
Celebrity culture has a significant influence on voting behavior. Whether it’s a beloved actor, musician, or social media personality, voters sometimes support a candidate purely because their favorite celebrity endorses them. This is problematic since a celebrity’s qualifications in judging political candidates might not be any more informed than the average person’s.
3. Party Affiliation
Straight-ticket voting — voting for every candidate from one political party regardless of their individual merits — is common. Many people base their votes entirely on party lines, even if they know little about the actual positions or records of the candidates. This creates a dynamic where voters don’t necessarily engage with what each candidate stands for, assuming the party label tells them everything they need to know.
4. Candidate’s Appearance or Personal Traits
It’s not unheard of for voters to choose candidates based on physical appearance, charm, or likability. Traits like a candidate’s smile, fashion sense, or perceived attractiveness can cloud people’s judgment. Voters may feel more comfortable supporting someone who “looks the part” of a leader, even if that has no bearing on their ability to govern.
5. Having Pets (or Other Irrelevant Personal Details)
Yes, some voters actually care about whether a candidate owns a dog or other pets! In 2008, the Obama family’s decision to get a dog received significant media attention. While pets can humanize a candidate, it’s an entirely superficial basis for making a voting decision. Candidates’ personal preferences—like whether they have pets, their favorite sports teams, or what they eat for breakfast—have no real impact on how they will lead.
6. Geography
Regional loyalty is another irrational driver for many voters. People sometimes vote for a candidate simply because they come from the same town, state, or region. This localism can overshadow broader national or global concerns, and it doesn’t always translate into better representation for the community.
7. Family Tradition
Some voters choose candidates based on longstanding family traditions. They might vote for a particular party or candidate simply because that’s how their parents or grandparents voted. While respecting family history is understandable, basing votes on tradition alone doesn’t account for changing political dynamics or individual candidate qualifications.
8. Personality and Popularity Over Policy
Candidates with engaging personalities often win voters over more easily than those who are more reserved, regardless of policy positions. Charismatic candidates can rally supporters with inspirational speeches, but charisma doesn’t necessarily equate to effective governance. Similarly, candidates who have high visibility in the media, even for reasons unrelated to politics, can receive votes just because they are more recognizable.
9. “Winning Team” Mentality
Some voters support candidates they think are most likely to win, driven by a desire to feel like they’re backing the right side. Instead of voting based on policies or principles, they’re influenced by polling data, media buzz, or the momentum of a candidate’s campaign. This kind of “bandwagon” voting ignores the real issues at stake.
How Many Votes Are Determined by These “Stupid” Reasons?
It’s difficult to quantify precisely how many people vote based on irrational or superficial reasons. However, various studies and polls suggest that a significant portion of voters—likely between 10% to 25%—are influenced by factors that have little to do with a candidate’s qualifications or policies. A 2016 study by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Stanford found that personality traits, attractiveness, and even height influenced voting decisions, especially in close races.
Moreover, political scientists often refer to “low-information voters,” a group of individuals who don’t invest much time or effort into researching the issues or the candidates. Estimates vary, but low-information voters could make up as much as 40% of the electorate, with many relying on superficial cues like party affiliation, media coverage, or endorsements.
While not every decision made by low-information voters is necessarily “stupid,” the line between uninformed voting and voting based on irrational criteria can be thin. Given the importance of elections, it’s critical for voters to dig deeper, question their own biases, and make informed decisions rather than rely on irrelevant factors.
Conclusion
Voting is one of the most powerful tools citizens have to shape their government, yet far too many people base their decisions on reasons that have little to do with the real challenges and responsibilities of leadership. From race and gender to pets and party affiliation, these factors often distract from the more serious evaluation of a candidate’s policies, experience, and potential to lead. Encouraging voters to think critically and engage more deeply with the political process is essential for a functioning democracy. Though it’s hard to estimate exactly how many votes are determined by irrational reasons, it’s clear that a substantial portion of the electorate is influenced by them.
