re: #416 lawhawk

Not exactly - since the lack of a vote is not an affirmation.

The similarity would be in terms of referendum and ballot measures, not the election of candidates in office.

Say you want a proposition to increase property taxes to build a new ballpark (see Long Island’s attempt to build a new arena for the Islanders). You get 10% turnout, and it passes (in reality, it lost even with the 10% turnout). However, under the union rule, it would lose because all those nonvotes became no votes.

I like that idea for general elections: not voting counts as a vote for the incumbent (or the incuimbent’s party candidate or chosen successor) - after all if you are pleased with the incumbent’s performance, why should you not jut stay home and enjoy the benefits of the prosperity said candidate has brought to your city/county/state/nation?