Protest votes put Brexit over the top.

[Drunken Irishman]

Lots of shocked voters who thought Leave would never happen, yet still voted for it as a protest to the EU, are now walking around the UK with egg on their face.

Protest votes are just as dangerous as bad votes for bad candidates who seek to do harm.

Either think your vote out, weigh the consequences of your vote, the potential outcome of that vote, or don't vote.

[bigtree]

1. isn't the vote non-binding?

...if there's a true backlash, the Parliament, which has a majority against it, I think, could vote it down.

[cosmicone]

2. There are some who think voting is sort of a moral exercise

and not a pragmatic "what is in it for me" exercise.

How many times have I seen on DU that so and so won't win but I'll vote my conscience even if it hurts the democratic candidate and helps a republican monster?

Voting is not a moral "feel good" exercise. It is always about choosing the best option that helps you and a majority of your fellow citizens.

[DLCWIdem]

3. is there a link to that exit poll data or something

B

[Iliyah]

4. Did they not understand the potential fall out?

[Drunken Irishman]

6. No. People often can't rationalize something until it happens.

I think the polls shifting, saying Remain would pass, helped those voters who wanted to shake their first at the EU and yet not rock the boat like they quite did. I have friends like this. "Oh, so and so is going to win so I'm going to vote for XXX just to shake things up."

It's stupid. Your vote shouldn't be a game.

[Andy823]

7. Remember 2010

When people didn't get out and vote because they wanted to send a message to Obama that he wasn't doing enough? Remember all those states where republicans took control of the state government? All one has to do is look at those states, Wisconsin, Maine, Florida, etc. to see just how bad an idea that was.

[Nanjeanne]

5. Interesting demographics of the vote

Majority of young people voted for Remain. Majority of older people voted for LEAVE.

HOW AGES VOTED
(YouGov poll)
18-24: 75% Remain
25-49: 56% Remain
50-64: 44% Remain
65+: 39% Remain

So sad that the older generation voted for the future that the young generation don't want. This vote was basically the racist, anti-immigrant, far-right vote that shows how scary the results can be.

This is not just about the UK - and we are already feeling the effects this morning when the stock market opened.

[Nye Bevan]

9. Old people thinking that voting "leave" will bring back the racial demographics of their youth.

The graying Little Englanders sabotaging the country's future based on misguided racist nostalgia.

[Nye Bevan]

8. Kind of like voting for Ralph Nader as a protest against Al Gore not being pure enough,

and ending up with W as president.