---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They believe the less votes the better…"
description: "\"They believe the less votes the better. Republicans like to suppress votes because they believe they do better in small turnouts. Characteristically, D..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/howard-dean-3196_believe_they-believe-the-less-votes-the-better-r_2910752.jpg"
---

#  They believe the less votes the better. Republicans like…

![“They believe the less votes the better. Republicans like to suppress votes because they believe they do better in small turnouts. Characteristically, Democrats would rather lose an election with a huge turnout than win one with a small turnout because we think that the values of democracy have to…” quote by Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/howard-dean-3196_believe_they-believe-the-less-votes-the-better-r_2910752.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/howard-dean-3196_believe_they-believe-the-less-votes-the-better-r_2910752.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/howard-dean-3196_believe_they-believe-the-less-votes-the-better-r_2910752.jpg)

> “They believe the less votes the better. Republicans like to suppress votes because they believe they do better in small turnouts. Characteristically, Democrats would rather lose an election with a huge turnout than win one with a small turnout because we think that the values of democracy have to be placed above the interests of the party. The reason that Republicans are such failures at governing is because they place the interests of their party ahead of the interests of the country.”

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The belief that low voter turnout benefits one party leads to tactics that suppress participation, while the opposing side values high turnout as a democratic principle.

**In simple terms:** Low turnout is seen as advantageous for some, high turnout as democratic.

Key Takeaway

Promote inclusive voting practices.

Themes

politics democracy voter suppression party strategy ethics

Mood

concerned critical

Type

political analytical

When to use this quote

- campaign planning
- voter outreach
- policy debates

Key Concepts

electoral integrity civic engagement political theory

Questions to Reflect On

- Why do parties prioritize turnout differently?
- What reforms could ensure fair participation?

A Different Perspective

The claim oversimplifies complex voter behavior and ignores systemic barriers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democrat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democrat/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Lose Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-election-327599/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Republicans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-republicans-3052021/) [Republican](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republican/) [Republicans Failures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republicans-failures-4190200/) [Suppress Votes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppress-votes-4190199/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) [Vote](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vote/) [Votes Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/votes-better-4190201/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/)

## Related quotes

> [What we've been hearing over and over again is that the reason Republicans are opposed to the surtax is because of the concern of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-collins/what-we-ve-been-hearing-over-and-over-again-is-that-the-reason/)

[Susan Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-collins/)

> [There's a reason most Republicans and a vast majority of voters loathe Donald Trump: his vulgarity, his blistering ignorance, his constant dishonesty, his venality,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wilson/there-s-a-reason-most-republicans-and-a-vast-majority-of-voters/)

[Rick Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wilson/)

> [That does almost nothing to address voters' concerns, which remain a potent factor in the campaign. The bottom line is, there's a reason Republicans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-york/that-does-almost-nothing-to-address-voters-concerns-which-remain-a/)

[Byron York](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-york/)

> [The only possible reason the Republicans have declared a war on women is they must think women have oil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-borowitz/the-only-possible-reason-the-republicans-have-declared-a-war-on-women/)

[Andy Borowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-borowitz/)

> [One of the things we must be able to agree to is to lose an election and not take to the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-pournelle/one-of-the-things-we-must-be-able-to-agree-to-is-to-lose-an-election/)

[Jerry Pournelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-pournelle/)

> [I will say one thing has changed dramatically which is this Supreme Court vacancy, and it will reshape the race on my side, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hewitt/i-will-say-one-thing-has-changed-dramatically-which-is-this-supreme/)

[Hugh Hewitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hewitt/)

> [When you lose an election, you don't blink, you don't turn away. You look it right in the eye and say, why did we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/when-you-lose-an-election-you-don-t-blink-you-don-t-turn-away-you/)

[Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/)

> [The Democrats are between a rock and a hard place on it. They hate the Second Amendment. They want to get rid of it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-democrats-are-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place-on-it-they-hate-the/)

[Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/)

> [This is the choice in life. You choose what is less bad. I don't particularly like Mr. Obama, but I think he is less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-faber/this-is-the-choice-in-life-you-choose-what-is-less-bad-i-don-t/)

[Marc Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-faber/)

> [The fastest way for a politician to become an elder statesman is to lose an election.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-wilson/the-fastest-way-for-a-politician-to-become-an-elder-statesman-is-to/)

[Earl Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-wilson/)

> [One wrong move that appears to reveal a president ensconced in a White House bubble can lose an election, such as when President George…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bongino/one-wrong-move-that-appears-to-reveal-a-president-ensconced-in-a/)

[Dan Bongino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bongino/)

> [I think the Liberals are doing everything they can to do turn it around, but the reality is that we're at the point right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nik-nanos/i-think-the-liberals-are-doing-everything-they-can-to-do-turn-it/)

[Nik Nanos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nik-nanos/)

> [We have made too much of one or two people, and we think that they can win or lose elections for us. Don't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/we-have-made-too-much-of-one-or-two-people-and-we-think-that-they-can/)

[Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/)

> [We will not lose this election for lack of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-rendell/we-will-not-lose-this-election-for-lack-of-money/)

[Ed Rendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-rendell/)

> [I always lose the election in the polls, and I always win it on election day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/i-always-lose-the-election-in-the-polls-and-i-always-win-it-on/)

[Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/)

## More by Howard Dean

> [This country was the moral leader of the world until George Bush became president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/this-country-was-the-moral-leader-of-the-world-until-george-bush/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [I think in general the ends do not justify the means.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/i-think-in-general-the-ends-do-not-justify-the-means/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [The way we're going to win elections in this country is not to become Republican lite. The way we're going to win elections in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/the-way-we-re-going-to-win-elections-in-this-country-is-not-to-become/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [As governor, I came to believe that the death penalty would be a just punishment for certain, especially heinous crimes, such as the murder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/as-governor-i-came-to-believe-that-the-death-penalty-would-be-a-just/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [Look, I'm not a perfect person. I have my warts. I sometimes say things that get me in trouble. I wear suits that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/look-i-m-not-a-perfect-person-i-have-my-warts-i-sometimes-say-things/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [The issue is not abortion. The issue is whether women can make up their own mind instead of some right-wing pastor, some right-wing politician…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/the-issue-is-not-abortion-the-issue-is-whether-women-can-make-up/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [We have to say what we believe... whether it's popular or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/we-have-to-say-what-we-believe-whether-it-s-popular-or-not/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [When you - when you - and this is still going on today - are making your money by pushing paper around, when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/when-you-when-you-and-this-is-still-going-on-today-are-making-your/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [I hate the Republicans and everything they stand for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/i-hate-the-republicans-and-everything-they-stand-for/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the United States and to our allies. If Saddam persists in thumbing his nose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/there-s-no-question-that-saddam-hussein-is-a-threat-to-the-united/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [The truth is the President of the United States used the same device that Slobodan Milosevic used in Serbia. When you appeal to homophobia,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/the-truth-is-the-president-of-the-united-states-used-the-same-device/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [There's been more than one time when I've said something, and sort of the middle of what I've said is not said but thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/there-s-been-more-than-one-time-when-i-ve-said-something-and-sort-of/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [I don't care what you label me as long as you call me president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/i-don-t-care-what-you-label-me-as-long-as-you-call-me-president/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [Donald Trump has used lawsuits as a weapon throughout his entire business career, and whether they're frivolous or not has nothing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/donald-trump-has-used-lawsuits-as-a-weapon-throughout-his-entire/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

> [What I want to know is why in the world the Democratic party leadership is supporting the president's unilateral attack on Iraq?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/what-i-want-to-know-is-why-in-the-world-the-democratic-party/)

[Howard Dean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

[Explore all 137 Howard Dean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

[Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "They believe the less votes the better. Republicans like to suppress votes because they believe they do better in small turnouts. Characteristically, Democrats would rather lose an election with a huge turnout than win one with a small turnout because we think that the values of democracy have to be placed above the interests of the party. The reason that Republicans are such failures at governing is because they place the interests of their party ahead of the interests of the country.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Howard Dean"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/they-believe-the-less-votes-the-better-republicans-like-to-suppress/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/they-believe-the-less-votes-the-better-republicans-like-to-suppress/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/howard-dean-3196_believe_they-believe-the-less-votes-the-better-r_2910752.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/howard-dean-3196_believe_they-believe-the-less-votes-the-better-r_2910752.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d82/howard-dean-3196_believe_they-believe-the-less-votes-the-better-r_2910752.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“They believe the less votes the better. Republicans like to suppress votes because they believe they do…” — Howard Dean",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Howard Dean",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-dean/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "They believe the less votes the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/they-believe-the-less-votes-the-better-republicans-like-to-suppress/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-dean/they-believe-the-less-votes-the-better-republicans-like-to-suppress/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
