---
title: "Those who cast the Votes, they decide nothing. Those who count the vo… — Joseph Stalin Quote #21 | QuotesBy.net"
description: "Those who cast the Votes, they decide nothing. Those who count the votes, they decide everything. — a quote by Joseph Stalin."
image: "https://quotesby.net/wp-content/themes/quotesby-editorial/assets/og-default.png"
---

> # Those who cast the Votes, they decide nothing. Those who count the votes, they decide everything.

[Joseph Stalin](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Stalin)\#21

[Power](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Stalin/power/)[Control](https://quotesby.net/topics/control/)[Democracy](https://quotesby.net/topics/democracy/)[Elections](https://quotesby.net/topics/elections/)

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## About this quote

What does it mean?This quote suggests that counting votes is more powerful than casting them in determining outcomes.In plain termsPeople who count votes decide more than those who vote.What can you take from it?Control over counting determines power more than voting.

### Where it applies

- election disputes
- authoritarian regimes
- voting systems

### Putting it to work

- monitor counts
- secure elections
- audit results

### Questions to consider

- How is voting power ensured?
- Who controls the count?

### Another view

It oversimplifies the role of voting in free systems.

## More from Joseph Stalin

1. > This war is not as in the past; whoever occupies a territory also imposes on it his own social system. Everyone imposes his own system as far as his army can r…

[Permalink to quote \#20](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Stalin/20/ "Permalink to quote 20")
2. > Gratitude is a sickness suffered by dogs.

[Permalink to quote \#22](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Stalin/22/ "Permalink to quote 22")
3. > This leads to the conclusion, it is time to finish retreating. Not one step back! Such should now be our main slogan. ... Henceforth the solid law of disciplin…

[Permalink to quote \#19](https://quotesby.net/Joseph-Stalin/19/ "Permalink to quote 19")

## Related quotes

1. > You just can't have a position where some pumped up bunyip potentate dismisses an elected government.

[Paul Keating](https://quotesby.net/Paul-Keating)[Paul Keating quote \#15](https://quotesby.net/Paul-Keating/15/ "Permalink to quote 15")
2. > I mean, what's the elections? You know, two guys, same background, wealth, political influence, went to the same elite university, joined the same secret socie…

[Noam Chomsky](https://quotesby.net/Noam-Chomsky)[Noam Chomsky quote \#17](https://quotesby.net/Noam-Chomsky/17/ "Permalink to quote 17")
3. > ...propaganda is to a democracy what the bludgeon is to a totalitarian state and that's wise and good because the common interests elude the bewildered herd...…

[Noam Chomsky](https://quotesby.net/Noam-Chomsky)[Noam Chomsky quote \#51](https://quotesby.net/Noam-Chomsky/51/ "Permalink to quote 51")

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