Americans don't like to waste their vote. So they typically vote for whoever, or whatever seems to be the lesser of two evils.

I look at the party platform and at the personality of the candidate.

I vote in every election and referendum because of a sense of civic duty. If the powers that be have gone to the trouble to ask the peoples opinion I give mine.

I cast votes for individuals based on their positions on the issues and the feasibility of their plans for dealing with said issues. Past performance, including any big snafus or scandals are also considered. I therefore do not vote along party lines or relative to how family members vote now or previously.