**Edit**

This is extremely frustrating. I'm not asking for an investigation, I'm asking for *policy*. Just read my question, I mention I'm asking about policy. I know I lose a point for downvoting, that's fine. I also know I was downvoted on two separate answers almost instantly after I donwvoted someone else.

These are just details for my question:

What do I do if I Suspect a User of "Downvoting for Downvoting"?
================================================================

Or

"What is the policy regarding this?"

Or if there is no policy

"What does meta think about this? Are they fine with potentially high quality users leaving early? Is there no need for more answerers at this time?"

Now please stop accusing me of things, it's immensely frustrating.

**Edit2**

As it may be relevant, here are the questions and answers in question (I couldn't resist the pun :p). Please also let me know if *I* have done anything wrong.

The question I answered and voted on another, and was subsequently downvoted on two answers: [Remove all characters after a specific set of characters](https://stackoverflow.com/q/36676472/608311)

The unrelated question that I answered and was also downvoted on: [How do you eliminate spaces from a list? Python](https://stackoverflow.com/q/36531318/6083111) (Disclaimer: I have since edited the answer, see @rene's answer for the original)

**Original**

Recently (moments ago), I downvoted a user because their answer didn't answer the question fully. I first commented, and their response was more-or-less "I'm not fixing that, they could just do this or that." With that response I figured that's what the button is *for*, no use in arguing.

Well seconds/a minute later I was notified that I lost reputation. My answer on the same question had been downvoted, and one where my answer hadn't previously been voted on. I can't see who did it. I'm usually very careful in making sure my answers are accurate, and I don't have many other answers that have ever received downvotes. 

What's the policy here? Do I report the post I voted on? From a newbie's perspective, I just want my answers noticed and to help people. I shouldn't have to deal with another user who can't handle a vote on one of their own answers just because they didn't read the question carefully.

This has been demotivating because I was pretty proud of my answer (even though the asker is gone), and now it's the lowest score out of 3 for no reason. Also the "-1" makes me look uninformed, when I see nothing wrong with my answers.