People who choose not to vote

[PlaymobilPirate]

I get that it's their choice etc - do you comment / try to persuade them or just ignore?

I shared a 'register to vote' meme the other day on SM. 5 people - including my brother - have said they don't bother because nothing changes/ they're all corrupt etc.

I’ve had conversations similar to this, I usually just say if you don’t vote you don’t have a right to an opinion.

Several colleagues say that they don't bother.

Some just don't 'follow' politics. Which I understand, it's hard to get your head round a lot of it.

Others think they're all the same/corrupt and one is as good as any other.

It annoys me because those very people will moan like hell about the state of the Country!
If you can't be arsed to vote then don't whine about what happens is what I say.

I do try and point people in the direction of where to find relevant information to break things down to easy to understand pieces. Simple Politics on Facebook is a good one.

It’s completely their choice to vote or not to vote to moan or not to moan. In the current climate many many of us feel politically homeless so I understand

I’m one of these people.

But I’d like to point out from above comments the following:

• I don’t say I can’t be arsed to vote

• I never complain about it the state of the country (well, except NHS waiting times)

• the only opinion I have on politics is that I don’t understand it

I’m not stupid. I would like to think I’m intelligent in other aspects. I have a good job that involves constant learning and teaching to others.

But when it comes to politics I just don’t understand.

Yes I do challenge people, in a polite way of course, and don't continually keep pushing it once people have told me their reasons, but I do find it frustrating/illogical that people believe (sometimes passionately) in democracy and don't want to live in a totalitarian state yet are apparently happy to delegate to a minority self-selecting part of the population who do make the effort to vote the responsibility to make the most important decisions about the country's future.

I honestly don't think that for most people (SN etc aside) in this age of information it's an excuse to 'not follow' politics, there are easy to read summaries of the main party's manifestos on the BBC and you could read them in about 15 mins on a lunch break at work or on the bus or whatever. The argument also that 'they're all corrupt/unfit to govern', 'none of them represent my views' doesn't make much sense to me, if you really believe that why aren't you making more of a fuss about it the rest of the time, again the logical conclusion by you taking no action, even the small action of voting for the 'least bad' party or the Monster Raving Loony Party or spoiling your ballot paper, is that you are content with the current government and have no view to offer. I can understand that where people live in safe/ non marginal seats they feel their vote won't count (which is why I'd be in favour of a proportional representation system), but again, if everyone took that route then democracy would become a pointless exercise as nothing would ever change... I 100% believe it is a civic duty to vote and everyone who is able (and with postal and proxy voting the vast majority are able) should do so.

You can bet that those with extremist views will vote though, keeping them out is a good reason for voting for any of the main parties imo. I think the result of the Referendum was due to people thinking 'oh nothing will happen, we won't leave' while the Leave voters had more of an incentive to mobilise themselves.

I have always voted, but am now in a position where I don't feel that I have a political home. I'm very disappointed in the calibre of our current politicians and it seems that no matter what you vote for, since manifesto pledges are not binding. After each election we still seem to end up with inept or self serving representatives.

I'd never not turn up to vote but writing 'none of the above' is very tempting right now.
I am horrified by all these political pacts to not stand in constituencies against stronger remain/leave candidates and feel it is denying us our democratic right to free voting.

I have voted in every election for over 40 years. This time there is no party I support. But I won't moan about the state of things as I feel it's better to do things in the community which make a difference. Things such as supporting refugees, volunteering in a school and regular litter picking.

Not voting is not proof of disengagement.

I know someone who spoils their ballot every time. This way they are technically voting but not endorsing any candidate.

Jpharm they do that every single time regardless? To make a point I imagine. That's pathetic

@crustycrab Yes he does, every time, he doesn’t trust any politicians but recognises that voting isn’t a right everyone has and it was hard fought for some. Seems like a waste of effort to me but it’s his life.

I have only recently started voting in the last few years.

I didn't before because I believed my one vote would not change the world and I believed all politicians were lying shits that just said what they thought people wanted to hear. I'm also didn't feel confident in discussing politics and airing my views.

I voted when it was Brexit and I voted in the last GE and will vote in this one. I have spent time looking at manifesto's and feel it is now important for me to have my say.

I was probably not mature enough, too bothered about me and me only in my non-voting years.

I now have a family, it's not all about me, mortgage, pension, career etc etc so now I feel confident and informed enough to vote.

I have friends/family that don't. That is their choice and I don't judge them for that.

I don't vote, nor do I moan. I give no opinions to anyone when it comes to things like Brexit etc. There is no one to vote for that represents my best interests. So I deliberately abstain. It's already been proven that spoiling your ballot paper makes no difference so whats the point in doing that? So I let others vote how they will and take what comes. I genuinely don't care.