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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to assume everyone on mn who dislikes ukip

124 replies

tobysmum77 · 12/05/2014 18:38

will turn out and VOTE in the European elections??? Last time (2009) the turnout was 34.7% Shock .

OP posts:
PlentyOfPubeGardens · 12/05/2014 20:39

I always turn out. I don't know who to vote for this time round. I usually vote green in EU and locals but they've come out against ecigs so I haven't a clue now. I might spoil my ballot paper this time round Sad

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 12/05/2014 20:40

Postal voting forms arrived this morning, so I will have voted by tomorrow Smile Don't think I've ever missed one. We also do postal because of Polling Station work, although it's DH who mans it. I just tagged along because it was easier when the DC were babies.

Meglet · 12/05/2014 20:42

I always vote. The DC's get marched along too and given a lecture on democracy. And never for UKIP .

m0therofdragons · 12/05/2014 20:44

Explanations for non those who don't see it as important: if not enough people vote, the most aggressive party will take over - maybe read 'Animal Farm' with a copy of an exam revision guide?

5madthings · 12/05/2014 20:45

Yes I will be voting, always do.

I got really rants the other day and contacted each of my local candidates (apart from ukip and Tory) and Said why the hell shwould I vote for any of you, explained I wad utterly disillusioned with politics, the education system and various local issues etc

Anyway the green party got in touch asap and have been giving various bits of info and links to policies and explaining their position and invited me along to some thing at the weekend, a film/environmental thing re kids.

And the liberal democrats phoned me today and my lib dem Candidate will be coming to speak to me!

Not heard back from Labour yet.

MrsKoala · 12/05/2014 20:48

This will be the first time in my voting aged life i wont be able to vote. We will be away and i didn't sort out postal voting in time. I feel so Blush and Angry with myself.

I would never vote UKIP. Tbh i don't know who i would vote for now.

PleaseJustShootMeNow · 12/05/2014 20:52

I put my ballot in the post today.

TheFallenMadonna · 12/05/2014 20:55

Not sure about spoiling a ballot paper. I've been to lots of counts, and the candidates are only interested in spoilt papers to see whether they can convincingly argue a vote for them. There is no feeling of protest there.

Also - somebody will do the job. Not actually voting means you have exactly the same contribution to that as someone who doesn't vote. Choose the person you dislike least, or, in local elections, stand yourself. All you need in a local election is 10 signatures, and you are on the ballot...

donnadc127 · 12/05/2014 20:56

I'll be voting as I do every time. I've only had visits from Liberal Democrats and Labour. Our local Lib Dem leader is hugely about community round here.

TheFallenMadonna · 12/05/2014 20:57

I'm not sure yet who I will vote for. I was a LibDem. I am no longer a LibDem...

But I know who I won't be voting for.

limitedperiodonly · 12/05/2014 20:57

A big shout out to everyone who votes every single time in every single election.

I don't.

I make a considered opinion every time whether to drag my arse to the ballot box or not, and I think that's a valid choice too.

Joysmum · 12/05/2014 21:02

I'll vote do that I can take my 11 year old down with me, as I always do, in the hope of engaging her interest.

TheFallenMadonna · 12/05/2014 21:02

I think it's a poor choice. But it's IS your choice, yes.

Out of interest, what would you do if we had compulsory voting? Cast a vote, spoil your paper, or take the fine?

Icimoi · 12/05/2014 21:04

I'm voting, as is DH, both DEFINITELY not voting UKIP

LineRunner · 12/05/2014 21:07

I'm another former Lib Dem voter. What a bollocks Clegg has made of the sexual assault allegations.

pointythings · 12/05/2014 21:07

I always vote - as an EU national I can only vote in EU and local elections, but I always do it.

DH can't vote as he is a US national, but he will be with me in spirit.

SecretNutellaFix · 12/05/2014 21:10

I always vote.

After all, you can't legitimately complain about the result if you had no part in making it happen, when you had the means.

inabeautifulplace · 12/05/2014 21:13

I have never voted before. It never really felt like I needed to. I am definitely voting.

limitedperiodonly · 12/05/2014 21:17

Out of interest, what would you do if we had compulsory voting? Cast a vote, spoil your paper, or take the fine?

That's very interesting TheFallenMadonna. I'd take the fine, depending on whether I could afford it.

Should we charge for democracy? And how much?

Should people who can afford it be able to flout it? That doesn't seem very fair.

I make a considered decision to show my contempt for certain candidates or elections by staying at home. I could dutifully attend and spoil my ballot, but why should I?

PunkrockerGirl · 12/05/2014 21:20

Will be ds2's first vote as well. So now the 4 of us can vote - seems like real milestone.

TheFallenMadonna · 12/05/2014 21:22

As I said below, in my experience, spoilt papers, and certainly a low turnout, are not viewed as a protest by candidates. The person with the most voted will be your elected representative. I can see why people want to protest about the policies on offer (as I said, I'm not sure who will get my vote this time, and I am hugely disillusioned with the main parties), however I think that not casting a vote, no matter what the method, is not an effective protest. And therefore not worth losing my modest contribution towards governance over.

limitedperiodonly · 12/05/2014 21:25

We differ. Which is the marvellous thing about a democracy.

TheFallenMadonna · 12/05/2014 21:28

The candidates will not register your contempt when you don't turn up to vote. Do you think it is effective as a protest?

wtffgs · 12/05/2014 21:28

I always vote. The bloody BNP canvas round here Sad

UKIP scare me Confused

edamsavestheday · 12/05/2014 21:31

I will vote, always do, people died for our right and are still dying in other countries and so on... but I can see why people don't.

Especially in European elections - there is fuck all engagement between the EU and European 'citizens'. My vote counts for diddly squat and voters count for diddly squat. It's all a carve-up between bureaucrats and politicians feathering their own nests - including Farage.

The auditors have refused to sign off the European Union's accounts for year after year after year because they are so dodgy, yet nothing is ever done about it. The fat cats swan around getting fatter and sneering at anyone who dares to question them.

Meanwhile the Commission overthrew democratically elected governments when the shit hit the fan, in Greece of all countries, the birthplace of democracy, as well as Italy. And punished ordinary Greek people in order to bail out German banks.

The whole currency union was always a con, they knew it was a con, and the people who have suffered are the ordinary 'citizens'. So much for citizenship when you've got diabetes and can't afford insulin - just one of the prices paid by ordinary people for the whole stitch-up. But hey, as long as the financiers are doing OK, and the banks get bailed out, and the MEPs can keep claiming their generous allowances for rolling over and letting big business dictate the terms, who cares?

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