To just not feel qualified to vote?

[OctaviaBrennan123]

Honestly please tell me how the average person can possibly be qualified to even hold an opinion on whether it is better for us to be in or out of Europe? Unless you are an experienced economist, how can you even begin to understand the complexities and dynamics? How does the average person make an informed decision on who to vote for?

I really want to vote. Women died for me to have the vote, but if I feel like this, I bet millions more do too.

you are NOT voting to be in or out of Europe though (unless I missed the announcement of a referendum)

you are voting for the party you want to represent your views in the EP

and possibly your local council depending on your location

well said gordyslovesheep - why on earth did you, OP, think we were having a referendum on Europe?
Please vote - even if you spoil your ballot. Read all the manifestos and vote for who you agree most with
(although obviously UKIP are a bunch of t***s)

Women died in order that you have the right to vote IF YOU WANT TO.

As more and more of us are coming to realise that it doesn't matter who we vote for, we still end up with a collection of self-serving sleazebags running the country, many of us are exercising our right NOT to vote.

Don't stress. Stay at home and let others support the system that shafts us all no matter who votes for whom.

That's what I mean. I can see UKIP getting masses of votes despite the fact that the average bloke in the street hasn't got the first clue as to what being or not being in Europe would mean for us.

I feel the same, I tried to complete an online survey to help me - I failed to grasp what much of it was and gave up! I have loads of stuff bookmarked and have been reading up on it. I feel that I have a slightly better grasp of who will represent my views in the EU (but only slightly!)
What I've failed to find is difinitive info on who bothered to turn up and vote on various votes on the EU. I have seen an anti UKIP poster on who voted what for equal pay but that's it. I'll be reading with interest :)

SuperSophie would you ever consider spoiling your ballot?

I'm interested because I sort of agree with what you said but I'm too scared to let go of my tiny bit of power to change things!

I thought it was the easiest vote I've ever made. Once you rule out the racists and the fuckwits there's little choice left.

Tommy - "that you most agree with". Exactly. How do you know who you agree with unless you're an economist?

If it makes it easier for anyone remember that it is not a vote to be in or out of the EU. It's who you want to represent you in the EU. Even if UKIP win every single vote we will still be in the EU. It's only the MPs you vote for in a general election who have the power to take us out of the EU.

I dont think we should have a referendum on Europe until we all understand it a whole lot more and I am including myself very much in that. I`m not against a referendum at all but really believe most of us will not really know exactly what we are voting for. I think a lot of people thinks its mainly about immigration, but there is a lot more to it (I beleive)

I do think that people have become confused as to what the European Elections are about, they are not about being in or out at all, and MEPs have no say about leaving Europe.

But, no your not being UR, try and have a look online for the different parties standing in your area and see which one is closest to your ideology.

just that - read through them all and then make your decision based on what you've read. If you don't understand it, phone them and ask! Don't use your ignorance as an excuse for not being bothered.
supersophie - that's the sort of attitude that will let UKIP and other extreme parties in

"SuperSophie, would you ever consider spoiling your ballot?"

It'd still mean taking myself to the polling station and, after I'd written something wonderfully satirical on my voting slip, the only person who'd see it would be the counting assistant who'd see it wasn't a proper vote and throw into the bin without reading it.

Universal suffrage gives tens of millions of powerless people in Britain the illusion of power and thus stops them taking to the streets and seizing real power for themselves the way the French did many years ago.

Even after a revolution, there's still a ruling elite that takes all the money and all the best houses and land and tells everybody else how to live their lives but the important thing is that you're being shafted by your own class and that makes it somewhat easier to bear.

Don't vote: you'll only encourage them to hold more elections.

"Once you rule out the racists and the fuckwits there's little choice left."

In most constituencies, once you rule out the racists and the fuckwits there's NOBODY left.

"supersophie - that's the sort of attitude that will let UKIP and other extreme parties in".

Au contraire. If nobody votes, NOBODY can get in.

So they'll have to come up with a better system of choosing a government.

what like fights to the death?

the only person who'd see it would be the counting assistant who'd see it wasn't a proper vote and throw into the bin without reading it.

Actually the spoilt papers will be looked at by the agents for the various parties (and possibly the candidates) to establish whether any of them are actually a vote for someone (when I was counting we had one paper where someone had drawn a smiley face next to one candidate's name, as well as lots of papers with insults and other comments).

I spoiled my paper at the last council election here (I could not bring myself to vote for any of the major parties due to their actions over the previous few years) and I wrote a list of my reasons on the paper. A lot of other people seem to have done the same, and some of them were paraphrased by journalists at the count. So it is a way of expressing your opinion and I promise you it will be seen by more than one person and it will not be thrown in a bin without being read.

If people don't turn up to vote, the party that wins will likely claim it is an endorsement of the fact that everything is fine, and people don't feel the need to vote. I am perhaps lucky that the polling station is only a 5 minute walk from where I live, and it really doesn't take much out of my day to go along and vote (I'm not a constant ballot spoiler - I didn't like doing it, but at the same time I couldn't not engage in the process, even if all I was doing was having a little rant).

So they'll have to come up with a better system of choosing a government.

Well how else would we choose a government that the majority of people are in favour of/think the least worst?

Maybe we should have civil servants running everything and decisions above a certain budget level get voted on by an internet/phone poll?

Or given your statement about the French Revolution are you actually proposing that we have an armed rebellion? Followed by mass executions and totalitarian rule? Do you want to discuss how the rulers of France were chosen post-Revolution?

Personally I'd rather continue walking along the road every few years to put an x on a ballot paper (or if I feel so inclined writing my protest).

Ooaolm
Glad u clarified that misperception. I intend to spoil my vote because it is counted in a way.

I'm voting Green. They are the only ones who seem to give a shit about anything other than making their mates richer and kicking dark skinned people out of the country.

It is a while since I counted but they will still have to look at them. If they didn't then the count is open to massive abuse.

Also, the percentage of spoiled/rejected ballots is recorded. This gives added weight to questioning how much an election actually reflects the views of the electorate. If only 30% turn out to vote, then a case can be made for everyone else being totally happy with whatever party gets in. If everyone turns out to vote, a minority of them for candidates but the majority are spoiled or rejected ballots then THAT would be an excellent way to send a clear message that you're not happy and you want a new system.

Agree completely OOAOML. I always turn out to vote, even if it's to spoil my ballot paper by writing "I don't want any of them" on it.

Blimey I've just used Vote Match to find out who agrees with my views.I thought I'd come out as a bit UKIP if I'm honest. It came out with Labour!

I have never voted Labour ever, so I am shocked actually.
This shows I know nothing about what the parties stand for.

Just realised I sound like a cheerleader for spoiling your paper - I do honestly usually vote for someone, but on two occasions I have felt that the best option was to spoil my paper. Plus the times I counted a good spoiled paper was a bit of amusement in a long night

But yes Livid - at least doing that is turning up and being counted.

Echoing anyone who says to read through the (usually pretty easy to read on the surface of it) party blurb and go with whoever appeals the most.

The problem with not voting or purposely spoiling your ballot is you are dead wood to the people trying to get actual votes. Despite the hand wringing over low voter turnout the political parties are more than happy to have a reliable core market that's small and easy to tailor your policies to appeal to. There's a fair few people who will change their vote dependant on key policies no matter whose offering it. The promise of scrapping tuition fees got the liberals a chance at the coalition by effectively taking some of labours voters (simplistic but you get the jist).

If everybody used their votes and made a proper choice all the parties would have to start actually reflecting what the real public opinion is and you would naturally be able to identify with a party.

Personally I would back compulsory voting if there was a real 'none of the above' option that would trigger either another election or a 12 month government.