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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we should vote on Sundays like the rest of Europe?

33 replies

weatherall · 25/05/2014 09:59

Our voter turnout in the euro elections may be as low as 25%.

That is atrocious for a democracy!

Aibu to think if we voted on Sundays more people would turn out?

I know of several people who didn't vote because it wasn't very practical for them to take the DCs out to vote in the evening after a long workday.

You'd think the politicians didn't want us to vote Hmm

OP posts:
susiedaisy · 25/05/2014 10:05

Yanbu. I never got to the polling station as I work shifts and just couldn't get there. Feel bad about it I usually try to get to vote.

AnythingNotEverything · 25/05/2014 10:09

Two words. Postal vote.

sunshinecity17 · 25/05/2014 10:26

what shift do you work that you could not vote any time between 7 am and 10 pm?

kelda · 25/05/2014 10:29

YANBU. I have just voted here in Belgium, where voting is compulsary for all belgian citizens. Shift work is not always an excuse not to vote - I know because I am working a shift this afternoon. My colleagues working the early shifts are expected to vote straight afterwards, and have to get there before the stations close at 4pm.

chocoshopoholic · 25/05/2014 10:30

We have a combination of shifts and working away. We have a postal vote, can fill in during the 2 weeks prior and drop at any post office or town hall in advance or leave at a polling station on the day.

I think those apathetic on a Thursday would still be the same on a Sunday.

TheSarcasticFringehead · 25/05/2014 10:34

YANBU. I think a lot of people will be less bothered about it if they've had a hard day of work and don't want to go down to the polling station. But then for local elections, more people are away on Sundays, so I think Friday would be better.

Original poster
weatherall · 25/05/2014 10:37

I think there are some issues with saying 75% of the population should postal vote.

There would be do much mail RM would have to employ extra temp workers.

Some people don't know they are going to be woot king a shift until that day or too late to apply for a postal vote.

If you move house it takes quite some time to set up electoral registration then apply for a postal vote.

It doesn't allow people to experience the whole campaign and the messages in the last 2 weeks.

Some people don't trust their vote to not get lost.

There is more scope for fraud.

OP posts:
Youdontneedacriminallawyer · 25/05/2014 10:38

I don't think the day matters, and why mess with tradition? I do think voting ought to be compulsory though. Everyone must have an opinion. Even if there's not much to chose between candidates and parties, there would be one tiny thing you prefer about one or the other.
People shouldn't moan about the NHS, schools, roads, defence, tax, etc etc unless they've voted

Fluzzieinajacuzzi · 25/05/2014 10:39

That's interesting! Didn't know the rest of Europe voted on Sunday.
I am shocked at how few vote. I voted after a 13 hour shift and wasn't the last person to do so.

CMP69 · 25/05/2014 10:42

Voting is compulsory in Australia too

Original poster
weatherall · 25/05/2014 10:56

I think voting should be compulsory too.

In countries where it is what is the penalty for non compliance? Is it enforced?

I also think the polling stations should be open from 6am to 12am midnight.

Where I was lots of people were rushing in at 9.55pm.

And there were those student queues in 2010.

OP posts:
kslatts · 25/05/2014 11:06

Surely there can't be many people unable to spend 5 minutes voting at some point between 7am and 10pm on a weekday.

I just called in on my way home, meant I arrived home 5 mins later than normal, no big deal.

BuzzardBird · 25/05/2014 11:07

I'm quite glad that some people didn't vote.

caroldecker · 25/05/2014 11:08

compulsary voting is wrong - if people do not care, they don't vote - where is the benefit in making them?

Bowlersarm · 25/05/2014 11:28

I'm against compulsory voting.

And I also think the polling stations are open long enough on a weekday for everybody to be able to find a small slot on their day to go there. I don't think voting on the Bank Holiday Sunday is a wise idea at all-too many people are away.

YABU.

tiggytape · 25/05/2014 11:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SanityClause · 25/05/2014 11:52

It is not compulsory to vote in Australia. It is compulsory to go and pick up a ballot paper, and post it in the ballot box. What you do with that piece of paper in the meantime, is your own business.

Compulsory voting is good, because it makes people consider what they do with that piece of paper between picking it up, and putting it in the box. A spoilt paper can still be used as a political statement, and is less unambiguous than just "not voting" in the UK, which could just be perceived as apathy. (Of course, you can also choose to spoil your paper in the UK.)

I don't think it's necessary to make voting easier for people. I can't imagine many people in the UK were disenfranchised by their inability to get to a polling station on Thursday, and those that couldn't attend, could easily arrange to use a postal vote.

I remember seeing news footage of black South Africans queuing to vote for the first time. How easy it is for us to forget what a privilege it is to vote, and also, what an important duty to our country.

MinesAPintOfTea · 25/05/2014 11:59

My friends were un the student queues un Leeds in2010. They had finished work at 5 and lived less than 10 mins walk from the polling station. Here dh has been waiting for the doors to open at 7 to vote on his way to work, I've taken ds on our way home, dh has had an emergency proxy due to being out of the country etc.

If you can be bothered its easy. Much easier than in countries where acts of violence during polling are common.

caroldecker · 25/05/2014 15:26

Voting is not a duty but a privilege, your choice to give it up.

BerniesBurneze · 25/05/2014 15:31

YABU. The polling station should be 2 minutes away. Ypu can start votong at 7 befpre work until 10pm after work.

Lots of people travel on weekends and can't vote in their own constituency.

It's in May so the weather in amenable but not the summer holidays.

Making it a Sunday would lower turnout even further

CallingAllEngels · 25/05/2014 15:40

I live in the Netherlands and our voting was on Thursday so not sure how many countries are voting today, but it's not all of Europe.

Chocotrekkie · 25/05/2014 15:41

I would have voted today. I didn't on Thursday as I was going to go after work - forgot on the way home, got home and DH went out. I remembered at 9 o'clock when the kids were asleep and DH was out - he didn't get back till late.

privitandpetunias · 25/05/2014 17:18

YABU seeing as a large number of polling stations are in churches and wouldn't be available for that use on Sunday's. Besides if people really want to vote as others have said they can get a postal vote.

ICanSeeTheSun · 25/05/2014 17:25

Prefer a Thursday, I'm out if the house every week day with school runs and work.

Sunday I don't think I could be bothered to leave the house.

StarGazeyPond · 25/05/2014 17:29

If you want to vote, you will find a way.