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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not vote in the election

88 replies

Instituteofstudies · 15/03/2015 16:16

I can't bring myself to vote for Cameron, Clegg or Milliband. I don't trust any of them to do what they say they will do, or trust them to sort out the NHS, education, the economy. UKIP are dangerous, the Green Party not up to the job either.

I was brought up to always vote because women have fought so that I can. And I do believe that. But if I genuinely can't decide between all the hopeless bunch available, then what to do?

OP posts:
PtolemysNeedle · 15/03/2015 16:19

If you don't want to vote, you don't have to. But personally, I think that if you don't vote, you sound pointless complaining about the government until you do.

Have you looked to see if there are any independent candidates in your area?

FatCunt · 15/03/2015 16:19

Good job you can't vote for any of those three men, then, isn't it? Wink

Perhaps if none of the main parties are doing it for you, you should look at the individual candidates and decide who would best represent your area, rather than basing your decision on their party.

But YANBU not to vote; it's not compulsory.

Cornettoninja · 15/03/2015 16:20

I feel the same but can't bring myself to abstain or spoil my ballot as it acheives precisely fuck all. If you don't make a choice manifestos will never be aimed at you - if your not bothered politicians don't give a shit about your unused vote.

I'm leaning towards tactical voting. Even though the three main parties are pretty much the same rats in ties, I know who I hate the most so will vote for their strongest competitor and hope to fuck things are a little clearer for me at the next general election.

SqueezyCheeseWeasel · 15/03/2015 16:21

Cameron, clegg and milliband are just figureheads, vote for policies not people.

Original poster
Instituteofstudies · 15/03/2015 16:37

But what if you don't believe that they'll follow through on their policies? It seems that before an election they say whatever they think will get them voted in and after, realise they are totally unfeasible. Like Milliband scrapping uni fees - he's not going to be able to do that.

I think I shall have to do some more reading and see if I can find someone to plonk a tick next to.

OP posts:
Trooperslane · 15/03/2015 16:41

Yabu. You need to vote. No point in complaining when you've absolved responsibility.

Bowlersarm · 15/03/2015 16:45

I think it's absolutely fine not to vote. If you've considered all the options and still reluctant to vote for any of them.

What it's not fine to do, is complain and moan about the Government - whoever it is - after the election, if you haven't taken an active part in registering your vote.

MsJudgementalPants · 15/03/2015 16:47

YABU. No one party will completely represent you. Find out about your local candidates, see what they have to say and what they can do for your local area. If the worst comes to the worst, spoil your paper. we are incredibly fortunate to live in a democracy, so be part of it.

TywysogesGymraeg · 15/03/2015 16:49

If you're really not going to vote you should spoil your ballot paper. That sends a "none of the above" message, and is counted, as opposed to "can't be bothered" message if you don't vote at all.

LurkingHusband · 15/03/2015 16:50

MrsLH and I were having a long discussion about this last night ...

People who don't vote need to be very aware that irrespective of their reasons for not voting, the rest of us who do vote (and more importantly, the party that wins) will take it as a sign that they are happy with the way things are.

So if the OP doesn't vote, they must be happy with the way things are now.

After all, you can only change things by voting.

Titsalinabumsquash · 15/03/2015 16:50

Spoil your ballot, it still acts as a vote, an 'I have no faith in any of you' vote.

I shall personally vote for any party that will mean UKIP don't get in, I'm just not sure who that is or how to find out. Confused

ElectraCute · 15/03/2015 16:52

I understand your dilemma, but I don't think it's ok not to vote.

I agree that all the major parties are offering precisely zip, nada, niente. I agree completely that they're a bunch of untrustworthy twats in the main, and that some days you couldn't get a fag paper between labour and the Tories.

If I was in your position I would look really carefully at the independent candidates. I live in a tory stronghold so my vote 'doesn't count' but I'll still be voting Green...or as I just found out we have a Class War anarchist candidate standing in my true-blue suburban ward, I might even send a vote his way Grin. Or as a last resort go and spoil my ballot.

I agree that it shouldnt be this way, but not engaging is not the answer.

Thesuperswimmingdolphin · 15/03/2015 16:54

You're voting for your local candidates OP - so probably not any of Cameron etc. Get to know who they are and pick one. Not voting is not an option.

ShadowStone · 15/03/2015 16:57

YABU.

You can either:

Think about how each party's policies compare and vote for the least worst option;
Use tactical voting against the party you hate the most;
Spoil your ballot paper.

If you don't vote at all, then that will just encourage the politicians to ignore you and what you want. Politicians care about getting elected, so if you don't vote, you might as well not exist in their eyes, and they're going to have less incentive to focus on things important to people in your demographic.

chilephilly · 15/03/2015 16:57

YABVVVU
Women died so that you can vote.
This is your chance to have your say.
You are not voting for Cameron, Clegg or Miliband, you are voting for the best person to represent you in Westminster. Why would you not take part in this? Of course you may well end up someone other than the one you voted for, but if you don't vote you're saying very loudly you don't care who represents you. Find out about your local candidates and go to some hustings.
Remember: if you don't do politics, politics will do you.

Fuckup · 15/03/2015 16:57

what about TUSC the anti austerity party? remember you are not voting for the leader you are voting for the policies and party ideology. I'm voting for the party that represents my stance most accurately.

SauvignonBlanche · 15/03/2015 17:03

I can't bring myself to vote for Cameron, Clegg or Milliband.

YABU, unless you live in their in their constituencies, you won't be. Vote for their policies.

SpamAnderson · 15/03/2015 17:11

This may be my first year of not voting. The previous 3 times I've been eligible to vote, I've believed in a party and voted. This time I'm clueless, I've lost faith in the party I have voted for since I was 18 and have no idea who I actually 'trust' to give my vote to :/ Like shadow said, I'm believer though that a vote shouldn't be wasted (there are different ways to vote afterall) and I feel like I wouldn't have a right to an opinion about the government etc if I didn't use my vote in the first place. If that makes sense...

mytartanscarf · 15/03/2015 17:13

I don't think I'm voting, there isn't any point and I don't have time so I'll go with YANBU.

bette06 · 15/03/2015 17:14

Tbh, I mainly cast a vote against the parties I object to the most rather than because I have faith in the party I end up voting for.

To quote the video below, I vote "because politicians aren't all as bad as each other...some of them are worse".

KidLorneRoll · 15/03/2015 17:20

YANBU. Of course not. It's your right to vote or not vote, and that's what people fought for.

That said, do reconsider, if only to prevent those fucking arseholes at UKIP getting seats.

chilephilly · 15/03/2015 17:24

Mytartanscarf There IS a point and if you can't find time between 7am and 10pm on polling day you can arrange a postal vote.

mytartanscarf · 15/03/2015 17:28

No, I can't, I work 3 jobs; I'm not being disingenuous. I get precious little free time. I very genuinely can't see a point, but am happy to be told otherwise :)

pointythings · 15/03/2015 17:29

Ed Milliband has said nothing about scrapping tuition fees, only about reducing them. Which he may or may not do.

I have no vote in this election - I'm one of the immigrants people are so up in arms about, and I'm very worried about how this will be expressed in terms of policy by a future government.

SauvignonBlanche · 15/03/2015 17:35

I don't think I'm voting, there isn't any point and I don't have time Hmm

You must be rushed off your feet then but that's no reason not to vote, get a postal vote.

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