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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:
Original poster
Instituteofstudies · 15/03/2015 19:43

Talkingpeace that's a great quote!

OP posts:
Tizwailor · 15/03/2015 19:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HermioneWeasley · 15/03/2015 19:45

I am probably going to go and spoil my ballot paper - I feel like I'm still engaging in th process women died for me to have, but it can't bring myself to vote for any of the choices.

The "independents" in my area are just another term for racists.

TalkinPeace · 15/03/2015 19:45

institute
I did not think of it.
I think the original was asking a stranger to order for you in a restaurant but the gist is the same.
Have a say or shut up and don't complain when you get shat on.

Tizwailor · 15/03/2015 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ThursdayLast · 15/03/2015 19:50

YABU.
At least go in the booth and have your name crossed off the electoral roll. That way your democraphic is represented.

I honestly can't believe there are people out there who dont vote. Boggle.

TalkinPeace · 15/03/2015 19:54

Tiz
if the 60% who do not bother ALL turned out and wrote "none of the above" the shoo in candidate would NOT have a mandate
so electoral change would come

staying at home is accepting that the current system is best

Tizwailor · 15/03/2015 19:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TalkinPeace · 15/03/2015 20:01

Apathy Ru

either accept things as they are or try to change them
but if you let others order your meal, don't complain

Tizwailor · 15/03/2015 20:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TalkinPeace · 15/03/2015 20:11

Tiz
The point is that the politicians take the silence of the majority as evidence of satisfaction rather than loathing

The only way to make them realise how much we despise them is to write it on the ballot paper
you do know that spoiled ballots are read out in front of the candidates don't you

If tens of thousands of people write none of the above we might get PR that would make every vote count

redredread · 15/03/2015 20:13

I would strongly recommend this website re policies vote for policies YABU not to vote

Tizwailor · 15/03/2015 20:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

vivideye · 15/03/2015 20:41

I think YABU although I am sympathetic.

These days, I vote for women, regardless of the party (well, not UKIP). I'm sick of seeing only white men making decisions about my life. I've been told that it's the wrong thing to do, but at the end of the day, the vote's mine, and I'll cast it as I wish.

I wish to have a more representative democracy. Otherwise, it is not a true democracy.

Tobyjugg · 15/03/2015 20:44

Turn up and spoil your paper, but turn up!

chilephilly · 15/03/2015 20:58

Mytartanscarf if you like your local MP vote for them.
The message I'm hearing from you is "I don't know much about politics, I can't be bothered finding out so I'm going to make excuses". I'm sure you don't want to voluntarily give up your chance to direct how the country is run, do you?

happybubblebrain · 15/03/2015 21:02

I have previously voted Labour to try and help keep the Conservatives out, but that didn't work. I've voted Green in local elections and I was thinking of voting for them this time, but they don't seem to have a clue what they're talking about and I really don't agree with their weird ideas about prostitution. So, I'm stumped and therefore not voting. There is nobody to vote for.

happybubblebrain · 15/03/2015 21:03

And I will complain about the government, unless they're good.

mytartanscarf · 15/03/2015 21:05

I'm not sure quite honestly chile.

I am reading these posts and (sorry) no one has provided me with a firm reason why voting matters.

Our local MP is labour. I like him as a person but voting labour sits uncomfortably with me. Voting conservative more so. I disagree with the liberal democrat policies and I am certainly not voting for UKIP!

I don't wish to be part of what I am against.

TalkinPeace · 15/03/2015 21:07

if you don't vote, how do you tend to effect change?

championnibbler · 15/03/2015 21:11

no-one can force you to vote.
that's one of the advantages of living in a liberal society.
however in Australia, voting is mandatory unless you can prove you have a valid reason not to.

should you choose not to vote bear in mind:
the clamour for democracy that we have witnessed in the middle east since the Arab spring.
stop voting and we invite in worse than what we have now - fascism, fundamentalism, extremism etc.
some inheritance for our kids.

inform yourself and then decide who you think is best equipped to run this country.
please vote.

championnibbler · 15/03/2015 21:15

This.

To not vote in the election
Filisicia · 16/03/2015 07:57

Yes, please don't vote, it gives my vote more power :-)

DarthVadersTailor · 16/03/2015 08:04

YANBU

I would only vote for voting reform, or if there's a candidate worth voting for, or if there is an option to actually register a vote for 'none of the above' (spoiling the ballot is NOT the same thing). As none of that is present I will continue to not vote.

As a wise person once said, if voting was important they wouldn't let us do it!!!

Filisicia · 16/03/2015 08:05

If you are considering not voting I expect you are broadly happy with the way things are. The main parties are very similar if you consider them within the whole political spectrum, but that is because there is no appetite in the uk to change things significantly. Perhaps if you don't think voting makes a difference, you are taking the fact that we have a well run peaceful free country for granted. Our vote is important because things could be very different- you would be keen to use it if your life was seriously impacted by the voting choices of others.