to get extremely frustrated with people who 'can't be arsed' voting?

[Nancery]

I have unfortunately had, or heard, this conversation a few times of late, most notably with my sister. She works as Bank staff in the NHS (nurse), rents (pays extortionate rent, incapable it seems of saving for a deposit), and is usually the sole earner in her family (fuckwit husband is a plumber 'who can't find work) and has two kids, both under five. She and fuckwit husband appear to actually find it funny they 'cant be arsed' and 'have better things to do' and can't see how voting for anyone, or reading up on things, would be a good idea in their circumstances.
I have since heard a few, colleagues rather than friends, saying similar.
I'm no politics buff but even I can see the importance! Grrr

Are there really no other issues that you want to have a say in?

Of course it was just in relation to the opening post.

People who don't vote have no right to moan about whoever wins...it only takes a few not to vote to change leadership, just as it takes only a few to vote change the other way.
Every vote counts

What ilovesooty said.

One problem is our electoral system- i live in one of the safest seats imaginable so my vote IS wasted in that it counts for nothing when i vote ahainst the incumbent who wins by a massive landslide. I want to vote, i feel i should and i probably will. I would have no reservations at all if there were a 'none of the above' box and this WAS counted up and had some impact eg 32% of female voters inTory safeseats opted not to vote for a candidate. Whatever. Plus theres the constant playing to the (much more likely to vote) pensioners to the detriment of younger peoplem. Again. So enough reasons i think to be put off!

Moving...but say if you and your neighbours all thought the same and none of you voted...with all of you voting you may just swing the vote the other way..not every seat is as safe as you think.

On our electoral system, unloke other systems internationally, the votes arent all totted up for the country as a whole and then parliament arranged on proprtion to peoples wishes. Simple first past the post on a per constituency basis. So all/most of our votes do NOT count! It where i live is about the safest seat imaginable, believe me! I am not advocating not bothering to vote. Just i can see many reasons, in our current system, not to do so.

YANBU. These people are usually the first to moan about anything as well.

I despise people who revel in their ignorance.

Doesn't bother me.

As long as they don't moan afterwards.

Every vote counts

Not quite true though, we don't have proportional representation, so every vote doesn't count.

Exactly. In fact not at all true, sadly. Do people really not realize?!

There are people all over the world who would love to have the gift of a vote even in a flawed system. It is depressing that people with this privilege don't value it. I am judgey about people who don't vote. I always take a moment to send a grateful thought to the suffragettes as I cast my vote.

I feel the same SaffronWBlue especially when it's simply due to laziness rather than an educated decision

I agree, Saffron. It's the suffragettes who get me voting every time. But wish more people realised the reality of our more than flawed- actually unrepresentative - system. Shame they didnt vote the lib dems in on PR years ago. But for reasons i cannot fathom, the great British public just doesnt 'get' it

I will be voting but as DP pointed out we don't actually get a choice e.g. If I want to vote for the Green Party I can't because they don't have a candidate here!

Oh please do vote, or spoil your ballot paper or whatever. DH is in charge of our election where we live. He'll be up at 5.30 am and won't get home probably for another 24 hours as he'll have to wait until the count is over and the result declared. Please make his very long day, and all the long hours he'll work in the run up to the election, worth while.

But for reasons i cannot fathom, the great British public just doesnt 'get' it

It's not something that's shouted about by past and I'm sure future governments they would be shooting themselves in the foot if it was brought to the forefront of people attention

Griphook - some parties have taken on the anger of those privately renting and are offering three year tenancies and restricted rent rises. Check out Labour, Green and LibDem policies to find out your options to vote for change in the area of private rented housing.

I'd like voting to be compulsory and there to be an option of 'none of the above' and if that vote exceeded 50% a local election had to be redone, or no one appointed to the seat.

Well, effective political actvism, the media...all have a role. Ironically, PR long slipped off lib dems' agenda, at least in debates/media now they have had a voice in gov

Jane, you get my vote
Yes, Aussie system is like that. Great idea and would mean younger people should have greater voice

I have never not voted.

But this time I am considering it because of all the corruption that is being exposed. Until Operation Fernbridge ends and the CSA inquiry restores some measure of confidence that there does not continue to be a widespread cover up, I can't bring myself to actively vote for any politician.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2333303-We-are-on-the-cusp-of-finding-out-that-senior-politicians-were-involved-in-abuse-and-there-was-a-cover-up-I-think-thats-inevitable-now

Today 22:51 funchum8am

Thank you I will definitely have a look

Not all candidates belong to a political party: some are Independent.

Why don't those disillusioned with Party politics simply vote for an independent MP?

Bunch - very sobering reading. I too would march for that. Not much else now.

I don't get wound up by non voters, but I do internally judge them as being deeply stupid, and then mentally cut them from my life as they are now dead to me.