My vote isn't going to make one jot of difference is it?

[TheoriginalLEM]

I live in a safe tory seat, there is no way this will change i am told, so really? what is the point even, of me voting? It will make no difference locally and even less nationally.

:(

I am going to vote, i haven't decided who for yet, it is between labour and green, but honestly, i may as well vote monster raving looney for all the difference it is going to make.

Someone please tell me that this isn't so?

I am in a historically safe seat, hasn't changed in, iirc, 70 ish years.

Polls suggest that it might not be so safe this time round.

Vote.

You should vote.

I least you can vote for who you want.

The only parties standing in my constituency are UKIP and Green. That's it! No major party. I don't want either of them! I was planning on voting Monster Raving Loony but he's a) decided not to stand and b) looking at his facebook appears to support UKIP massively.

manic
But how much fun would it be if the Speaker lost his seat

True! I won't be voting for his anyway. I'll probably spoil the ballot. Might vote green.

I understand the theory behind spoiling your ballot, but in my opinion it still achieves the same result as not voting and having no say. I doubt that the politicians even notice spoiled votes.

You seem to me like a natural Green party supporter, OP.

If the house of lords goes to a voted in chamber, one plan is to make that the PR-elected chamber. So HouseofC would be vote for the person & HouseofL would be vote for the party chamber.

anyway, I think it's worthwhile to vote so that it gets noted what the national support is for each party and their mix of policies.

People thinking of voting Green but not bothering because there's no way they'll be elected should keep in mind that it costs £500 (I think) to stand, the more votes they get the better chance they'll get their deposit back.

People thinking of voting Green but not bothering because there's no way they'll be elected should keep in mind that it costs £500 (I think) to stand, the more votes they get the better chance they'll get their deposit back.
THAT is the reason to vote with your heart.
www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/deposit/

If the party you love cannot win, at least vote to get them their deposit back at 5% of the poll ....

Spoiled votes are counted and acknowledged. I'm voting for a candidate this time, but spoilt my vote for a police commissioner, as did many who like me were dissatisfied with the information avaliable. The unusually high level of spoils recieved some attention as a statistic, and that means a better chance of triggering a change than from abstaining from voting.

No vote is wasted. I've never voted in a winning MP, but it's still worth exercising my right to an opinion.

whatever you do, vote.

even if you don't think it will make a difference.
even if it is for the least bad of a bad lot.
even if it isn't for the same party as your spouse.
even if it is for a party others round you don't like.

even if you have to decide to spoil the paper. Not to turn up shows you don't care.

just vote. We can.

Spoiled votes count in turn out. So when they say x candidate got Y% of the vote, the spoiled paper is counted as part of the 100-Y% that didn't vote for them.

Plus if you're in a closely fought constituency and it comes down to a hundred votes separating the candidates, the spoilt papers will be read by the candidates

We're all voting in our house, but our Tory MP, who is a lazy fucking shite, has a 98% chance of winning apparently.

the spoilt papers will be read by the candidates grin
Too right they do.
When I was an observer at a count many years ago, watching the candidates faces as the spoilt ballots were read out was so satisfying.

the smug git who'd assumed he'd be a shoo in lost by 67 votes

We're in a very safe conservative seat - our MP got more than 50% of the votes in the last election. I'm ambivalent about the major parties, but our MP is, frankly, a cunt; proper old-school far right, against abortion, gay marriage, stem-cell research, and votes for women probably.

I'd love to see him defeated, and even though I know it's massively unlikely, I have to cast my vote.

If it was up to me, I'd make voting compulsory, albeit with a 'none of the above' option. How can we have an elected government that a majority of people didn't vote for? Crazy.

That's what they want you to think.

Your single vote may not make a difference, but everyone's does.

Goringbit I believe voting should be compulsory too. If you don't vote you should be fined.

I'm not for voting at all. What's the bloody point, they all stand for the same thing?

errr . no they don't sourdrawers

Merguez

Surely the point is that sourdrawers feels like all of the parties are the same.

Thank you Boney You're quite right... Actually Merguez the big 3, Cameron, Miliband and Clegg, (just typing the names is depressing), offer no actual policy choice to voters Merguez. They all support austerity budgets, benefit cuts, tuition fees, NHS privatisation, bank bail-outs, wars in the Middle East with America come what may, detention without trial for "terrorist suspects". They're all committed to massive defence budgets ie spending untold billions on pointless, Trident fucking missiles, and they have the environment on the absolute bottom of their list of empty promises.
Errr and they all oppose rail nationalisation... Want some more?

If all the people voted for who they want instead of all this tactical bull, I'm sure changes would happen. I just cannot understand it.
VOTE FOR WHO YOU FECKING WELL WANT.
I live in East Belfast and at the last election, Peter Robinson lost the seat he had held for 31 years, because people went out and voted for who they want!They didn't just say, oh, it is such a DUP strong seat, what is the point?
Evidence
people are saying naomi won't will this time, but it won't be because I didn't vote.

I live in a safe Labour seat, however I cannot stand my MP as he is the epitome of New Labour. I'm lucky I can vote for a real Leftie; she doesn't stand a chance of course but I really enjoy ticking the box by her name and contributing to her keeping her deposit.

sourdrawers Do you have a Green candidate standing near you? They are a genuine alternative to the 3 main parties and while they may not win in your seat, your vote will help push up their national vote share which will help make the case for electoral reform (and may make a difference in future elections & local elections)

123Jump
"If all the people voted for who they want instead of all this tactical bull, I'm sure changes would happen"

As long as we have a first past the post system changes are not going to happen, the main parties don't even want a "none of the above" option.

Merguez

the greens being a genuine alternative would depend on if the voter supports their policies.

I live in one of the safest Tory seats in the country. Mp has a very famous brother and is no doubt being groomed for big things in the future. I still plan to go with my heart and vote labour. It won't mean a thing in the scheme of things I suppose but its something that is important to me.