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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

the election - why don't more of us get round to voting?

64 replies

Tryingtokeepsmiling · 08/05/2017 17:29

Feeling increasingly like people with young families aren't represented by politicians because we don't vote - you can understand why after a day of wrangling little kids, when you've got them into bed the last thing you want to do is turn out and vote - but then we get stuck with someone else's choice. online voting would be amazing but postal voting is the next best thing: register here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-for-a-postal-vote

OP posts:

CaveMum · 08/05/2017 17:38

I usually vote at about 6pm after picking DD up from nursery. This time I'm on maternity leave with DS so I'll probably vote straight after dropping DD off at nursery to save having to wrangle 2 in the village hall!

It's not that much effort and if you really can't manage to get to the polling station then apply for a postal vote in advance to be on the safe side.

Nicemil1 · 08/05/2017 17:51

Don't most people postal vote now?

cricketballs · 08/05/2017 17:52

I've never understood people not voting, DH didn't when I first met him - I soon sorted that out , his excuse was basically him being bone idle so i "encouraged" him to do postal voting.

I think they need to run that campaign again which was a cartoon of two people talking in a pub and the conversation having to stopped continuously by one as the other didn't vote so he wasn't allowed to voice an opinion as that's how I wore DH down!

AnguaResurgam · 08/05/2017 18:19

From the threads at every major election, MN has a very high proportion of voters.

I'm not in favour of widening the postal vote; there seem to have been too many examples already of fraud.

AuntieStella · 08/05/2017 18:21

Why not take the small DC with you to the Polling Station? I always did with mine. I think seeing your parents vote is important in demonstrating that it's worth finding time for. And as they grow, it can spark interesting conversations.

Pommes · 08/05/2017 18:30

My DH missed the Council vote because he left for work before the polling station opened, and arrived home after 7pm when he was too tired to venture out again.

I note that the French have elections at the weekend, do you think that might improve turnout in the UK?

cheminotte · 08/05/2017 18:43

I have had the day off work on every polling day since DS started school for the last five years so loads of time. But I don't know why we have them on a weekday rather than a weekend like most other countries.

Gottagetmoving · 08/05/2017 18:49

we don't vote - you can understand why after a day of wrangling little kids, when you've got them into bed the last thing you want to do is turn out and vote
Nope,....can't understand why at all.
You can vote any time during the day.
You could get a postal vote.
It's not too difficult to do.

NoLoveofMine · 08/05/2017 18:57

My parents took me when they went to vote after work when I was 5. I informed the clerks and everyone within earshot who they were planning to vote for. At least it gave them a chance to inform me of the "secret ballot" thing.

Grimbles · 08/05/2017 19:01

Maybe not knowing who you want to vote for is part of it.

OwlOfBrown · 08/05/2017 19:03

Feeling increasingly like people with young families aren't represented by politicians because we don't vote

Evidence?

Are people with young families less likely to vote than other sections of society?

BackforGood · 08/05/2017 19:20

No, I don't understand any of the reasons given above, for not voting either.
I always vote. I feel it is incredibly important.
I have been in the situation where I've left for work before the polling stations open and not got home until late. I've been in the situation with little dc (not sure why you can't take them with you ? ).
Now you can easily register for a postal vote, there really is no reason.

Emphasise · 08/05/2017 19:23

I like the ritual of going to vote so I've never applied for a postal vote. For the recent local elections I genuinely just ran out of time. I meant to do it but things kept conspiring against me. I think that's the first one I've missed in the 29 years since I was 18.

Emphasise · 08/05/2017 19:26

Being home with dc is surely the easiest possible situation to ensure you go to vote. You take them with you, demobstrate democracy, let them post the slips and if it's a reasonable walk from home you've filled a whole hour or so with an "outing"

I went with my parents to vote, for the walk, right up until I was able to do it myself

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 08/05/2017 19:26

I've taken small babies to the polling station, I've taken toddlers and small babies too. You're in there for a short time.

If you choose not to vote or can't be bothered to go out to do so, you cannot be critical of whatever political party is in power.

BubbleBed · 08/05/2017 19:30

I've always voted. I'm a single parent with a chronic fatigue illness, two young children, one with disabilities, a job, and I attend uni. And I still get to the polls between 7am and 10pm for my two minute duty. The vast majority of non voters just can't be bothered ime

However, I do think it could help if it were electronic. So you could use any polling station.

c3pu · 08/05/2017 19:55

I take my kids (10 and 6) to the polling station and show them the democratic process. Have done for years!

specialsubject · 08/05/2017 20:19

Take the kids or apply for a postal vote.

No vote no whinge afterwards!

ClarkWGriswold · 08/05/2017 20:31

Polling stations are open 7am-10pm and no more than a quarter of a mile from your house. Surely one can find time in that window to go out and vote? I work a full day on election days, have an hour commute, collect children from nursery/childminder, put them to bed and pop out about 8pm to vote.

SallyGinnamon · 08/05/2017 20:36

I had a postal vote for the Manchester Mayoral election. It's still sitting in my car as I didn't want to vote for any of them.

EastMidsMummy · 08/05/2017 20:41

Don't most people postal vote now?

No. At the last general election, only about 20% of ballots were postal votes.

thedishonthecoffeetable · 08/05/2017 20:52

My DH is away all week so has a postal vote and when they let us all have one I got a postal vote too, love it especially in the last week when the world and his wife knock on the door, I listen and make interested noises then tell them my vote went off a week ago 😆

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 08/05/2017 20:54

I think a lot of people don't vote, because without proportional representation there is often no real point.

GrimmDays · 08/05/2017 21:40

There is no reason. I've taken kids with me. I've been at weird times. Most postal stations are very close and you don't even need to remember the card thing.

If you can't be arsed or struggle to get to the polling station you can register for a postal vote.

wickerlampshade · 08/05/2017 21:45

I've got a postal vote but I inevitably forget to post it and end up handing it in to the polling station on the day !

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