Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

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:

SwearingMakesEverythingBetter · 09/05/2017 10:04

Totally agree. People suffered so that we have this right. 150 years ago many men couldn't vote in this country, never mind women! We are so privileged compared with many people in the world. Like a PP I actually get a bit emotional voting.

Itinerary · 09/05/2017 10:16

I won't be voting because I don't trust any of the parties to do what they say they will do.

Does that apply to the things you disagree with most, as well as the good things? If Party X say they will ban Mumsnet, ensure no-one earns more than 1p an hour, and allow cats to drive underground trains, would you not consider voting for any other party to keep them out? If you don't vote, Party X wins and implements their policies, will you still be happy you didn't vote?

Iazarus · 09/05/2017 10:27

But I don't trust them to stick to their policies, so what's to stop Party X winning and then not banning Mumsnet? Or another party winning and banning Mumsnet? I believe there is a huge amount of corruption within our political establishment, they do whatever suits them at the time. I'm sick of propaganda and lies, which is why I won't be voting.

AnotherSpartacus · 09/05/2017 10:49

I like the ritual of voting, too. I've never missed a general election since my first one, a few months after I turned 18. I'd rather spoil my paper than not vote (which I'm tempted to do this time...)

The polling station is open for a long time and there's postal voting for people who can't get there in person for any reason.

It doesn't bother me if other people choose not to vote and I don't think it should be compulsory, but what does irritate me is when there's a low turnout and people on the losing side try to claim that all of the non-voters would have been on their side if they'd bothered to vote. Not voting means you either don't like any of the available choices, or don't care enough about any of it to express your opinion. In the latter case, you can't then complain about the winner!

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 09/05/2017 11:44

I've took DS5 with me every time except this year, as he was at school.never had any issues with it and it's a five minute thing.
I think lots of people just can't be bothered to go tbh.

specialsubject · 09/05/2017 14:11

Apparently there have been a lot of applications to register to vote since the election was called. This is good.

Hopefully they will also work out that you have to do the other bit.

BlueKarou · 09/05/2017 14:58

It is a hassle, will be more so this year as I'm working and have a young child. All the same; I'll finish work at 5:30, collect the kid and the dogs, then drive home via the polling station and vote. If it's super hot I'll take the dogs home first, then zoom out and vote. Kid will likely be tired and hungry, so will have to go armed with snacks and hope the queues are short (it's usually busy in post-work hours) but I'll make the effort. I can see why a lot of less politically-minded people might not be bothered.

Can't think of how to make it less of a fuss (for those who find it a fuss) so the answer has to lie in somehow encouraging people to care more about it in the first place so they're willing to make the effort.

wasonthelist · 09/05/2017 15:05

I vote by post as I can't predict where I'll be on election days.
Can't imagine not bothering - but I do have strong opinions.

wasonthelist · 09/05/2017 15:06

Can't think of how to make it less of a fuss (for those who find it a fuss)
Make it available online and/or by phone.

MargaretCabbage · 09/05/2017 15:22

My DM always took me when she went to vote and I take my DCs. Sometimes it can be a bit of a hassle to go out and vote, but I I feel it's so important and I just can't imagine not voting.

Chattymummyhere · 09/05/2017 16:43

I've voted everytime since I've been old enough however I nearly missed our vote for mayor as it just wasn't really posted around and even the polling station sign was pretty well hidden round the corner so you couldn't see it just walking past.

I think people have just lost interest those who voted never win, those who are fed up with so many votes lately.

annandale · 09/05/2017 19:07

Lazarus, would you spoil your ballot paper? At least it's a chance to write 'You have all lost my trust' and someone will read it.

Itisnoteasybeingdifferent · 09/05/2017 21:34

I do wish there was a none of the above party at the bottom of the list.

biscuiteater · 10/05/2017 13:32

Council closed our polling station which wasn't helpful. Now you would have to walk to the next village a couple of miles away (40 min walk there and another 40 min walk back). No buses either, so I have do a postal vote now. One advantage of a postal vote though is you can hand it into any polling station in your constituency should you be in that area if you haven't posted it in time.

Flip

1 2 3