To ask why some people don't vote

[LyraTheDaemon]

I'm naive to the whole thing! I completely understand it's their democratic right to not vote just as it is to vote but I'm baffled as to why you wouldn't.

I work with someone who is overall a nice person but is extremely naive & lives in a bit of a bubble. For context, we work in the NHS & she has 2 children, so imo the policies being discussed by all parties will have an impact on her, but she just doesn't care! We've all mentioned to her how important it is but she says she doesn't know or care enough to go. It also transpired she's not even registered to vote so we all gave up trying to convince her.

Without a slanging match, if you don't vote, why? Why not spoil the ballot instead? Obviously this isn't aimed at people that can't vote, it's for those who can but choose not to.

The young people who I work with have stated they don't vote because they don't think any party applies to them and the issues that are discussed are irrelevant to them at the stage of their lives.
I tried to speak to them to encourage them to vote for other members of their families and gave certain examples, they weren't having it.

Best not to if your IQ is below a certain level, really.
It's better for the proletariats to have their future decided by those with an academic outlook.

I've managed to read and understand the manifestos despite a low IQ, cheeky fucker.

Never knew that about Christadelphians @calzone but makes sense as they have a lot of similar beliefs I think.

Gillybeanz I thought that , cheeky fucker and rude as fuck .. hope I never have to cross paths with such a cretin

In my case its because my postal vote hasnt arrived. And no I cant just go to the polling station because I live overseas. Im quite cross.

but I like to believe that every little counts

Unfortunately in a FPTP system it doesn't except where margins are thin. As there aren't many marginal seats the previous election was decided by approximately 900 votes. It's an anachronistic system that means that the vast majority of voters are irrelevant.

I think that's why most people don't vote. There's just no point.

CBA is the biggest party in the UK!

Best not to if your IQ is below a certain level, really.

Perhaps a bit of an I'll advised comment. In a country where disabled people (including people with learning disabilities) are often the first affected by policies around NHS and benefits, we are abysmal at encouraging people who have accessibility needs to vote. People with a low IQ or any other kind of disability have the same right to vote as you.

I've sent my postal vote off but my DD's postal vote hasn't arrived - we'd have to go to the town hall to pick up a new one and it seems a bit pointless as it's a super safe Labour seat. So she isn't voting this year. Usually I do vote as it's easy enough with a postal vote, but in our constituency it's nonsense to say that every vote matters, or that I shouldn't have an opinion or right to complain if I didn't vote. In many areas it simply makes no difference whether an individual votes or not.

@redexpat that's bloody awful! I'd be fuming too if I were you!

As you all seem like a knowledgable lot (and I cba to google), how does voting by proxy work? Do you just have to really really trust the person who's voting for you to vote for who you want if it's different to theirs, or do you pick someone who you trust and know to have the same political view?

I'm not the brightest spark in the world but I try to make sense of it all. I really truly believe politics needs to be taught in schools, even if it's year 9+ because in the previous general election I tried to do my research but was so confused (''twas my first year being old enough to vote), I thoroughly regret my decision & it's taken me the last couple of years to establish who I 'believe in' fairies.

The constituency I live in has been held by the same party for over 20 years. The MP usually polls around 60% However up to 50% of the constituency don't turn up to vote. What if all these people don't turn up because "my vote for the opposition won't count"? I know it's unlikely but still if everyone turned out to vote I think a lot more places would be a lot more of a competition.

Your vote always counts even if you don't feel like it.

I live in a very safe seat (it's been the same party for as long I've been eligible to vote) and they are the party I'd vote for anyway. So don't see any point in voting as my vote will make no difference.

Exactly Poisonous and Tikka. So frustrating. The number of people not voting fills me with despair. redexpat , that is rubbish.

Ill put myself out there (be kind lol) I don't vote as it's like a flipping minefield.

I'll admit I don't know a lot about actual politics (what's a spoilt vote?) You never know who's telling the truth and I don't know the ins and outs of it. It was never a thing in my family but I am starting to learn more about it but the more I learn the less I know who to trust/telling the truth/ giving accomplishable promises.

For someone starting to pay an interest it's very hard to know who to pick out so for the time being I leave it too people who have a better idea of it (sorry if you think that's bad) if it was a case of what they say they did then I'd vote but literally all I've heard my life is they always lie/promise the earth just to get your vote so I've always thought till lately what's the point but will happily admit I don't know a lot not because I have a low IQ or are lazy just you don't know what to believe.

In our constituency you can't vote Green, I guess there's no candidate. But what if you want a Green PM? Not saying I do (and obviously not going to happen) but it is just annoying if you can't vote for who you want to for the nation.
If you want to tactically vote to get the Tories out in our area (v v safe tory seat here) you should vote for the National Health Action Party, which I had never heard of until a few weeks ago and as much as I love the NHS it's odd to portray themselves as just focussing on that one thing (I'm sure they have other interests but I'd have gone for a more broad party name in that case).
Anyway. I just don't think there's a party for me. I'm still going to vote but I may as well not to be honest.

DEFINITELY agree politics needs to be on the national curriculum (along with money management, mortgages, nutrition etc!). I was entirely clueless when I had my first chance to vote, and am now just a little less clueless - there is so much to catch up on.

Spoiling a ballot is a waste imo. Who cares if it gets recorded?

I will always vote. But I live in a prodominently Tory area and my vote is lost every time. It's such a shame and frustration

My constituency is a very safe conservative one. But nearly as many people didn't vote as voted conservative last time. I'm sure some people feel there's no point in voting where I live but if all the non-voters did vote I wonder if it would make any difference

Wtf BendydickCuminsnatch? How could the national health party be worth your tactical vote to outst the tories?

This is where I don't think any of the smaller parties help themselves, maybe they can't afford to. The National Health Action Party have been all over my Facebook and Twitter feeds for months! But I am a pretty left wing person who liked their page and follow that kind of stuff. I don't think they have the budget for mainstream advertising.

louise, in my opinion at least thinknof whether you support the Tories or not and check if you live in a safe seat area. Because if you don't, your vote could really make a difference. There are websites you can use to help you choose.

I guess I grew up having it drummed to me that you vote. Just wouldn't in a million years not (unless I was in the middle of some kind of personal catastrophe I guess).

Instasista

and worth no more than a spoilt ballot.

But it kind of is on the curriculum!! All the primary schools round here have elections for various things. That's the beginning of teaching them about the bigger politics.

Why wouldn't the national health action party be worth a vote to oust the Tories? It is a huge issue, they have other policies and tactical voting is about doing the best thing to get the overall result you want.

Loads of reasons.

Low IQ, mental health issues, learning disability, because they have a right not to vote, they are not able to understand how it works, or simply they just done care. or they think the whole thing is just rubbish.

to name a few.

I strongly believe people should vote. Women died in order that we today have the right to vote and yet some people "just can't be bothered".

I think voting should be compulsory

Totally agree should be compulsory.

Rainbow I'm not saying it's not worth a vote but the poster said it was a tactical vote. Tactical voting is voting for someone you wouldnt usually because increased votes for them can get out the party you don't like-

Sorry for patronising example but to be clear-

in random town in 2015 6000 people voted Tory, 4000 labour and 3000 lid dem. If all lib dem votes tactically voted labour then you'd potentially out the tories

But the health party is never going to be a tactical vote is it?!