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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

women who don't vote

144 replies

beepbeepimasheep · 08/06/2017 13:36

Three women who I know have recently said that they have no interest in politics, don't understand politics and can't be bothered to vote.

I can't help but think that they are being a bit pathetic. Were the suffragettes efforts all for nothing? I have never missed voting in any election so I can complain about it when my party don't win as I think it's so important that we all vote.

OP posts:
SquidgeyMidgey · 08/06/2017 13:37

I suppose it's their democratic right to.not vote. But I feel the same as you.

Shoxfordian · 08/06/2017 13:45

I agree. Women died for our right to vote and not all women in the world can vote. We should all be voting.

c3pu · 08/06/2017 14:00

They also have the right NOT to vote, so YABU.

gandalf456 · 08/06/2017 14:02

YANBU and I'm saying this about anyone who won't vote. Currently having a discussion with a Facebook friend who is proudly announcing he's not voting because he's on holiday and finds the whole thing boring. Of course it depends if you care about hospitals, jobs, schools - you know, the things that affect us all, whether it is 'boring' or not.

The80sweregreat · 08/06/2017 14:06

I despair too, but its always the same.
When they cant get treatment or see a GP, they will be the first to moan.

FloralTribute · 08/06/2017 14:08

Of course they have the right not to vote - no one, surely, is disputing that. (Though I believe some countries have mandatory voting or you face penalties?) But no harm in suggesting that, as they live in the world like everyone else, it's part of your job as a citizen to inform yourself about the politics, parties, policies which will effect them and not be so bloody intellectually lazy and apathetic.

And absolutely, especially because they are women. There was a slightly bizarre slot on Radio 4 this morning about the American tradition of 'election cake', and I was thinking that in the world where that was baked and eaten, voting was an entirely male domain (and of course not universal male suffrage either).

Ditsy1980 · 08/06/2017 14:10

YANBU.
I have seen a Facebook post asking why there is so much anger and vitriol directed at those who don't vote. There was a line about yes women died for the vote but if an electrician died rewiring my house I wouldn't get my tools out and become an electrician to support him..... actually was agog.
We live in a democracy, choose to vote, choose to not vote. However don't not vote and witter on about how you can't choose so just aren't bothering. Google policies relating to you and your concerns, read them, choose the one that fits.
I've also seen a post that I hoped was a joke but said I went to vote and neither May or Corbyn were on my card so I left......

WhatToDoAboutThis2017 · 08/06/2017 14:10

People died to give us the OPTION to vote. It is therefore perfectly fine for people to choose not to vote.

gandalf456 · 08/06/2017 14:14

I used to think that but I haven't really heard a valid excuse not to

LittleCandle · 08/06/2017 14:16

The frightening thing is one of my colleagues, who is only 19, says she has never voted, doesn't know if she's registered to vote and none of her family vote. She wouldn't know who to vote for, and is not even sure what a general election is. She will tell you she was never 'learned it' in school. The school should have told her who to vote for. Sadly, in the area she is from, she is not unusual and she even boasts that she has never read a book or a magazine.

I find it very sad. She would have listened to me explaining it all to her, except that is not fair. That would have been me putting my feelings and prejudices in her mind, instead of her learning about the parties and making up her own mind. Absolutely her right not to vote if she doesn't want to, but to not know if you are registered to vote and not finding out, is awful. Its all over Facebook and that is the only thing she reads!

CanIHaveYourNumberCucumber · 08/06/2017 14:17

All people who didn't own land also were not allowed to vote when the suffragettes were campaigning as land owners would "vote on their behalf".

It isn't just women that can now vote that wouldn't be able to otherwise.

Figgygal · 08/06/2017 14:18

So they happy are being ignorant to the issues that affect us and don't want to contribute in any way to the democratic process how sad

LouiseBrooks · 08/06/2017 14:19

My granny was 40 before she could vote (when they abolished the property qualification). My other grandmother was 48. I went through a period of not voting then I found out how old they had been when they finally got the privilege. Since then I've always voted.

BillSykesDog · 08/06/2017 14:21

YABVU.

If a voter feels that every party has at least one policy that they cannot in good conscience vote for they have every right to abstain or spoil. It's what I'm doing this time.

SilentlyScreamingAgain · 08/06/2017 14:25

I know, OP, I know! The world is so chock full of people who don't do exactly as I do and they are all so totally, utterly and completely wrong. I'd like to sit them all down and give them a stiff talking to, for ages, that would learn them what's really boring.

Tenshidarkangel · 08/06/2017 14:27

I got it drilled into me by my male history teacher:
"If you dont vote, you dont get a say!"

My understanding of politics was slim as a teen but I still made sure I voted not just to represent women, but the party I believed would do the most good.

steppedonlego · 08/06/2017 14:29

YANBU. Turn up and spoil your ballot if you don't trust any party. I can't stand voter apathy.

Gottagetmoving · 08/06/2017 14:30

Everything in our lives is about politics. Basically, they are saying they are not interested in theirs or anyone else's life.
It is sad.

Louiselouie0890 · 08/06/2017 14:31

I'm sure they would have wanted women to be shamed or forced into voting.

MoodyOne · 08/06/2017 14:33

YABU - women died to give us the choice to vote.

Gottagetmoving · 08/06/2017 14:35

YABU - women died to give us the choice to vote

I doubt they thought that after winning the vote women would not use that right.
They didn't talk about choosing not to - they talked about being given the right to vote.

SeanSpicer · 08/06/2017 14:37

BillSykes but spoiling your vote is different to not voting at all. I think most people think spoiling is fine. You have actually engaged with the policies/parties/manifestos and come to a decision about what you want to do.

SeanSpicer · 08/06/2017 14:39

Sorry Bill I misread your post. Also agree that abstaining is ok, but just not engaging at all isn't.

absolutelynot · 08/06/2017 14:41

I dont' think it is a case of bu or nbu, I think perspectives differ and apathy is not uncommon in a world where instant gratification takes precedence over the long slog.

I vote because someone would have once said I wasn't allowed. People died, knowing that was their fate, for women not yet born. Out of respect, I feel all women should be knowledgeable of this but you cant make a horse drink and all that.

Ollivander84 · 08/06/2017 14:44

You could fit what I know about politics on a postage stamp but I voted