women who don't vote

[beepbeepimasheep]

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.

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

Yes.

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

I doubt the suffragettes laboured under the delusion that feminism was about smiling and nodding non-confrontationally about any female choice, however damaging, reactionary or plain stupid, simply because it's the decision of someone else with a vagina. You don't have a right to expect blanket approval of your laziness and apathy from other women.

If you don't know what to vote for then spoil the ballot.

Personally I like the idea that voting is mandatory as I believe it is in Australia.

My point is they did it for a right. I'm sure they wouldn't want that right to be forced or someone being shamed into it.

I come from a very strong feminist family lots of suffragettes in this family history. Personally I would never not vote ( god forbid the grave turning if I didn't) but nobody should be forced to vote and an ill informed vote or a blind pick because you have no interest does appear a little pointless. We live in a free country after all.

My friends DH tells her to vote for because she's not bothered about it all apparently. So essentially he gets two votes. She's a perfectly capable and intelligent person. Words fail me

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'm 19. What's 'only being 19' got to do with things?

She's not 15.

I'm gonna have a bit of a rant here. I'm 21 and voted in the last election too (2015) and I'm sick of young people in general not voting, they then complain about how it's all going! Get out and vote

My sister who is 37 has never voted. No interest whatsoever. I'll be surprised if she knew who the leaders of the parties where

Can I ask a question following Bill's post? Abstaining or spoiling your paper... never have I been more tempted to do just that. I've read the manifestos, disbelieved every single one as they're not legally binding - and loathe every single party out there.

I've always understood that to 'spoil'' your paper means that the vote is counted as spoiled and goes to the incumbent or 'winning' party. I voted for Labour as I don't want the Tories but I'm not happy with that choice either. If I were sure that spoiled papers would just be binned as 'valid vote but no cigar', that's what I would/will do in future.

I've voted for what I think is the least bad. That is a DEPLORABLE state for this country to be in. That so many of the electorate want to vote for 'none of the above'; and there seem to be a lot.

Urrggghhh when people say "I have no interest in politics"
They are essentially saying they have no interest in what happens to their finances, healthcare, children's education etc.
Words fail me.

YABU.

It should be an individuals choice whether to vote or not.

No. A spoilt vote is counted but it's counted as a vote for nobody.

Here's what the suffragettes battled for OP - The right to vote.

You have a right to vote, as a woman. You don not have to vote, if you do not so wish.

Better to spoil than abstain.

"I suppose it's their democratic right to.not vote. "

I disagree with this , hang on yes I agree (its currently your choice) but I disagree with it being a choice.

I agree with Australia and the likes who have compulsory voting.

Spoil your ballot if you will, but not bothering to turn up or attempting to find out the slightest amount of information about how youre governed, is morally wrong. If you wish to live in a democracy, you should engage with the democratic process. IMO, its 2 fingers to democracy and why then should those who refuse to engage enjoy any of its benefits?

Here's what the suffragettes battled for OP - The right to vote.
You have a right to vote, as a woman. You do not have to vote, if you do not so wish.

I've seen so many people on here bleating that line over the last few days. Do you really think think the suffragettes fought as they did on the understanding that some women in the future would go "Oh, I dunno....I'm not interested and I can't be bothered." They were focused and passionate, and dedicated their liberty, and sometimes lives, to the cause. I don't think a "Can't be bothered," would cut the mustard with those women somehow.

Also I haven't seen a single compelling argument for not voting.
Even if you don't agree with any of the parties then writing just that on the paper at least registers a protest and indicates to politicians the numbers of disaffected and disengaged people out there.

Do you really think think the suffragettes fought as they did on the understanding that some women in the future would go "Oh, I dunno....I'm not interested and I can't be bothered."

Do you really think they fought on the understanding that women would be bullied into voting by other women?

I despair.

Bullying my arse.

Thanks BillSykes, I've never not voted but I'm going to seriously consider 'spoiling' my paper in future.

It always gets my goat when people say that suffragettes died so you could have the right to vote.

Yes technically that's correct. I wouldn't want anyone forced to vote. But I can't see how any female wouldn't vote if they really understood what suffragettes went through. It took years and years of campaigning to get the vote. Many of the women suffered horribly. They kept going back to protest and fight even after being really dreadfully treated. They endured so much for this precious right. There's lots of info out there if you don't know anything about it or think it just involved a few marches. The film Suffragette covers some of it.

It isn't even just that. If you look at the first democratic elections in Afghanistan in recent history people had the threat of death hanging over them if they voted. They were threatened with having fingers cut off by the Taliban if they voted. Lots of women still went and voted.

Apathy is inexcusable in my books. Politics affects everyone.

Do you really think they fought on the understanding that women would be bullied into voting by other women?

I'd be very surprised if women who were imprisoned and subjected to force-feeding in the cause of women's suffrage would have been pessimistic enough to see a future where their female descendants simply couldn't be bothered to inform themselves about the democratic process or get on the electoral register.

And there is nothing 'bullying' about saying 'get off your ass, read the papers or watch the news, and use the vote Emily Davison died trying to win you the right to have, 104 years today.'

I do find it bizarre how people confuse the right to choose to do or not do something with the right to have that choice respected.

If people genuinely don't care about which party wins then why should they vote?

Isn't it a bit silly to shame people into voting randomly?

No, silly is crying when you burn the dinner. Being apathetic enough not to vote is downright fucking stupid and dangerous to boot.