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.

I am torn.

I find it baffling that anyone wouldn't want to exercise the limited opportunity on offer to have a say in our national politics, be they female or male.

But I also think anyone who can't be bothered to familiarise themselves with even the political basics should probably stay well away from the ballot box rather than just voting how their mum/dad/partner/favourite tabloid tells them.

I don't think it should be compulsory.

Electoral apathy is exceedingly angry-making, though. YANBU about that.

Women/suffragettes fought to give women the right to vote IF THEY WANT TO.

It's a democracy and people can do what they want. They can vote for May or Corbyn, (or someone else!) or they can not vote at all. It's their choice. Personally I would never 'not vote' but I am sick of people berating and bashing women who choose not to vote. Why not bash men for not voting? Why pick on women? It's true that the worst critics of women are other women. Saying 'women died for you,' is fucking emotional blackmail and is not on.

It's great that women fought for other women, but as I said, it was so they had the freedom to CHOOSE. Demanding that they do because women died for you is basically saying you want a dictatorship.

I prefer to live in a country where we are free to do what we want. If I wanted to forced/bullied into shit, I would move to North Korea.

Thankyou lyingwitch and Sean it's nice to have someone understand rather than me put my hard hat on and be accused of being lazy or not good enough lol

( unless taken along by a male relative who instructs them who to vote for)

You do know thats a criminal offence?

I would only think mandatory voting might be a good idea if there was a 'none of the above' choice on the ballot paper. Even then, i don't know that I agree was the it. I do wonder what would happen if the majority chose that box - might make the politicians sit up and do a better job!

Whilst I always vote I really don't understand why people get so angry at people who don't. It's not really a democracy if people are frogmarched to the ballot box. Choosing not to vote is a valid option of it's own - it makes it's own statement.

@belindarocks

Some of the women I meet due to my work haven't heard of T May or Brexit. They don't vote (unless taken along by a male relative who instructs them who to vote for)

Never heard of Theresa May or Brexit??? Men instruct them who to vote for, and tell them what to do???

Do you keep your time machine on the drive or in the garage? You must have one, because this is clearly 100 years in the past.

*iwillcrush I know there is I've said that but I want to understand it and be confident in my decision ive said that. My point is on top of trying to learn there's all speculation and abuse you have to barge through. That's all I'm saying.
I want to vote and be confident and proud I voted and not be sat thinking did I help fuck things up.

I'm amazed that ANYBODY believes they are educated about politics and the political landscape in the UK. You really think this? With the information that is available to you? You've been able to verify this how, exactly?

The examples that we've had are the only thing that teach us about each of the parties and even that is a snapshot because the policies applicable at one point in time can and do change and emphasis shifts to whatever the boiling point issue is at the time, in each party.

I've read so much about the various manifestos and so many grand-standing threads here about how women are obligated to vote because other women died for that right to vote, yet nobody seems to come up with a viable suggestion of a suitable party for the undecided to vote for. Now why is that? If it's that important and everybody else is so damn educated about it all...?

We really do need to lay off the heckling and calling people (mostly women on this site), 'uneducated' for this and any other reason really. It's not on.

LouiseLouie, you're welcome and you definitely shouldn't need a hardhat to discuss your views with other women.

Politics in this country is in no way clear-cut and anybody who tells you that it is doesn't understand it at all.

Voter apathy, quite simply shifts responsibility onto others. The non voters are pretty lucky the voters make the choices for them, as left to that mindset, we're into dictatorship territory within a generation.
The old student union argument of, well if we all didnt vote, what would THEY do? Is flawed. THEY wouldnt exist. Up strides your first dictator with the biggest gun.

Can I however make an assumption, to all those who believe in choice to not vote, can we all agree to take the non-voting number and add it to the winning side?

104 years ago today Emily Davison died. On her gravestone the words "deeds not words" is carved.

Can you name all the other Suffragettes, HighwayDragon or just the main protagonist that everybody knows?

Lying you say "...yet nobody seems to come up with a viable suggestion of a suitable party for the undecided to vote for. Now why is that?"

Because nobody can tell someone else to vote for, obviously. It is down to an individual's personal beliefs and values, along with his or her history, background and circumstances.

Like 'highway' isn't going to google it!

Louiselouie, just pick one issue thats highly important to you. Thats all. You vote for something that matters to you, disregarding any hot air flying around about understanding profit and loss accounts, or reading a years legislation on breeding cattle. Win or lose, you wont regret voting for an issue close to your own heart. Or if youre entirely torn between the two, spoil the ballot. Its counted just as the other votes are, and speaks volumes to our representatives (who clearly arent representing us if they had a spoiled ballot). You just strike it through or write anything on it you please. Draw a picture if you like. Its a great british tradition and drawing willys are popular Its a statement that you feel unrepresented by the candidates standing.

Voter apathy, quite simply shifts responsibility onto others. The non voters are pretty lucky the voters make the choices for them, as left to that mindset, we're into dictatorship territory within a generation

This is basically what I was getting at. I feel I have a responsibility to use my vote. Not just because I am a woman, but because it wouldn't feel right to sit back and let others to the deciding for me. It feels sort of 'lazy', in a way? It would feel like I was letting other people carry me through it. That's how I feel though, I'm not calling all non-voters lazy (in case anyone reads it that way). I do however think that many non-voters could make a bit more of an effort to get out there and vote. Maybe then past and present results might have been different, who knows.

I feel like Politics should be a mandatory GCSE subject, since politics is something that affects everyone. I came from a family of non-voters so I had to learn how it all worked by myself and yes, it can be confusing, maybe learning about it in school would have been beneficial for me and others who came from similar backgrounds.

Margot, Yes, that's what I mean when I say that it's not straightforward. For all the threads on MN about 'Dont' vote Tory or you're heartless' and 'Don't vote Labour or you're ', there is no clear cut party that stands out as somebody that anybody could read (and trust) the manifestos enough to say, "Right, that's the one I want, I believe they'll do what they've said they'll do".

It's not telling somebody whom to vote for to say "I like the sound of x-party as they hold the environment as a key issue", for example - but there's none of that here. Just insults. Many, many insults. And, after the election, even MORE insults. Educated really isn't the descriptor for those posters.

I'm interested in politics, I love the UK and would love to see it thrive. At the moment, I'm hoping that we can work around the politicians because there's nobody strong enough with the 'right' heart for the people.

Ravenblack, well, at least that will be a 'deed'.

Yes, it's a democracy and we have a choice about voting. But I genuinely cannot understand why people don't vote. I know politics can feel dirty and overwhelming at times, but this is your future for goodness sake. And yes, the judgy pants come on and I strongly think that if you haven't voted, you have absolutely no right to complain.

I see it that women campaigned and dies for other women's right to vote. I don't think I should feel obligation to vote if I truly do not believe in any of the parties.
Why would anyone vote for something they don't believe in? That's not going to change anything is it? It's not going to be a true reflection of what people of the country want if you feel forced into voting for something.
We only had 3 choices to vote in this area, I don't identify with any of the parties to choose from - why then should I put my x against the lesser of 3 evils even though I believe in none of them. Perhaps an abstain box may help?
I did spoil my vote, my view being that I don't want any of the choices in power - and I believe those women died to give me the right to make that choice. Not to force me into a choice I am uncomfortable with.

Caroline I'm not one to turn down a good old willy draw lol
I honestly never heard of a spoilt vote till recently so I know I will do that in future if no one represents me. I just don't want to vote if i felt strongly say about the NHS but then the party goes on too not do anything about it all and were worse off and the answer was right in my face or I thought they meant something they didn't. I know i will never completely understand it and i could research till the end of time but i really am just starring out in it.
I did think should I just vote for who my sister is as she seems to understand it but then I thought why how is that fair I cant then go on too be annoyed about something I voted in for but had no idea, just seems daft to me.

Coming from a background where it wasn't a lesson in school and wasn't the done thing in my life it's very hard to get your head round and when you see posts calling all non voters lazy stupid or there reason isn't good enough is uncalled for. So is voting blindly and then being called an idiot or I've ruined the country Sometimes you can't win lol

Being realistic, there is unlikely to be a single party that tallies exactly with your individual views on the hundreds of issues relating to life in modern Britain.

That was to Lying and BeerWench.

TheHodge... what about if you've 'spoiled' your paper? What about if you've voted for the 'least bad' (in your view) option but it turns out 'wrong' for many people just not for the 'I'm alright Jacks'? Do we have a right to complain then?

The voting electorate have won us the current 'prize', don't forget that for a second. So will the next 'prize' be won in the same way... and there will be plenty of moaners.

I rather think Emily et al would be hoping that WOMEN might do something more proactive like challenge the current government's policies than impotently hoicking their 'judgeypants' at other women. She might be looking down at us right now and thinking, "WTAF? I died for this?".

Margot, I'm not that demanding. I'd just like one that's key hidden objective isn't to bring the country to its knees. I want the NHS, investment in education, compassionate welfare reform, review of quangos like NRW and the Environment Agency to make them actually effective, employer reform, care in the community - and feasible budgeting to achieve all that.

Too much?