To think my vote doesn't count & not feel guilty if I didn't vote

[FuzzyPillow]

I keep on being told repeatedly and forcefully, mostly by twats on social media that "every vote counts" and that "women died for your right to vote", however.....

1. I live in one of the safest Conservative seats in the country. Conservatives usually win by a margin of 15-20,000 votes, which is about 80% of all votes roughly. We have not been non-Conservative in living memory (almost).

1. I don't subscribe to the idea of inter-generational responsibility / guilt. Yes, the suffragettes fought to get votes for women (and I'm a woman). But if I decided to fight for [pick random cause] it would not follow that all future generations affected would have an obligation to take advantage of the rights I had won in order to honour my death. (Though if I do die fighting for the right to turn my porch light on at night even though it annoys the neighbours I'd be very pleased if all future generations did the same to annoy my neighbours )

So WIBU to think my vote doesn't count & not feel guilty if I didn't vote for genuine reasons (not voter apathy).

Your vote will help avoid your chosen party losing their deposit, it will also increase their share of the "Short" fund which is money given to opposition parties. It will also be included in national statistics about shares of the national vote.

I voted earlier today, my constituency hasn't changed party for over 100 years and I'm quite sure my vote won't make a difference to that. But I at least want to register my tiny voice of disagreement, so I can't be referred to as one of the silent majority of non-voters who tacitly support the incumbent party through their non-voting.

I personally think that everyone should exercise their right to vote what if everyone thought that their vote didn't count?

However it's a deeply personal choice

We've got a Tory safe seat here. I've not voted Tory but have still voted. I'd like my chance to be heard regardless of outcome.

It counts, if only to show that other candidates and their ideas have some support too. Don't you think your candidate deserves to know that there are people out there willing to back them?

Women died for your RIGHT to vote, not for you to be held to fucking ransom to vote.

I voted. I live in one of the safest Tory seats there is. Next door to David Cameron's constituency.

But I do understand disenfranchisement.

Your vote does count because it is counted.

There's an excellent cartoon somewhere which shows how large the group of 'my vote won't count' is. If everyone voted then their voted would make more of an impact.

Personally i think it should be a legal requirement to vote with a box of 'none of the above' for people who don't want to vote for anyone in particular.

I'm not voting tonight. Was going to but am really sick with morning sickness. There isn't even a Labour Party in this country.

That's fine not voting. Just don't whine if you are unhappy with the result

Your vote will also count in the overall numbers for the party you choose.

I also love in one of the safest Tory seats but I always vote (not Tory). I work on the theory that each vote does count, shit happens and things change and maybe my vote will play a part in that.

Live, not love

I live in Northern Ireland in a safe DUP seat. My vote will never impact on either my MP or the governing party of the U.K.. I vote at every election because it's a right and a privilege no matter how bitter a pill it may seem. I vote and I tell my children about democracy. I usually bring them with me and at least one of them makes inappropriate and loud comments about the DUP. I just wish there was a none of the above box.

You could always assist in decreasing a majority.

I live in a similar constituency. I seriously toyed with voting for the Monster Raving Loonies, I considered spoiling my ballot with reasoned words, I very nearly drew a giant cock against the leading candidate's name (but thought as my son was coming to the polling station, I didn't want to explain that to a 10 year old) - but in the end I voted for the party I actually wanted to win, although I know they won't. If enough of us stand up for what we believe in, the little parties can become bigger. It's not like the Conservatives and Labour have always been the Big Two: they got that way because enough people voted for them.

Oh, and safe Tory seats were lost in 97, Currie, Portillo, Rifkind.
Safe Labour have been lost too, Ed Balls and others.

YABVU

Try living somewhere where there is no democracy. The system here is flawed, but there are countries where you get no say.

People not voting makes me cross. I don't tell them that unprompted, because I recognise their democratic right to not vote. But since you asked...

I wonder if with live in the same area?

I do understand why you would think there's no point and have considered not voting in the past.

However I vote because I don't want to be counted amongst the apathetic. I do care about particular issues. If I don't go the conservative would assume I was happy with the status quo (tory by default) or couldn't care less. By registering a vote for another party I show that I care, and the party I vote for shows what I care about. Even if it's just a gentle nudge to the tories that there are people willing to try hold them to account at a local level it's worth it to me. If the 20% to 30% than don't vote were added to the 20% that voted against the majority, you could send a much clearer signal about an issue of importance

I don't think you are unreasonable in your opinion. But I also think it's ok for others to urge people to vote.

Interestingly, it's 104 years to the day since Emily Davison died.

It's a right and a privilege and very very dismissive to ignore that.

I will always vote, but where I am there is no way in hell anyone other than the Tories will get in...which is bloody depressing.

It's self defeating.

If you think it's a safe constituency, then people don't vote for other parties. So it stays a safe constituency.

OTOH - people may think it's safe so they don't vote because the party they want to win usually wins.

Maybe we need a better voting system?

You're right in that safe seats rarely change hands as a shock but they can change as gradually people vote for someone else and the tide turns. That tide needs to start somewhere though, even if that is just a small percentage change per election. In that way your vote really could count.

I live in a safe tory seat and have gone out tonight to vote Labour.
I want my vote to be counted, even of it won't result in my choice of MP being elected.

If you can't be bothered to vote that's fine but you lose the right to complain later.

Your vote counts because YOU IS IMPORTANT. YOU IS SPECIAL

Your vote will help avoid your chosen party losing their deposit, it will also increase their share of the "Short" fund which is money given to opposition parties.

That's a very good point about the deposit and the "short" fund. Thanks PP.