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).

Nice one.

It's a personal choice at the end of the day, and it does count.

I suppose it's how strong you feel about it all, only you knows that.

YABU in my opinion. I live in an area that's been Tory for longer than I've been alive. Our MP does bugger all as far as I can see, and I really rate the Labour candidate. I voted today despite being disabled

Oh that's interesting you had similar issues with disability affecting being able to vote too.

I do see your point. It's just that

Yabu

If everyone like you thought that then no wonder it's a safe seat. Turnout isn't close to 100% so there's always hope

As one pp said died so you could vote. They didn't die so you were forced to.

However this cartoon makes a point. If all of these are women who voted at the lady election, the group on the right see 9 million women. Just imagine if they all voted!

X-post - well done for voting

If I were you I wouldn't worry too much about voting. I'd save all my energy for moving, to a nicer area.

If you don't bother to vote you have no right to complain about anything done in your name.

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

No, wasn't apathy. It was genuine feeling as though it'd make no difference plus mobility issues making it potentially impossible (though I did manage to in the end).

I voted today against a candidate who in 2015 had a 25,000 majority, will it change the result? Of course it won't but it will register with the MP how many people voted against and could help shape future voting in Parliament. A vote cast is never wasted.

It doesn't matter why you didn't vote - you still lose the right to complain - and that's fine.

It's the ones who don't/can't be arsed to vote and then moan that are annoying

Don't vote if you don't want to, but remember for the next five years every time you want to have a moan about schools, benefits, taxes, the health service, immigration, security etc etc that you did nothing proactive to change things. Go on, you've got eleven minutes, nip round and do the right thing!

I wonder if with live in the same area?

Possibly! I'm in the South East. I'll PM you if you're interested more specifically.

She has voted.

your choice not to but if you don't vote then don't whinge about the outcome.

Well done for voting x

So you started a thread about not voting, then drip fed in that actually you did?

Livia , Viques

RTFT! I did vote (and have done in every election so far).

X posted

I'm glad you managed it. I'm in a safe Tory seat but also voted nevertheless. Have never felt so disenfranchised as I do in this election. I hope your temporary mobility issues improve soon

Thanks to the pp who mentioned Short Money - I had no idea that my vote mattered for funding even if my candidate doesn't win:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-32719087

www.electoralcommission.org.uk/find-information-by-subject/political-parties-campaigning-and-donations/public-funding-for-parties

Yes, Livia, because I managed to get a last minute lift to the polling station in a gap when my side effects were absent enough to permit a journey in the car! So you can leave out the thanks!

I have read the full thread. Goady title

Thank you for voting in the end, and I'm sorry to hear of your ill health