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).

Ruralretreating

Thank you! Very kind of you.

It is improving gradually so I can now walk around my house quite a bit 😀

I vividly remember where I live being regarded as rock-solid Conservative when I was growing up. Since then it's turned round and is now marginal. You cannot assume that your vote will never count.

Amazing how many on here moan about their vote not counting in their own constituency but if the shoe were on the other foot they'd be celebrating..............I had to suffer years of Blair et al but, guess what, it called Democracy so I had to put up and shut up and go with the majority.

I have read the full thread. Goady title

Lol, I'm sure you'll find something legitimate to be annoyed by if you carry on trying! I think on the MN spectrum of Goadyness this is pretty damn low. And I'm sure if you advance search me you'll see that I'm in no way goady.

However, if you can suggest a better thread title then I'll happily change it.

Well done for getting out there OP, in more than one way.

I live in a safe seat. I feel like I have no impact on the outcome of the winner. One mile away, 2015 was decided by a difference of 48 votes which was a shock to the established MP.

I agree with PPs that it does generally count to representing smaller parties, enabling them to be represented and putting candidates in in the future.

Amazing how many on here moan about their vote not counting in their own constituency but if the shoe were on the other foot they'd be celebrating.

Genuinely I wouldn't.

Firstly, because I think marginal seats are the most healthy for a good Democracy because everybody should feel like their vote might count.

Secondly, I've voted for a different party in each of the past 3 elections - I tend to stay in much the same place on the political spectrum but will choose whichever party best represents that at each election, although since living in a safe seat for a party I dislike I do vote tactically for the most effective party I don't find repulsive.

One mile away, 2015 was decided by a difference of 48 votes which was a shock to the established MP.

Wow!! I wonder how many recounts they did for that!!?

Yes, it's been genuinely helpful to hear some of the points PPs have made, and I'm glad I now know about the fund for opposition parties.

Fuzzypillow Yes, although the little British Legion hall we vote in is accessible, it's too far for me to walk and it's down a tiny residential street with cars parked on both sides of the road. No car park and no blue badge bays nearby.

So DH has to drive me down - I suppose I could apply for postal vote/proxy vote but I like voting in person. It's just a faff. ☺️

Hope you feel better v soon.

That's good to hear Fuzzy, wishing you all the best.

Nobody cares, if you can't be arsed to vote I can't be arsed to listen to you. You have no wrote to moan either.
I haven't even read you Post this could be about the X factor for all I know 😂
Only acceptable reason not to vote is illness, childbirth and other such emergencies.

No right not no wrote.

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).
If everyone thought the same way as you, then it always will be a safe seat, won't it?
You need to get out there and make your vote heard.
I'm the other way - in an ultra safe Labour seat but always vote even if it is for different parties.
How will it ever be any different if everybody got complacent and couldn't be bothered to vote?

Remember Ed Balls? He was always ultra safe Labour seat and got booted out to the shock of loads.
Moral of that story - no-one's ever truly safe. Go make your voice heard as without it nothing ever will change!

My safe Tory MP, with a majority of 8,000 has lost her seat...

Glad you voted. Saw on the news that the Tories have just lost a safe seat that was tory for more than 100 years so just goes to show a seat is never safe.

east fife right now on a third recount, down to ONE vote. every vote counts!

Well Canterbury has elected a Labour MP for the first time since the constituency was formed in 1918 - you never know what your vote might do!

Labour just won Newcastle under Lyme by something ridiculous like 20 votes. Absolutely every vote counts

Nick Clegg- Deputy PM to losing his seat in 2 elections.

There's another thread going on about a Scottish constituency where there is one vote in it.

I think that traditional demographics are changing so much, that there are very few truly safe seats any more.

Well, it's your vote, your choice.

But even in a safe seat a vote is a vote. If everyone who adopts Safe Seat Apathy actually voted it would show how many don't actually support the local MP, and maybe an indication for a future challenge.

Personally I would want my dissent counted. Or indeed, my support.

We should be bloody glad we live in a democracy and using our vote seems like the most basic part we can take in our democracy,

That was a theoretical answer; glad you were able to get there, OP.

In Richmond, the Tories have won by 45 votes and in Fife, the SNP have held by 2 votes

Anyone who says their vote wouldn't have counted is just plain thick

YABU

In some places, seats were won by 1 or 2 votes, s yes, every vote counts. However, it is your choice to vote or not. Just don't moan if you don't like the results.

Also glad you were able to vote despite obstacles OP

Now wondering what the result was in your constituency!

Also, to those who CBA to RTFT - actually explaining how the total national vote for a party helps has encouraged people on this thread to vote. Drive-by abuse and shaming hasn't.