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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why turnout for local elections is always so low?

85 replies

ScreamingValenta · 04/05/2018 19:02

I was looking at the turnout for my area in yesterday's elections and it was very low - like most other areas which have declared. It doesn't seem unusual for the majority not to vote.

I always vote, although I admit sometimes struggle to find a reason to vote for one candidate over the others.

I'm not criticising anyone's choice, but I'm curious to know why people apparently don't want to vote - is this down to disillusionment with the parties/candidates, apathy, or other reasons? Does anyone have any thoughts? If you didn't turn out yesterday, why was this?

OP posts:
Homemenu1 · 04/05/2018 19:17

I always vote but tbh I don’t think I’d bother at the moment,
I just an old cynic, The country is run by money, by big business rather than the politians so to a certain extend whose in charge doesn’t matter because none of the main parties would risk upsetting them.

Additionally none of them really stand for anything, it’s all spin and sound bites, half truths that have been twitsted in a way to fit each parties agenda.

No one has any idea on how to tackle Brexit

And over the years I’ve come to the conclusion that it all a cycle, one party in for a few years, then we have enough of them and vote the others in for a bit and round and round it goes

Original poster
ScreamingValenta · 04/05/2018 19:19

Additionally none of them really stand for anything, it’s all spin and sound bites, half truths that have been twitsted in a way to fit each parties agenda.

I certainly agree with that. I don't feel at the moment that there's a major party that really represents me.

OP posts:
ThomasHardyPerennial · 04/05/2018 19:22

There hasn't been any canvassing in my area, not even a leaflet. Can't expect people to vote if you won't even engage with them.

DannyLaRuesBestFrock · 04/05/2018 19:23

I am so disillusioned right now with my much beloved labour.

My constituency is a labour stronghold. There is no way any other party has a chance.

I still voted though. For the first time in 22 years, I did not vote for labour. I voted lib Dems (and cancelled my Labour party membership)

I do think a lot of people are apathetic and I also think that some people just can't be arsed because they are too lazy, or simply do not care.

ohcomeon12321 · 04/05/2018 19:23

ynbu you can wonder whatever you like.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 04/05/2018 19:23

To be completely honest, I was barely aware that these elections were on. I didn't get a polling card, none of my friends or colleagues have mentioned it, there wasn't much about it on TV of radio.

No canvassers came (while I was in), and I just got two leaflets... I only remembered it was on when I passed the station on my way to work. I voted, but nobody else was. Local elections are usually low-key but this one nearly passed me by altogether.

jumpin26 · 04/05/2018 19:23

I was/am struggling to associate with any party at the min and couldn't really bring myself to get engaged

DannyLaRuesBestFrock · 04/05/2018 19:24

Oh, I did email my local labour councillor regarding some policies I wanted their veiw on and was totally ignored, which really pissed me off.

Bumpowdersneezeonandsnot · 04/05/2018 19:25

People can't seem to work out the relationship between the issues they moan about most and who makes the decisions. As in...they perhaps aren't aware just what the local councils do and have control over.

Original poster
ScreamingValenta · 04/05/2018 19:26

We had quite a few leaflets - I didn't see any canvassers, but I'm usually out at work during the day. In last year's General Election, my vote was won by effective canvassing - I was impressed by the way the candidate responded to my (polite) challenges.

However, my constituency isn't a 'safe' seat so always gets a reasonable amount of canvassing. When I've lived in constituencies that are considered safe, they don't seem to be as bothered.

OP posts:
Yorkshirebetty · 04/05/2018 19:26

I always vote, mindful of the struggles others went through for our right to vote. I couldn't bear to vote for the usual Labour candidate, so voted for the independent candidate whose blurb was acceptable. If you don't vote, you can't really complain I suppose.

LynetteScavo · 04/05/2018 19:28

Because they don't think it will make much difference or have much affect on them?

I was very cold and tired last night and really had to drag myself out to vote. DH drive me the 1/2 mile, but if I'd had to walk, I may not have bothered. I would never miss a general election though, as they seem more important. I'm not saying they are, but if I casually perceive elections like that, then I'd guess many others do too.

lanbury · 04/05/2018 19:29

I didn't bother. I would have if it was a general. But having said I'm sick to the. A k teeth and totally disillusioned

lanbury · 04/05/2018 19:30

Sorry about typos!

Original poster
ScreamingValenta · 04/05/2018 19:30

@ohcomeon12321 Fair point! I was trying to word it in a non-inflammatory way Grin.

OP posts:
Yorkshirebetty · 04/05/2018 19:31

By not voting you have to accept that others are making choices for you.

TrashPanda · 04/05/2018 19:32

The elections here have been in the local news quite a lot as we are one of the trial areas for voter id. However, we have had nothing from any of the local candidates, either leaflets or canvassers, so I couldn't tell you who they even were. I did try googling but there was very little information I could find.

Sprinklesinmyelbow · 04/05/2018 19:33

Not publicised at all. No one decent to vote for. For once I’m not in the slightest bit surprised the turnout was so low

Metoodear · 04/05/2018 19:36

Because Mrs May is shit but Corbyn is shitter

Your asking the people if they would like a punch in the face or a kick in the teeth that is our choice

Original poster
ScreamingValenta · 04/05/2018 19:37

@Yorkshirebetty Very similar to me this time round, though I voted for the Green candidate, who was never realistically going to win.

OP posts:
Yorkshirebetty · 04/05/2018 19:41

@ScreamingValenta - but at least you made your point, and boosted a (probably) worthwhile candidate. If you look at the margins, some candidates win by a very few votes.

PianoThirty · 04/05/2018 19:44

“No one has any idea on how to tackle Brexit”

These were local elections, for your local council. They maintain the roads, collect your rubbish, plan housing, and run child and adult social care. They have nothing to do with Brexit, the NHS, austerity, or most of the big national topics.

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 04/05/2018 19:45

The comments on here really do show that people have NO clue what local government does

NewYearNewMe18 · 04/05/2018 19:45

No one has any idea on how to tackle Brexit

It was a council election, not a general election, Brexit has sod all to do with whether my bins get emptied. However this was a reason why people didn't vote, they didn't know what they were (or weren't) voting for.

Ginosaji · 04/05/2018 19:47

I didn't even know we'd had elections till this morning!

No leaflets, no canvassing, in fact no advertising of ANY kind, i didn't even receive a polling card, hell, i didn't even see it mentioned on fb 😂

Was it the whole country who had elections? Or just a few regions?

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