Those whose votes don’t influence their seat...

[GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat]

Do you feel less motivated to vote than you wish you did?

To clarify, I will be voting, there’s no chance I won’t. But I do feel a bit flat about the whole thing. I live in a very (understatement!) safe Tory (though this is irrelevant, there must be super safe Labour or other party seats too) seat and I know my vote will never ever make a difference. I know that before walking in there.

How do you find peace with this?

I don’t know, I think there’s always hope a seat can change its allegiance.

Take Sheffield Hallam, created in 1885, and a Tory held seat all the way until 1997, apart from a short period in 1916-1918. A safe Tory seat if ever there were one! But it went Lib Dem in the labour landslide of 1997, and then completely unthinkably based on its long Tory history, went Labour (unseating Nick Clegg) in 2017.

Things can change, and if we vote, there’s a better chance of it! After the disaster of Jared Mara in Hallam, I expect it won’t stay Labour this election, but the Tories I know in Hallam wont vote Tory because of Boris and Brexit, so I’d expect back to Lib Dem.

Georgie - same here

Our (Tory) MP got over 66% of the vote last time

He's one of those buffoon, parody, bellend MPs

I like the idea of voting independent so they keep their deposit but there aren't any running here

copperstrike76

I used to live in that constituency - channel the spirit of 2001 and magic could happen!

rhubarb that’s depressing, just looked at the link you suggested and the Tory MP has a 95% chance of being re-elected. .

(Are you the same Rhubarb that has been on Mumsnet for over 19 years?)

Great thread/question, OP. I'm also in a safe Tory seat (North Somerset). I recognised the damaged I did in tactically voting against Tony Blair's government in the 90's. I will be voting Labour, for Labour, rather than JC this time as a Labour candidate is visiting here in the next few days and turning out to speak to the few of us in a Tory heartland. I have been annoyed in the past as previous candidates have never bothered. This DOES make a difference.
Thank you for this thread, it's a good 'un.

Other than for a few years out of my c35 years being of voting age, I have lived in safe seats. Even on the local council.

I am still motivated to vote as it legitimises the criticisms I have of whoever is in power, be it national or local level. I would feel unjustified in calling Mr Johnson the worst Prime Minister ever if I do not vote on December 12th.

(waves at neighbours @Ragwort and @GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat )

Your vote helps send a message to the winner about how much of an endorsement they really have. Same for the party.

I am still motivated to vote as it legitimises the criticisms I have of whoever is in power, be it national or local level. I would feel unjustified in calling Mr Johnson the worst Prime Minister every if I do not vote on December 12th.

^this; absolutely why I vote.

I live in a very safe Tory seat full of Leavers.

I'm an ardent remainer and was going to vote Lib Dem but will probably end up voting Labour, as much as I don't want JC to be our PM.

I know my vote will make no difference to the results, given our awful system, but there's no way I would not vote.

(Are you the same Rhubarb that has been on Mumsnet for over 19 years?)

Several name changes but yes, I've been here for donkeys years. Not sure if it's 19 years but ages.

Rhubarb
That Electoral calculus gave the same percentage outcome likelihoods for my seat and the one next door
which is bilge because the one next door is ultra marginal

Roll on Friday 13th

@MeeceAndMice and anyone else wanting to know what the voting result was last time

commonslibrary.parliament.uk/local-data/constituency-dashboard

Scroll down to the end of the page after selecting your constituency

I hope that they've got the one wrong that I live in, sadly I think it's unlikely. Ditto the one where my family member is standing.

Unescorted
THe simplest way to get past results is to look at the Wiki page for each constituency

It's a weird one for me, I'm moving straight after Christmas so whoever I vote for won't be my MP anyway.

I'm moving to an extremely safe Labour stronghold.

I would do a "make a point" vote for Green/Lib Dem if either party hadn't massively embarrassed itself on similar issues.

Having correctly predicted the last two general elections, the EU referendum and Trump's victory, it's looking like a working Tory majority from here.

Bugger.

I live in Devizes constituency,
MoaningMinnie I also live in Devizes constituency. I agree, there are few Tory posters and some former Tory supporters near us have put Libdem placards all along the verge next to their property.
My bridge teacher who has always voted Tory is voting Libdem as she wants Brexit stopped.
I don’t know what to think, quite honestly. I don’t believe polls any longer and I think there will be some surprises at this election.

I’m in a safe Tory seat and will still be voting for whoever has the best chance of getting rid of him even if it just reduces his majority. Funnily enough though we had a Tory flyer through the letterbox today which indicates they are actually quite worried about it. So who knows?

Hell would freeze over before my town voted anything but labour.

I live in a Tory seat so safe that one of the tactical voting website basically told me there was no tactical vote! Current Tory MP got 65% of the total vote last time.

Given that background, I'm think I'm voting Lib Dem as although I think there is no chance of them winning, if it's going to swing I can't see it being to Labour. And I'm a remainer so, may as well send that message.

But yes, it is dispiriting knowing your vote won't really matter. We moved here after the last GE and prior to this I lived in a constituency that changed hands semi regularly, which was far more exciting.

@Ragwort 99% chance here 😩

Your vote always makes a difference even if the incumbent remains. At the count they go through the ballots one by one, if the majority decreases they will look at why. If you "spoil" your ballot paper that doesn't mean it won't get counted, it just has to be clear who you're voting for. I won't use real examples because I'm sure that's against the rules. But an example would be if you were in a remain area and you voted leave you wouldn't have to vote Brexit party to get that point across. You could still vote Labour/Tory and write "I want a deal" on the paper so long as it is clear which party your voting for. These "spoiled" papers are removed and gone through individually by all the parties as they have to agree on whether to include them or not.

We had a Tory flyer yesterday as well - first we’ve had since living here. Which is interesting.

We've had 3! Never had one before.

On my way to and from work today I drove through 17 solidly Tory constituencies (one of them Tory since the start of voting)
three libDem
one Labour
One Tory poster
In past elections the fields have been seas of blue banners
in 2016 they were seas of Brexit banners

the fields are clear of crops so banners could go up
BUT
the local Brexit candidates are LIVID that Nigel took them each for around £750 and then did not let them stand