To not vote today?

[teaandcake32]

Have you voted today and if so who did you vote for?

I couldn't agree more. I think voting should be compulsory, with a choice of 'none of the above' for people who really can't bring themselves to vote for any of their candidates. It isn't exactly difficult to vote - polling stations are open long hours and anyone can get a postal vote.

I do think that if you don't bother to vote then you have no right whatsoever to complain about the government you get.

Spoiling is completely pointless. What difference do you think it makes? Who is going to care?

Also, 100% of posters who won’t say who they voted for have voted Tory 😂

How I feel word for word.

Locally its only police commissioner elections and on speaking to the polling station they have had a terrible turnout. I am expecting about a 20% turnout locally and that is appalling. I understand voter apathy as everything seems just so shit at the moment, but women fought years and gave up their lives so we could have a vote and I have never missed an election for anything yet.

I didn't vote. I've never in my life voted. It doesn't interest me in the slightest

I find this baffling. It doesn't interest you? What doesn't, having a say in how our country is run? Bizarre comment.

Jeremy Corbyn is no longer leader of the Labour party and hasn't even been a member since 2020. Likewise Boris Johnson is no longer an MP. You also say you were disappointed by something your Lib Dem candidate did or said? Have the Greens managed to upset you yet? What about any independent candidates in your area? Basically you don't want to commit to voting. I'd far rather people were honest rather than trying to make it sound like an intellectually formed decision.

Oh - I thought I’d missed something there! Why apply for a postal vote to just bin it though?

It makes no difference at the moment as not enough people do it.
But just imagine if all the people who chose not to vote because they didn’t like any of the options spoiled their ballot? I honestly think it would make a difference

What does interest you? (Out of interest)

I'm on my way to vote now. I emailed all my candidates in advance as they all seemed much of a muchness in terms of policies. I'm voting for the only one who bothered to respond. That happened to be the Tory, but I am absolutely done with tribal politics and I will vote for any candidate who reflects my views, respects me enough to listen to my concerns and works to gain my support. (My local Tory MP, however, is completely useless, doesn't listen and never responds to anything in a timely manner so I will not vote for him in the general election on that basis.)

Don't you have to register for a postal vote? So you took the time to request a postal vote but still couldn't be bothered to vote.

If you're happy with the current administration fair enough, don't vote, but if you're not happy what do you expect to happen if you can't even be bothered to put a little X on a bit of paper.

Then you and all those brave rebels can form a party and run the country can't you. No excuses please.

Isn't it just commissioner selection today?

@AnneLovesGilbert it's only PCC elections in my area - the local councillor election was last year where we are.

You can vote or not, it's up to you. What is ABSOLUTELY unreasonable is to complain about politics/politicians/any decisions made at a local or national level if you don't vote.
If you could participate, but didn't, you have no right to comment on what happens as a result.

Yes I voted. Otherwise I have no right to complain about pretty much anything. Plus it wasn't all that long ago that I couldn't vote or have a bank account or do anything without a mans say so.

Even if you spoil a ballot it has to be counted as spoilt., so essentially a none of the above option.

Who did I vote for? None of your business

If you don’t vote, you forfeit the right to credibly complain about the way the country or your local area is run. Because you didn’t take your opportunity to make your voice heard and to make a difference. You left it to others to decide.

I voted today. And, as always, I voted for the candidate best placed to beat the Tory.

We have mayoral and pcc elections today. I voted in one and spoiled my ballot paper in the other. I always vote if I can. Thanks suffragettes 😘

I've always voted. People died for the right to vote.
If you don't vote then don't complain.

However, as Ive said on another thread, some folk seem to be unable to vote.

I voted at 4pm today after reading online the Reform Party had fielded a candidate in our little town. I scooted down to the Polling Station. We also had to vote for a Police/Crime commissioner, and I chose the LibDem candidate, because he was the only one who actually lives in this town.

Good God, no. I can’t think of anything worse! 😂

No excuses for what? Choosing to vote?

I’m not saying I spoil my ballot every time. I think I’ve only done it twice but I don’t see why I shouldn’t be able to give my opinion. It’s no more or less valid than yours.

@checkedshirts @ClawdeenWolf I don't understand politics. It doesn't interest me and it's boring. I think they are all liars and if anyone does try to talk politics with me, I tell them I have no interest

I voted for the London mayor today, and two other London Somethings that I can never figure out what they do! Some of the mayoral candidates are really quite scary and slightly unhinged, but I doubt they will get many votes.

This idea that you don't get to complain if you don't vote is complete and utter bullshit.

I do vote, BTW, but the fact is that an elected official - be it an MP, a councillor or whoever is duty bound to represent EVERYONE in their voting catchment area, not just the people who voted for them or indeed voted for anyone.

If there is nobody who represents a particular person's interests, why would they vote? If then they require help from their MP, should they not be allowed to seek it? Of course not.

Half of the problems with our current electoral system is people voting for a party "just because" i.e. the "I've always voted labour/tory". Politicians are only held accountable at the ballot box if people vote intelligently. Just voting for the sake of it dilutes the votes that are cast for an actual reason.