To not vote today?

[teaandcake32]

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

As others have said, that makes no difference.

I’m also somewhat astounded about the attempts on this thread to guilt women into voting. That would be roundly attacked on any other Mumsnet thread but it seems it’s ok on this one.

But things like teacher shortages, getting a GP appointment, hospital waiting lists, crime, public transport, climate change, immigration... does none of that interest you or affect your life at all?

I spoiled my paper. Couldn't stand the idea of not turning up because of everything that happened to get women the vote. Equally couldn't stand putting a tick next to any of the candidates, they are all completely terrible to me!

The trouble is, a democracy only works if enough people are invested in it. If apathy reaches a certain level then it's not really a democracy anymore. And when you look at history, and other countries around the world, democracy is much more fragile than we think. So it really worries me when people say they have no interest in politics or they can't be bothered to vote.

I agree which is why I strongly believe, and have for years, that there should be a "none of the above" option like they have in the US. As you say, it shows that if you felt there was a decent candidate, then you would vote for them and are prepared to take part in elections.

My son was so underwhelmed when he went earlier! Its his first vote since turning 18 late last year so was quite excited by it and then said "Oh, that didnt feel as big as I was expecting!" so I bought him a beer as a celebration of his first vote!

It makes a difference in that it registers that a person bothered to turn up and vote for none of the above. Spoilt papers are counted. Better than being assumed to be apathetic.

In terms of the result it doesn't necessarily make a difference unfortunately.

So you’re ok if the worse person gets in because you couldn’t make a pragmatic decision? Who on earth wouldn’t choose least bad?

No. I didn't. We only had PCC elections. No local elections here. Only 107 Councils. We weren't one of them.

Because, like me, she’s been getting postal votes for years, she didn’t just apply for this election.

PCC and regional mayor. Officials reported it had been steady all day.

PCC vote was a relatively easy decision, Mayoral voted for the least worst, albeit a wasted vote.

Only the vote for the Police & Crime Comissioner round here as well. I toyed with not voting because I'm ill and didn't want to go out. Then I remembered how long and hard the Suffragettes worked to get women the vote, so I went.

What really bugs me though, is that this election was to choose someone to be the police commissioner. So why, oh why, were the candidates aligned with political parties? The police should not be influenced by party politics.

Yes, I voted - Labour for the Council and Labour for the Mayor.

I don’t understand non-voting. Even if there’s no one who exactly fits your bill, go pick the least worst option.

If you don’t like the parties, try to find something out about the actual candidates - who are they, what’s their record, what do they want to do?

If you’re waiting for a candidate who is perfect, you’ll be wait a very long time.

@HampdenRadius I'm not waiting for the 'perfect' candidate, I genuinely can't bring myself to vote for any of them. Labour best of a bad bunch and I can see it would be obviously great for getting the tories out but labour's policies on animal agriculture go directly against everything I believe in so I just can't vote for them (however dh votes for them and I don't judge him as that's his choice).

Did you read my post properly? Your answer to me not having faith in the candidates, parties or system is to join the system?! Get fucked.

People who shouldn’t vote are those who say “I always vote for (party) as my late husband/dad did” use your own judgment, not someone who died many years ago.

Those who believe everything in newspapers. Because of these paper believers, Brexit won and it’s has ruined the country.

Unless you’re an upper class Lord or lady the right to vote was hard won and you should really use it. It is your children and their children who are affected by the political decisions of today.

If you don’t know who to vote for you can find lots of information online. Personally I’d never vote Tory or other right wing parties but you are your own person and can make that decision yourself.

What really bugs me though, is that this election was to choose someone to be the police commissioner. So why, oh why, were the candidates aligned with political parties? The police should not be influenced by party politics.

We had an independent candidate and I was going to vote for him but I’ve been ill so
didn’t get to post it and it then slipped my mind as we’re now away. I wouldn’t have voted for anyone linked to a political party though

It's boring? How old are you? It's not meant to be TOWIE.

Agree again. Voting is a privilege of a functioning and civilised society. If we didn’t have one you can bet you’d be wanting the right to vote.
Spoil your paper if you are dissatisfied but show respect for the people who fought for your right to do that.

Not voting is just as much a legitimate choice as voting.

Apathy to politics is a symptom of a system in desperate need of reform.

If you don't vote, you still absolutely are entitled to representation and to complain about that representation. That's literally the point of a representative democracy. What's next? People claiming that if you didn't vote for the MP who got in, they don't deserve to be represented either? That's the logical conclusion to that stupid train of thought.

The principle behind universal suffrage was to ensure everyone had the right to vote.

Not to force everyone to vote. Compulsary voting is the opposite of what the suffragettes fought for.

@ClawdeenWolf I'm 45. Listen just because I have a different opinion to you, doesn't mean you're right and I'm wrong.
Stop getting your knickers in a twist over what I think.

I always vote, I just feel it’s my civic duty to.

We had local council and Manchester mayor.
I voted for our local incumbent councillor, even though he’s a Tory, he’s very proactive and I have worked with him professionally and he is a great asset to our town (our other Tory councillor is a useless and I would never vote for her in a million years)

No idea who to vote for in the GE though, I’m pretty homeless politically.

I didn’t say I have no interest in politics and I am certainly not apathetic.

I made a reasoned decision that I could not support any of the candidates who offered themselves for election and therefore made the reasoned and logical decision to vote for none of them.

Had we had a none of them option I would have used that.

I think you'll find that not having the right to vote is the very definition of being silenced. There are many countries where people would give their right arm to have the luxury of going to the ballot box.

Secondly, spoiling your ballot paper makes absolutely nothing "very clear". How could anyone know what policies you weren't happy with? You could be angry with a whole range of issues or just one, or you could be mentally ill, drunk or doing it for a laugh. Scribbling over it conveys nothing and gives no indication of what you are dissatisfied with. How on earth is that going to lead to change?