To not understand why people won't go and vote?

[MilkNoSugarPlease]

Sure this has been done to death but after a conversation with a friend I was curious

If you won't vote, WHY?

I dont understand the logic of "one vote wont make a difference" of course it will! if everyone had that mentality then noone would vote!

So I'm asking, if you won't vote, why not?

Dictating is not the same as persuading.

xpost w tethersend

Great minds and all that, onebatmother

I vote at local elections because that affects me on a day-to-day basis and my vote counts. I live in a rock-solid Tory county and until we have proportional representation it's a waste of time voting at a general election. I voted in the referendum whenever it was (1977?) and once for Tony Blair, that's the only time I've voted at national level.

nope - I just leave that for other people to decide. there's enough media coverage on politics for anyone to make their own mind up without being badgered by their peers/relatives into voting.

My Great Grandmother chained herself to railings and went to prison for the right for me to vote. I vote at every level in her memory.

General election called Tuesday for May 6th - so all the pundits say.

I'm not sure what annoys me more - people that don't vote or people that vote in a certain way because 'our family's always voted labour/conservative.'

I'd feel ashamed if I didn't vote. Whether or not they are all a bunch of lying weasels, you still have to do it.

Otherwise you have no bloody reason to complain, if you aren't part of it, you don't get to whinge, I reckon.

Both annoying, but people who vote for the same party as friends, family etc without actually having an opinion are really annoying!

I have an aquaintance who votes BNP because her husband does! She is a lovely woman, but uneducated. She is not a racist, but is simply naive and believes all the "keeping britain british" crap that BNP use to try and make themselves a legitimate party.

Message withdrawn

I vote and don't understand those who don't vote because they don't know who to vote for/think all parties are the same etc etc. They argue that not voting is making a statement.

However, in my mind a statement would be made if all those who didn't know who to vote for spoiled their ballot paper instead. That's a more active way of telling the politicians that there isn't enough choice.

IMO voting is everyones responsibility and is not to be taken lightly.

Just to say I havent asked AIBU and left you to talk amongst yourselves! having a bath then will be back!>

I used to be quite policically active at one time as it goes.

Not now though. I've become disaffected and all the parties are the same - that's why I won't go and vote.

If one comes along that pledges to tax the rich until the pips squeek, I might reconsider.

I don't see why weekday voting is so 'complicated'. The polls open at 7am and don't close until 10pm. Surely that is long enough for most to vote if they wish? And of course, these days you can also apply for a postal vote without having to plead the way you used to. So, for those who wish to use their vote, I think it is much easier.

I can understand people who don't vote in FPTP elections where one party always wins by a landslide. But I really don't understand people who live near me, where it's on a knife-edge between parties that have major differences.

Have to admit that when I lived in a constituency with 97% votes for one party, my only reason for voting was to feel properly justified in moaning afterwards...

Wow! Tons of replies!

I can't deny that the fact that many women chained themselves to railings and died just so we could have the vote, is a huge part of it for me.

I honestly an't see a reason why those who can vote (obviously if not a citizen then you can;t) say they can't! Like Sayithowits says, Polling stations are open from 7am-10pm, I work 12+ hour days and will still be able to get there, and applying for a postal vote is so easy!

Saying "all parties are the same" is not a reason not to vote as it simply isn't true! the BNP for example is not the same as Labour! If they WERE all the same then we'd have no need for voting as we'd have no need for different parties!

If, for example, Labour get in and one of their policies does not benefit you and you bitch and moan about it, well you didnt even bother to vote to try and change the outcome so what gives you the right to complain?? (btw the "you" is not at anyone in particular...tis a general musing )#

I do RESPECT others choice not to vote, as in I wouldn't hang them out to dry over it , but that doesn't mean i think it's right nor do I agree with it

I do vote but to be honest don't really understand it all

For example we got some lib dem stuff in the post today saying how there is no point in voting labour where we live, no chance of them getting in, so is it a wasted vote if I do go and vote for them? or even if I am not lib dem should I vote for them anyway if I don't want the tories in here? or should I just vote for labour anyway because that is the party I prefer even if they have no chance?

I think I'm your target audience here. I'm torn between not voting at all and spoiling a ballot paper as a protest vote.

And why? Well the whole system is a mess as far as i can see. There is no binding commitment to manifesto promises (does anyone even remember Gordon Brown's golden rule? The one he broke?). Politicians in general are untrustworthy and dishonest.

I cannot in all honesty vote Labour - they've made a godawful mess of the economy and voting for them at this stage of the economic cycle would be catastrophic for the country.

I cannot in all conscience vote Conservative because I find naked self-interest quite repugnant.

Voting for the Greens is okay for local politics but they really don't understand the economy. Ditto the LibDems.

sherby - depends on what's more important to you, voting how you want or ousting your current party from its seat.

If you want the Tories out in your area then you'll have to vote Lib Dem.

I live in an area where there's no point voting Conservative - so I'll be voting Lib Dem to get labour out.

Lib Dems have a reasonable chance of getting a seat in my ward, Tories have none - it would take the most almighty swing.

You see I have this issue: if you vote for a party then you are agreeing with the party's policies. I dont agree with any of the party's policies and the last time i did vote it was a protest vote that was designed to make people think rather then because i agreed with the policies. Truth be told I hated that party's policies but it was something I felt I had to do to raise my dissatisfaction with the then situation. Unfortunately nothing has changed and it seems that my protest vote - whom i never want anywhere near power might if I protest again. Thus I shalln't vote. Someone was quoted in the round up as it might as well be a vote for your favourite colour. IMO it is a vote for whom you think will be least self serving and money grabbing - oh i forgot they are politicians and they wouldnt be in that profession if they didnt have their own interests at heart.

So thus no i am not going to vote unless someone can magically convince HQ they want to set up their own political party with sensible views and opinions. I expect they'd do a better job of it then the politicians - just as long as big tech doesnt upgrade that day

If you're choosing not to vote, rather than forgetting it's the election or not wanting to go out in the rain, then surely you can make your views known by spoiling your ballot paper. 30% of the electorate spoiling their papers might just send a message don't you think?

Nope - just that they will confirm that we are a bunch of idiots who shouldnt really be allowed to vote and that changing the PM mid term without bringing a new vote quickly is perfectly ok.

Sorry but utterly cynical re politics now.

"if you vote for a party then you are agreeing with the party's policies"

This as a basic premise is extremely flawed... You vote for a party in order to decide who governs you, not because you agree with all of their policies.

There will never be a party whose policies I agree with unless I start one -Which I might at this rate- yet I use my vote to decide who makes decisions about my life and governs the country.

I see nothing wrong with anyone not voting if they choose not to.

If they genuinely think that all the main parties are more or less the same, with the differences only at the margins (which is quite a reasonable view, given the unfortunate shift in politics towards managerialism and consensus in the centre ground, rather than a battle of ideologies) then not voting is a rational choice.

It is sad, but not bad, in any individual case. At a societal level low turnout is catastrophic.

I have no idea what turnout will be in 2010. The fact that there is a genuine prospect of a change of government for the first time since 1997 should in theory boost turnout. However, will expenses and lobbying etc keep people at home?

I predict that turnout at the general election after May, whenever that is, will be massive. The next government, whether it is Labour, Tory, or coalition, will be forced to make really unpopular decisions which have massive negative consequences on peoples' lives.