People who could but didn't vote in the referendum

[Leapyearlover]

Do you really not care either way? Why didn't you vote and do you regret it now? I know a couple who couldn't decide so agreed that one would vote IN and one would vote OUT which is probably the stupidest thing I have heard. (Why not just stay at home in that case?)

It bothers that Jack M didn't vote and is now selling a book making money out of other people's fears.

Much as I don't like JM, the book is useful, much of it is available free on her website and, frankly, she's way down my list of bad guys on this.

I would have to check my source on this but I believe that Jack M didn't vote because she didn't know what to vote, due to the complexities of the issues and the spin and lies in the campaign. Perhaps we would have had a better outcome if more people admitted that they didn't understand the issues rather than taking a simplistic view on it.

I voted, but when discussing Brexit with my niece she said she hadn’t voted but if she had it would have been for remain as the EU had given them a big grant to update their travel hub

I had an upset stomach and I didn't want to possibly infect others and my bed was very cosy. But honestly since I didn't know what I had was infectious or not and the fact that a lot of elderly vote, I decided it was not worth it.

Unfortunately a lot of people live in their own bubble and know nothing about politics and current affairs and it's not even on their radar. I know a lot of people like that (mostly my female friends)...I do feel annoyed when I mention brexit and they say they didn't vote or know nothing about what's going on

I know four people who couldn't vote because Southern Rail was in the middle of an industrial dispute and it took them over six hours to travel from London to the South coast. All would have voted remain and were pretty pissed off to find the polling station closed when they got home. Don't assume that everyone who didn't vote, couldn't be bothered.

There were thousands of people abroad who were unable to vote because their postal votes were delayed.

I didn’t - I was skint and am a freelance performer, I got some last minute work in I had to take which meant I missed the whole polling day. I would have voted remain.

There wasn't a good option. Leaving is just stupid, but every argument I heard for pro-remain was 'vote for us and we'll block the EU army and every attempt at closer integration' which means that Britain staying in would cripple the EU. The EU needs to start militarizing urgently (probably already too late) and Britain staying in just to fuck everything up would be hugely pointless. So no good choices, no positive outcome to voting, no moral argument to either side = no vote.

I think not voting was rational from an individual point of view (many or even most people on both sides did not really understand the issues).

Lots of people couldn't vote for practical reasons. I hardly know any British in Europe who managed to vote, because the postal vote system is such a shambles.

I have colleagues who were prevented from voting due to travel issues.

I know a couple who couldn't decide so agreed that one would vote IN and one would vote OUT

Hahaha. Did they not realize the cancelling effect?

General apathy in the UK when it comes to voting. People over their lifetimes have seen for decades the pendulum swing from Conservatives to Labour with the occasional coalition, but nothing seems to improve.

Highest turnout in UK for a general election was in 1950/51 with over 80%. The 2017 GE had a turnout of 68% so the trend is downwards.

Many comment on the high turnout for the 2016 referendum at 72%. A poor turnout I think considering the significance of the the question. So more than a quarter of the electorate were not interested. Some may have been prevented though no fault of their own as above, but would that have made a big difference to the total turnout?

I think everyone should vote in a general election as there are lots of candidates/parties to choose from and everyone should be able to choose the one they think is best.

I'm not so sure about a referendum. If you really don't understand the issue or are not interested in it, maybe it's better not to vote?

@Orangina

In some countries voting is compulsory. However, it does not prevent people who are not interested from spoiling the ballot papers by ticking all boxes.

I think I'd make voting compulsory in GE, but put a 'none of the above' option. I think we have a duty to vote, the same as we do to perform jury service, if called upon.
With the exception of people who were genuinely too ill or physically unable to get to a polling station, it's something we should do or we lose the right to complain.
By not voting in the referendum, people tacitly agreed to accept the result whichever way it went. That's not the best way to decide a country's future.

My grandparents didnt vote because one wanted "remain" and one wanted "leave" so, since they would cancel each other out, they decided not to bother.

My brother didnt vote because he looked into both sides and couldnt decide/didnt have strong feelings either way.

The EU needs to start militarizing urgently
Genuine question, Mephistopheles, why does it?

Genuine question, Mephistopheles, why does it?

Because climate change will bring enormous conflict and America will not protect us. Plus it will allow a significantly more accurate assessment of the EUs economy, which currently only looks good because the nations within are not paying the genuine costs of continental peace or security.

Meph What enormous conflict could climate change cause and with whom? Today in The Guardian there is a report about Germany’s economy, which doesn’t look good so wouldn’t trying to find money to support militarising weaken it further?

Mephistopheles thank you for answering my question.