Will/Have you voted?

[Hulababy]

We have two ballot papers - one for local elections and one for european one.

Dh has just picked up our ballot papers envelopes and realised that these have to be in by 10pm tomorrow evening. Missed last post so he is going to have to take them over to the City Hall tomorrow during the day some time. Ooops!

I have to say that I found the postal voting a bit of a pain as it is so easy to forget if you don't do it as soon as the envelope arrives, which is what we failed to do obviously!

Obviously for me it'd be loads easier if I could do it online as I spend so much time on here

So is everyone remembering to go along to vote, or are you abstaining (choosing the right not to vote I guess)?

I am off to vote right now. I can't believe that some people don't bother, when it has been such a battle to get voting rights over the years, especially for women.

Also, low turnouts can produce weird results, and it is no use moaning after the event if you did not bother! Not voting is just ignored by politicians, so please please go and vote for someone. The baby can have fun chewing the ballot paper

Yes, I will be voting today. Agree that it is spitting in the face of all those that have fought and paid with their lives for the right to vote not to. It won't be for labour tho, which leaves me with lib dem or green to choose from.

Yes dh and I have voted. Trouble is we voted for different parties, so I guess our votes sort of cancel each other out!

I'm not voting, don't trust or believe any of them.

I also think it's disgaceful that they have made my kids school a polling station and i have to have them round my feet on my bloody birthday

You need a lie down toothy , no work from you today, by order of The Olive xx

I have voted as we have a problem with racism near me and I don't want the BNP to stir up a hornets nest and get in. However one of the MP's, Lib I think, has been arrested recently for trying to fix votes already so not sure how safe and secure this postal thing is.

I'm wondering if here in Scotland we are particularly disinterested in politics?? I must say that most of my friends don't vote.... I have NEVER voted in a local election, only the general elections. I've only been able to vote in 2 of those so far.
My friends and I never discuss politics. The closest I get to discussing it is listening to my Gran pop a blood vessel when someone mentions Maggie!

I won't be voting, mainly because I feel totally let down by every single political party there is. They all make empty promises and then when they get in all they do is blame the govenment before . I know that the right to vote is a major thing etc, but I feel so alienated by the whole process that I won't be participating. Not only that, but I don't feel I have done enough research into my local candidates to cast an informed vote.

I think you're right OO!

but ndp: whilst I totally understand how disenchanted you are with politics, how on earth will it ever change if you don't use your vote. if everyone that feels like you voted then you would change the face of politics. If labour are whipped badly in these elections and the conservatives don't do well either then both parties will have to rethink their strategies. also if the liberal democrats or greens get into power, they will change the voting system so that your vote actually does count and maybe we'll go back to having more independent MP's with some integrity and not in the pocket of big business etc. can't you use your vote to voice your total pissed off-ness by voting for one of the joke parties? i just think it's such a shame as so many people feel like you and if they all voted that would be the most powerful lobby in this country!

happy birthday nutcracker!

I have just voted. I read the BBC website before I went to the polling station. Had a great summary of what the parties were standing for (in Europe) called 'what the parties are offering on June 10'. Worth looking at if you are clueless as to what their manifestos are (and its very brief if you don't have much time).

european manifestos

Batters - Why is ther a real danger the BNP will come into power???? How come?

Thankx Foxinsocks!

Thanks for your post sophable, I know you are right. I've missed the boat on this one, I've not got the time to read up and make an informed decision for this election, but you have spurred me on to swot up for the next one.

I've just come back from the polling station and it seems a lot busier than in previous years. Instead of the place being deserted as it usually is, people were actually queueing for the booths. With the two sets of ballot papers the box they went into was already full. I just hope they have more boxes or their could be problems.

or even "there" could be problems. Doh!

I'll be voting. I alwys do, as I believe that if you don't, you can't then comment or complain about what the plotiicans do to affect our lives.

However, I can see why people are becoming disillusioned with the process: under Blair (and I speak as a life time trendie lefty) the democratic process appears to mean nothing and we have a system of presidential government, where the governement dictates what happens and sod the backbenchers. However, at a local level, things have not got that bad. (But we're only voting for the European elections here in Scotland).

I remember someone on Radio 2 once defining democracy as "the rule of the majority with the consent of the minority". Recent results suggest that should be "the rule of the minority, with the consent of the majority" - and even that is becoming dubious.

I'm even starting to apporach dh's cynical view, as he quotes Ken Livingstone: "If voitng changed anything, they'd abolish it".

But I've been brought up in a political environment and still be believe it is my duty to vote! Fortunately in Scotland, we have left wing alternatives (or ones that could lead to left wing choices becoming availalbe) to Labour.

Did postal votes this year as dh sometimes works away so he needed one anyway.

So yes, already voted !

I will be voting later on - will be introducing DS to the excitement of polling stations . Only another 17.5 years until he can join in

I think I have always voted since being 18; I feel it is important to use your vote.

DH was saying something last night about having to rank your choices in the European Elections. Can someone who has voted let me know if that is the case?

I am having a look at the BBC website for inspiration; thank Fox in Socks.

I cant vote as I only just moved and was too late to register but I usually do.

I agree with you Batters about the BNP thing. Luckymum posted the other day about stoke on trent will most probably have BNP voted in we should try to stop it. Hasnt Wolverhampton banned the BNP from standing? I am sure it was on prime ministers questions yesterday

DS2 (3) wanted to vote for the "Independent Working Class Association" candidate for mayor. Should I have let him?

Toothache - Sadly there seems to be quite a few areas now where the BNP have a stronghold on voters . Most are disillusioned middle agers and pensioners (mainly men), who are sucked in by many of the BNP's 'promises'. Sadly most of those BNP converts don't give much of a stuff about the dark side of the party , and are ignorant to the real truths.

I love this thread, you lot have really prompted me to take an active interest in local and national politics. I guess I can't sit and complain about schools, hospitals, anti-social behaviour in our local community and then do nothing to push for a change.

(he charmed the 4 women "manning" the polling station so much that they wanted him to stay and post everyone's voting papers in the box)