Voting conundrum

[wherethewillowsgrow]

I am more than a little frustrated with myself for still not knowing who to vote for, one day before the elections. I'm not asking for advice, as I’ve read numerous articles from both sides of the fence, but for reassurance that others are in the same boat.

My family background is left wing academic, and I’ve married into a family of right wing corporates. I get embroiled in opposing arguments, all (and sometimes none) of which make sense. Hence my confusion. I’d love to be able to forge ahead with my own independent opinion, but since we’re all a product of a myriad set of influences, past and present, and since mine are so diverse, I sway like the wind.

Much as I loathe the party baiting, I refuse not to vote, since women died for the right to do so. And I’d love to be able to talk to my DDs about politics, but since I’m so undecided I don’t feel qualified.

For me, and for our situation, it seems the arguments can ultimately be distilled into society first, v family first. Quite the moral dilemma. Please tell me I’m not alone!

You are not alone

I am politically homeless at the moment (having voted Labour previously) and I hate the idea of not voting. I had decided to spoil my ballot but it's not sitting well on me and I'm in a quandary.

Yes, I think family first vs society first is often the decision that needs to be made, especially for people who are reasonably comfortable financially. Ultimately, it boils down to your own moral code and what you think is most important.

I don't have that dilemma as I'm very clearly on the side of society first. However, I'm still undecided on how to vote. Do I go with my heart or do I vote tactically to keep the worst option out?

Sadly, I think I'll end up going with the tactical option but I don't feel good about it.

"When you're not doing so well, vote for a better like for yourself. If you are doing quite nicely, vote for a better life for others."

Sums it up well.

Why do you feel politically homeless Yoga?

Alexa, I struggle with the tactical voting too. I'm scared that the LDs could form a coalition with the Tories again. But what it comes down to for me is diminishing the Conservative seats as much as possible, so they can do less harm.

(But do your research on who to vote for tactically, as some sites seem less legitimate than others.)

I am spoiling my ballot. I am exercising my right to vote but as there is no one in my constituency worthy of my vote, I am spoiling my paper. Maybe no one will give a shit. Maybe at least one of them will wonder why I went to the trouble of voting but didn't vote for them (or anyone else). I suspect it will be the former. But I can't look at myself in the mirror knowing I enabled any of them.
I voted Remain. I didn't win. I accept Brexit has to be done but I don't want any part of facilitating it.

I'm struggling too. Where I live, voting conservative is the only way to stop Nicola Sturgeon getting a second independence referendum but I just can't bring myself to vote conservative so I don't know what to do.

I agree, I don't think I 'fit' with any of the three main parties, and I'm not convinced over the leaders of any of them!

I have been trying to follow the policies not personalities advice and so have been reading up.

I'm hoping for a hung parliament, I think compromise would be good for all involved (although do worry if any of them are capable!)

I live in a very safe Conservative seat and I would never vote for them so on my to do list is to look at vote numbers from the last election to try and work our who is more likely to unseat the incumbent!

I don't feel that I can vote Labour primarily for reasons around anti-semintism, Momentum control of the CLP and self-id.

Plus, the Labour candidate in my area has no experience of politics, even as a local councillor (she's a volunteer at a mother and baby group). I listened to a hustings on local radio with her, the incumbent Tory MP and the LibDem candidate and she just agreed with everyone

I can't vote LibDem because the LibDem candidate is actually a flounced former Tory. His entire campaign seems to be based on slagging off the Conservative party. Plus, Self-ID and also their previous collaboration with the 2010 government on austerity.

Which leaves Conservative. Enough said.

What I need is a centre left party who want to revoke Article 50, radically reform the NHS and Social Care so that they are suited to the countries current needs (not just promise to pump more money into a failing system,) tax the Amazons and Googles of this country, scrap the GRA, make employers pay a living wage (no zero hours contracts), pay benefits to those who need them, and properly fund education and local Councils. But there isn't a candidate who wants any of this it seems. It used to be Labour but now they seem to just want to nationalise stuff and play at theoretical Socialism while Rome burns around it

Ergo, politically homeless.

In truth my vote is worthless in my area anyway. I don't think it has ever elected a non-Conservative M.P.

You are absolutely not alone. In this election in particular, lots of people are struggling to decide who to vote for. I think the two main problems are the FPTP system and the fact that we have a pretty shoddy selection of parties to choose from - I don't think they are all as bad as each other (I think the Tories are by far the worst option, always have been and probably always will be) but they are all bad in one way or another and I'm not thrilled about voting for any of them!

Absolutely, the FPTP system is a big part of the problem. I'd like to vote Green but in my Con/Lab marginal, there is no point whatsoever in voting for any of the smaller parties.

Like many others, I feel politically homeless right now. It's depressing.

Do you value state education and the NHS? If so, you really must vote whatever is going to ensure the Tory party are not returned to government.

I feel queasy about what that means for me. The Lib Dems are currently closer that I have ever felt possible to the Tory party, but are my only alternative.

Also, whatever Anti-Semetism there is within the Labour movement surely pales into insignificance compared to that (and the overt racism) of the current government and their supporters.

"Also, whatever Anti-Semetism there is within the Labour movement surely pales into insignificance compared to that (and the overt racism) of the current government and their supporters."
Depends on whether you are on the receiving end of it or not. I would argue we expect better of the Labour Party.

@Electrocute1980
I'm voting for the SNP but I am not pro-independence. I think another tory government will break the Union. What will give power to the SNP independence wishes is a tory brexit.

morningstaronline.co.uk/article/f/sex-based-rights-election-issue

People in this situation should vote tactically to bring about a hung parliament.

The tactical voting websites to try and oust the Conservatives told me to vote for lib dems in my area. I don't like any of the main 3 political parties and believe each of them have policies that are potentially damaging to sectors of society/the economy. But Boris Johnson is a liar who in my view is putting the country on the line for a form of brexit that I believe to be damaging for the NHS and for workers rights in particular, so I'm going to do everything I can to try and stop him.

That said, in the voting booth, my heart really wanted to put a cross in the box for the greens.

@RoseHippy1 No. I'm not giving any of them my vote. I'm taking their views on an important local issue too.

Thanks for all the comments. In the end I couldn't bring myself to vote either Labour or Conservative. Not that it would have made any difference. Our constituency has been as safely Conservative as you can get for the past 70 years. Goodness knows how it will all play out in the end.