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Politics
Original poster

Am I the only person to never have voted ??

54 replies

Tillyscoutsmum · 12/04/2010 14:37

I was going to name change for this because I am actually quite ashamed of myself . I am 35 years of age and I have never voted.

If I am completely honest, I have never been interested in politics and have never took the time to actually find out what each party is proposing. I've almost therefore felt like I shouldn't vote if I don't really know enough about the policies.

So, am I the only one ?

I do want to vote this time but I still have no idea who to vote for. I intend to have a look at some of the threads on here so that I can become better informed and will then hopefully make a decision

OP posts:
Original poster
Tillyscoutsmum · 12/04/2010 15:09

Am I really the only one ?? Or do people like me just hide the Politics topic ?

OP posts:
Collision · 12/04/2010 15:10

I have never voted either.

barefootinthepark · 12/04/2010 15:10

love voting twas a hard won fight

compo · 12/04/2010 15:11

if you don't vote then you don't get to moan about the government, lol
so do you moan about things like rising council taxes, crap books in libraries, potholes, bin collections etc etc?
if you do then you do have an interest

ShinyAndNew · 12/04/2010 15:12

I am exactly the same. I have already done all the reading and I have decided that the Lib Dems most closely match views.

Have a look at the parties websites and read about the topics that you feel most strongly about.

AitchTwoZone · 12/04/2010 15:12

shame on you, tbh. i think it should be made compulsory.

PrettyCandles · 12/04/2010 15:19

You absolutely must exercise your hard-won right to vote! Even if you don't agree with any particular party, or you don't understand politics.

The turnout at British elections is disgraceful. Something pathetic like 40% or less. So if the party that wins the elcetion gains, say, 40% of the vote, that means that our country is being run by a group that only about 15% of the electorate voted for. How is that representative?

At the very least, cast your vote in favour of one of the major parties, so that racists like the BNP don't get it. Voting is an opportunity to stand up against extremism.

Original poster
Tillyscoutsmum · 12/04/2010 15:32

That's a really good point PrettyCandles and Aitch - I know you are absolutely right. I am ashamed of myself, especially now I have a family/business etc. It didn't seem to matter when I was in my 20's when all I was concerned about was how much the price of cigarettes and alcohol was increasing

I have made a start (I now know who the candidates are in my constituency and what the %'s were in the last election) and have started reading some of the policies on the websites. The trouble with the party websites is that they all sound so positive (obviously) and I really am clueless.

OP posts:
ShinyAndNew · 12/04/2010 15:36

Read stuff on Newssites too. The Daily Politics show is quite interesting and easy to understand. I think they have a website.

They all sound pretty positive but you need to try and read between the lines and work out how what they are proposing to do will benefit your family and which policies you most agree with.

Original poster
Tillyscoutsmum · 12/04/2010 15:44

Easy to understand sounds good Shiny I need a John Craven Newsround style Idiots guide to politics

OP posts:
PrettyCandles · 12/04/2010 16:01

Tilleyscout, I don't understand most of it, myself So I'll be following this thread for tips on where to read up and learn!

compo · 12/04/2010 16:05

'It didn't seem to matter when I was in my 20's when all I was concerned about was how much the price of cigarettes and alcohol was increasing'

but this is all down to who is in government too, who delivers the budget etc. think wohat you could have changed

MmeLindt · 12/04/2010 16:07

I have never voted.

When I left UK aged 19yo I had not registered to vote. Since I was only intending to be in Germany for a year as an aupair it did not seem important.

By the time I realised and actually wanted to vote, it was too late. I am now not allowed to register as I was not registered before I left UK.

Have a look at some of the politics threads on here to get an idea of the different issues and where the politician stand. The webchats with the Brown/Cameron and Clegg are informative.

DramaInPyjamas · 12/04/2010 16:13

My DH didn't until he met me. I dragged him along to vote with me.
He's not a very political person (neither am I much tbh) but he understands it a lot more than he did before. Not because of me.. But because he is getting older and 'gets it' now.

Poledra · 12/04/2010 16:18

Women died so you could have the vote!

TanteRose · 12/04/2010 16:19

same as Mme Lindt - left the UK after uni, never registered, so no right to vote now in UK elections...

Am not a national of the country where I now live, and have no voting rights.

Missus84 · 12/04/2010 16:19

I've never voted, and never will.

ChickensHaveSinisterMotives · 12/04/2010 16:22

I can't not vote. I like slagging off the government too much

serenity · 12/04/2010 16:22

I found the BBC's Guide to Policies quite useful (too useful in fact, I'm now debating voting for a different party than the one I've always voted for, and it's making me feel a bit sick and out-of-sorts)

It's a handy comparison of which party is promising what, split into issues.

WebDude · 12/04/2010 16:25

Might be an idea to look at www.NewsNow.co.uk

They have topic headings down the left and of course Politics and Election 2010 are in there.

Will point to headlines making the websites, and if you want to look back at different announcements "by party" then even if the day's news is being filled by only one major story (*) then NewsNow will still have the links for several days after...

(*) eg Tuesday last week had mostly coverage of G B announcing election, and little was heard on the Digital Economy Bill on the day, but website links to articles were plentiful for several days - so much so they added it as a hot topic all by itself.

choosyfloosy · 12/04/2010 16:30

Missus, why? is that only in general elections, or local elections too?

Missus84 · 12/04/2010 16:33

I don't wish to legitimise the current system by participating in it choosyfloosy.

choosyfloosy · 12/04/2010 16:33

Thank you Missus, that's interesting.

Disenchanted3 · 12/04/2010 16:34

I'm 25 and never voted, I am this year though. Can't let those bloody tories in

Marne · 12/04/2010 16:35

I am 28 and have never voted, i have never felt the need in the past to vote but this time i will be.

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