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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:
PrettyCandles · 12/04/2010 16:36

So what would be better, Missus?

Surely the way to change this system is to participate in it and make your voice heard?

Missus84 · 12/04/2010 16:38

How can I make my voice heard PrettyCandles? My voting for Labour/Tories/Lib Dems? None of them will change anything, so what's the point. If there was a "none of the above" option I might be persuaded to vote - bet that would improve turnout.

PorphyrophillicPixie · 12/04/2010 16:39

I was going to vote for the first time this year (I'm 20 so missed the last elections due to age ) and then realised that I would be away from 'home' when the time to vote comes and have no way of registering for where I'll be

cat64 · 12/04/2010 16:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ChickensHaveSinisterMotives · 12/04/2010 16:42
PrettyCandles · 12/04/2010 16:44

But what system do you want instead of what we've got?

Is there a party, however small, that represents a system that you would prefer? Vote for them. Or vote for one of the independants.

Or go to the polling station and spoil your ballot. It is still an expression of your right to vote, and affects the overall proportion of the vote each party polls. Tho spoiling your ballot does nothing to prevent extremists from gaining power.

PrettyCandles · 12/04/2010 16:46

Porphylophilic - you can apply for a postal vote or a proxy vote. But get cracking if you want to vote by post, it's straightforward but takes a couple of weeks to arrange.

PorphyrophillicPixie · 12/04/2010 16:48

PrettyCandles: Do you know how I do that? I was takling to OH's Mum about it and she was saying how it's too late to do anything about it now? If I can I'd like too, but I'll need to read up on everything very fast!

ShadeofViolet · 12/04/2010 16:49

My DH didnt vote before he met me. I made him vote last time.

I cant understand how people cant vote.

Poledra · 12/04/2010 16:52

Postal voting

BlauerEngel · 12/04/2010 16:53

I'm like Mme Lindt and TanteRose - lived out of the UK so long I've been disenfranchised. I was registered as an overseas elector for a while (voted in 97 and 2001, or was it 2002?), but this is not possible after 15 years abroad, whether you have another nationality or not. So for the sakes of those of us who have no vote in a supposed democracy, please go this time and vote for anything reasonable and non-BNP-like.

PrettyCandles · 12/04/2010 16:55

Porphyrophillic: here.

Tante Rose, Mme Lindt: [http://www.aboutmyvote.co.uk/register_to_vote/british_citizens_living_abroad.aspx look here]].

PrettyCandles · 12/04/2010 16:57

TanteRose, MmeLindt: here.

serenity · 12/04/2010 17:02

Pixie - you have to get an application for postal vote in by the 20/4 according to our local Election Office. If you ring them, they'll send it out first class (I got DHs the next day. DH is the Presiding Officer of a station that isn't the one he should vote at so has to do a postal vote)

Original poster
Tillyscoutsmum · 12/04/2010 17:36

Thanks for all the links... serenity - that bbc one is perfect

OP posts:
hocuspontas · 12/04/2010 17:49

I'm in my 50s and have only voted in one general election. If I thought my vote would count then I would vote but I live in a Tory stronghold with a high turnout and large majority. If all votes in the country were counted and the parliamentary seats were divvied up proportionately then there would be a reason for me to vote but alas that will never happen. I always vote in local elections.

seeker · 12/04/2010 18:07

I thik it is completely outrageous that people don't vote. People suffered and died for universal sufferage - that's not just votes for women, but votes for poor men and tenants too. You don't actually have to express a preference if you're too ignorant or idle to find out what you believe, but at least go along and spoil a ballot paper.

Missus84 · 12/04/2010 19:17

People have suffered and died for all kinds of causes I'm not interested in though, so that's not much of an argument.

WebDude · 12/04/2010 19:32

"If all votes in the country were counted and the parliamentary seats were divvied up proportionately then there would be a reason for me to vote but alas that will never happen."

If it is a hung parliament, there might be a chance the Lib Dems can blackmail negotiate for proportional representation in return for some period of votes (giving them the option to change sides when they have PR enshrined in law want!)

WebDude · 12/04/2010 19:37

"Everything in life that we moan about/like about what's going on in our communities is affected by policies of either councils or Gvmnts."

It might make a difference if referenda were common. No single party is likely to meet all of a person's views, whereas having referenda would allow you to express different views depending on the situation.

Perhaps it is easier in Switzerland because population is lower (it still needs a significant number of the public to force a referendum, AFAIK) and if some of the choices were not in the hands of the party with most seats, then they may take more care with policies as they'd know their plans, if sufficiently unpopular, could be rejected by the public without it needing a fresh general election to force them to rethink.

vesela · 12/04/2010 20:02

BlauerEngel, don't the 15 years run from when you were last registered (even if as an overseas elector) rather than when you were last registered in the UK? Otherwise everyone would automatically lose their vote after 15 years abroad, whether they'd been registered as an overseas elector in the meantime or not.

for Mme Lindt and Tante Rose - I have a friend in the same situation.

seeker · 12/04/2010 20:14

How can you not be interested in who governs the country you live in?

Missus84 · 12/04/2010 20:27

I'm not interested in whether labour or tories govern the country, barely any difference between them.

AitchTwoZone · 12/04/2010 20:42

yours is a pretty lazy pose, missus, it sounds like something that a teenager might say. get involved and change things if you don't like it. and for the record this could be a fascinating election, given all the recent scandals there are more independent candidates than ever before. vote for one of them and send a message.

littlebrownmouse · 12/04/2010 20:53

I'm amazed that proper grown up people with families and jobs and lives, are not interested enough in what goes on in the world, to get off their backsides and either vote or spoil their paper. I find it truely shocking. I think it should be illegal not to vote personally. Hocuspontas - go and vote and spoil your paper, at least then you will be counted towards the woefully low turn out. I'm just shocked, really I am. Not sure what else to say really. Well done, you've rendered me speechless!