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Those who don't vote in elections

Posted: Wed Dec 04 2019 12:30pm
by pabenny
The turnout at the 2001 general elections was the lowest since WW2. Since then it has recovered but has remained lower than at any time between the end of the war and the millennium.

And turnout only measures the proportion of registered voters who do cast a ballot. It's difficult to establish the number of people who are not registered although it's generally thought to be a growing number.

I've previously been dismissive of those who don't vote - but perhaps we should pay them more attention.

There was recently a radio programme on the subject of non-voters - worth a listen if you're interested in the political process, whatever your political views.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000bvxl

Re: Those who don't vote in elections

Posted: Wed Dec 04 2019 4:26pm
by macliam
There are a few things happening now that make me ponder the direction of politics in the UK.

- Young voters seem to have become exercised around the environment, but to the exclusion of other issues - perhaps social injustice doesn't have sufficient impact to drag them from their online life :eh:

Long-term voters are being targeted by specific drivers, Brexit, anti-semitism, islamophobia, etc. - and seem willing to do a 180 on previous voting patterns as a result. :roll:

People are shouting about democracy without any understanding of the UK system... or seeking change to it. :silent:

The electorate are being manipulated by those with the power to do so - and whilst the tools and methods being used are sometimes inventive, the tragedy is that they often show complete contempt by using blatant lies, personal attacks and smears and misrepresentation.... because "all that matters" is winning the game.

Re: Those who don't vote in elections

Posted: Wed Dec 04 2019 6:24pm
by gle1975
I'm in a seat where the Conservatives have a big majority, so it is not worth voting. I'm not a fan of the Conservatives, but support leaving the EU, so perhaps should vote for them. Labour, Lib Dems and Greens are standing who all support another referendum - although their candidates are quite pleasant. There is an independent but he has stood for the NF in the past so is obviously a far right person.

Also not voting is a vote and a political statement - it just means you do not like any of them.

Re: Those who don't vote in elections

Posted: Wed Dec 04 2019 6:44pm
by Richard Frost
gle1975 wrote:
Wed Dec 04 2019 6:24pm
I'm in a seat where the Conservatives have a big majority, so it is not worth voting. I'm not a fan of the Conservatives, but support leaving the EU, so perhaps should vote for them. Labour, Lib Dems and Greens are standing who all support another referendum - although their candidates are quite pleasant. There is an independent but he has stood for the NF in the past so is obviously a far right person.

Also not voting is a vote and a political statement - it just means you do not like any of them.
If everyone takes that attitude then there will never be changes in politics. IMO everyone should vote. It should be a legal requirement. You can always spoil the ballot paper if you are really disengaged with all the parties. Interesting that you do not want to vote for the Independent. Are the Conservatives not a right wing party?

Re: Those who don't vote in elections

Posted: Wed Dec 04 2019 7:00pm
by macliam
William Joseph1 wrote:
Wed Dec 04 2019 6:44pm
gle1975 wrote:
Wed Dec 04 2019 6:24pm
I'm in a seat where the Conservatives have a big majority, so it is not worth voting. I'm not a fan of the Conservatives, but support leaving the EU, so perhaps should vote for them. Labour, Lib Dems and Greens are standing who all support another referendum - although their candidates are quite pleasant. There is an independent but he has stood for the NF in the past so is obviously a far right person.

Also not voting is a vote and a political statement - it just means you do not like any of them.
If everyone takes that attitude then there will never be changes in politics. IMO everyone should vote. It should be a legal requirement. You can always spoil the ballot paper if you are really disengaged with all the parties. Interesting that you do not want to vote for the Independent. Are the Conservatives not a right wing party?
Come on WJ, I'd accept the Tories are right wing, but hardly in NF territory... well, not all of them :?

I would accept the "none of the above" option on ballot papers and I think that more work should be done to reform and enforce the voting process. It's easy to say "everyone should vote", but in a situation like gle1975 suggests, that's not likely to happen when voting means dragging yourself to a polling station in order to spoil your ballot..

Re: Those who don't vote in elections

Posted: Wed Dec 04 2019 7:12pm
by Richard Frost
Ballot papers can be spoilt on postal votes as well as at the polling station. Postal votes are extremely easy to arrange nowadays.

Re: Those who don't vote in elections

Posted: Wed Dec 04 2019 7:31pm
by expressman33
William Joseph1 wrote:
Wed Dec 04 2019 7:12pm
Ballot papers can be spoilt on postal votes as well as at the polling station. Postal votes are extremely easy to arrange nowadays.
I use a postal vote and 2 days after I send it off I get no canvassers knocking :thumbup:

Re: Those who don't vote in elections

Posted: Wed Dec 11 2019 2:38pm
by Piojito
William Joseph1 wrote:
Wed Dec 04 2019 6:44pm
gle1975 wrote:
Wed Dec 04 2019 6:24pm
I'm in a seat where the Conservatives have a big majority, so it is not worth voting. I'm not a fan of the Conservatives, but support leaving the EU, so perhaps should vote for them. Labour, Lib Dems and Greens are standing who all support another referendum - although their candidates are quite pleasant. There is an independent but he has stood for the NF in the past so is obviously a far right person.

Also not voting is a vote and a political statement - it just means you do not like any of them.
If everyone takes that attitude then there will never be changes in politics. IMO everyone should vote. It should be a legal requirement. You can always spoil the ballot paper if you are really disengaged with all the parties. Interesting that you do not want to vote for the Independent. Are the Conservatives not a right wing party?
I've voted in the majority of past elections, but I'm not voting tomorrow. My vote only matters to my constituency which has a huge and unassailable Conservative majority. At the last election I believe all the votes of the other parties put together were less than what the Conservative candidate polled. The result there is a foregone conclusion. If we had proportional representation, rather than this completely undemocratic first past the post system, then my vote would be relevant nationwide and I would cast my vote as it would actually mean something. It suits the two main parties to maintain the status quo, especially when they hold power.

Re: Those who don't vote in elections

Posted: Wed Dec 11 2019 3:48pm
by kevinchess1
gle1975 wrote:
Wed Dec 04 2019 6:24pm
I'm in a seat where the Conservatives have a big majority, so it is not worth voting. I'm not a fan of the Conservatives, but support leaving the EU, so perhaps should vote for them. Labour, Lib Dems and Greens are standing who all support another referendum - although their candidates are quite pleasant. There is an independent but he has stood for the NF in the past so is obviously a far right person.

Also not voting is a vote and a political statement - it just means you do not like any of them.
I think, people who weigh everything up and then don’t vote is as valid as people who do vote
What always irks me is people who ‘Cant Be bothered.’

Re: Those who don't vote in elections

Posted: Wed Dec 11 2019 3:49pm
by kevinchess1
William Joseph1 wrote:
Wed Dec 04 2019 7:12pm
Ballot papers can be spoilt on postal votes as well as at the polling station. Postal votes are extremely easy to arrange nowadays.
I know people who, on more than 1 occasion, have had their postal vote rejected