The figures for people voting in England/Uk appear to be really low. Why don't people vote? Do those that don't vote still think they have a right to comment on how things are done when they don't take part in the 'democratic' process?

The figures for people voting in England/Uk appear to be really low. Why don't people vote? Do those that don't vote still think they have a right to comment on how things are done when they don't take part in the 'democratic' process?

Yes, just because I cant be bothered doesn't mean I cant Kick off rate at social when I need some more cider

I dont follow politics, i never know what they're going on about so no i dont vote!

Perhaps if we had someone decent to vote for or perhaps a section that says 'none of the above' more people would vote.
The none of the above vote would show politicians that people do want to vote and just how many potential votes they are missing out on.

I have always voted since 16yo (now 22yo). People died for the vote and our freedoms. Those who don't have no respect or brains.

At the beginning of the 19th Century, out of the 16million population in the UK, only around 400,000 were allowed to vote.

Only after dedicated campaigns from reformers, it took until 1928 before all adults, men and women, had a vote.

People, or "sheeple" as we are now affectionately known, have turned into brain-dead zombies fed on a diet of consumerism and reality TV, trying to emulate celebrities, but actually living in high amounts of debt for a little poke hole and to drive around (sorry, sit in traffic congestion) in 4x4s, escaping numerous times a year on 9p budget airline flights to some east European or Med beach holidays. Probably own a BTL or two, maybe abroad?

They don't need to vote. Perfectly in control of their own futures. While the banks, politicians, etc. count their money laughing.

Its time to wake up people. If you are unhappy, vote accordingly.

Charley
http://www.gmroads.co.uk

People died for the vote and our freedoms. Those who don't have no respect or brains.

http://www.gmroads.co.uk

Thats not a fair comment, it's quite insulting!

Apologies if I've offended skala!

I think of those who died for freedom and the right to vote. They sacrificed life for a decent, just cause!

I respect you may not wish to vote, but I do not agree with it, it just doesn't make sense. Would you prefer being denied the right to vote instead? :loopy:

Charley
http://www.gmroads.co.uk

Obviously there's a report out somewhere that shows a direct connection between intelligence and voting, because it's so hard to put a cross next to a name.

Apologies if I've offended skala!

I think of those who died for freedom and the right to vote. They sacrificed life for a decent, just cause!

I respect you may not wish to vote, but I do not agree with it, it just doesn't make sense. Would you prefer being denied the right to vote instead? :loopy:

Charley
http://www.gmroads.co.uk

I get what your saying and thanks for the apologie! IMO I think if i vote when i dont even know what im voting for then i think its a bit hypocritical (if thats how you spell it ha ha) it's like getting married in a church when your not religious!

Don't you need to be 18 to vote?

It should be made compulsory.

It should be made compulsory.

Dont agree! People shouldn't be forced to do something they dont want to do! Each to their own, people are allowed to their own opinion!

No i don't vote!!!!My vote wouldn't make a difference,they all make false promises.Plus i don't have the time to waste time either.

People died for the vote and our freedoms. - smartie

If so, Why ?

I think reality TV, junk food,celebrities & 4x4's is loads better than voting

The figures for people voting in England/Uk appear to be really low. Why don't people vote? Do those that don't vote still think they have a right to comment on how things are done when they don't take part in the 'democratic' process?

Those who don’t vote — like myself — don’t have a political party worth voting for. However, the fact that we don’t vote is in itself a ‘vote’ — even though it might be a vote of no confidence. We have a right to comment because we are in the main free from bias. We also have a right to comment simply because we have a right not to vote and we exercise that right.

The voting figures are low because more and more people are latching on to the fact that politicians in general tell lies, make a fat-cat bed for themselves and get up to all sorts of things that they insist we should not do; like going to war and kissing George W Bush’s backside.

Politicians also spend very little time in debating what should be done to make Britain a better place. They spend time on their ‘second job’ — something that you may need to make ends meet, but they only need to make themselves richer and more objectionable.

I have always voted since 16yo (now 22yo). People died for the vote and our freedoms. Those who don't have no respect or brains.

http://www.gmroads.co.uk
Got to say that one got my goat too. I don't vote because I think they are all inept. If there was a no confidence box I would make the effort to go and tick it. Since there isn't (yet) I shall preserve my precious free time and put it to better use.

I have stopped voting.
Just too many bent politicians to bother with any of them.

im working class. i was born with nothing and i still have lots of it left. don't matter whos in they all wanna fleece yer.

Each to their own, people are allowed to their own opinion!

Hence one's democratic DUTY to vote.

i have to say, i agree with whomever posted earlier to say that it should be compulsory. I see it as a fundamental civic duty, the only way to ensure that democracy really does represent the masses, and as such should be protected. If people don't vote, they should not be entitled to state benefits. Obviously there are caveats to this, eg there should be a 'none of the above' box, and dispensations for those who are genuinely not in a position to vote, whether through illhealth, homelessness, deprivation, etc.
But, if there was a box for the conscientious objectors to tick, everyone should simply have to give up the couple of minutes it takes every few years, and participate in the running of the country.

i have to say, i agree with whomever posted earlier to say that it should be compulsory. I see it as a fundamental civic duty, the only way to ensure that democracy really does represent the masses, and as such should be protected. If people don't vote, they should not be entitled to state benefits. Obviously there are caveats to this, eg there should be a 'none of the above' box, and dispensations for those who are genuinely not in a position to vote, whether through illhealth, homelessness, deprivation, etc.
But, if there was a box for the conscientious objectors to tick, everyone should simply have to give up the couple of minutes it takes every few years, and participate in the running of the country.

Nicely put p_f! :)

You are all daft in yorkshire voting labour and with the above system all sorts of undereducated would vote

You are all daft in yorkshire voting labour and with the above system all sorts of undereducated would vote

:hihi: :hihi:

Labour? Suddenly I feel sick.

The figures for people voting in England/Uk appear to be really low. Why don't people vote? Do those that don't vote still think they have a right to comment on how things are done when they don't take part in the 'democratic' process?

At the last election New Labour were returned to power on the votes of just 37% of those who did vote - IOW 63% of voters rejected them. It doesn't look very 'democratic' and probably turns a lot of people off. The voting system needs serious revision.

For the people who do not wish to vote for any of the parties available, there is something called 'spoiling your vote' which you can all do. You basically put a cross through the whole of the ballot paper and take it in in the usual way. This then shows that its not that you cant be bothered to vote, its that you dont wish to vote in the people that are offered. Maybe if more people did this something would be done about it?

Personally, I cant be bothered to vote!

I dont vote because who ever runs the country B*****ks`s it up anyway ,so i dont waste my time.

codeman

You are all daft in yorkshire voting labour and with the above system all sorts of undereducated would vote

but, thing is, while it does scare me that "all sorts of undereducated" people might start votiing in a direction that i personally abhor, it saddens me a thousand times more that so many people simply don't vote because the can't be bothered.

and i genuinely feel that, if there was a compulsion on everyone to vote, the government and civic groups (both political and apolitical) might suddenly begin to take their responsibilities more seriously and begin to educate the undereducated. suddenly every citizen would become a potential voter. the government could no longer get away with effectively ignoring the vulnerable sections of society simply because they're unlikely to vote in the next election. making everyone vote and participate in running the country would be in everyone's best interests.

eventually people really might start seeing politics as relevant to their own lives,

But toptotty types dont need to vote

But toptotty types dont need to vote

Is that right?

I dont vote because who ever runs the country B*****ks`s it up anyway ,so i dont waste my time.

codeman


Oh well, at least you have no reason to complain then.

I dont vote because who ever runs the country B*****ks`s it up anyway ,so i dont waste my time.

codeman

emmm, surely the great irony here is that, by not voting, you are doing yourself out of your valued chance to help run the country?!

it's a far greater waste of your time NOT to vote, because then you've nothing to look forward to over the next number of years but hours spent griping and moaning about the state of the nation!

(obviously, you've probably much else to look forward to as well, but you get my point!)

Is that right? yes ,its in the book:|

eventually people really might start seeing politics as relevant to their own lives,

Well if voting was compulsory and spoiling your ballot paper a crime..and the result was still that 63% of the electorate had rejected the party returned to power, which is entirely possible, - how would that make politics any more relevant than it is now ?

Those who don’t vote — like myself — don’t have a political party worth voting for. However, the fact that we don’t vote is in itself a ‘vote’ — even though it might be a vote of no confidence. We have a right to comment because we are in the main free from bias. We also have a right to comment simply because we have a right not to vote and we exercise that right.

The voting figures are low because more and more people are latching on to the fact that politicians in general tell lies, make a fat-cat bed for themselves and get up to all sorts of things that they insist we should not do; like going to war and kissing George W Bush’s backside.

Politicians also spend very little time in debating what should be done to make Britain a better place. They spend time on their ‘second job’ — something that you may need to make ends meet, but they only need to make themselves richer and more objectionable.

Well said, and ditto.

Not since Lord Sutch topped himself

Well if voting was compulsory and spoiling your ballot paper a crime..and the result was still that 63% of the electorate had rejected the party returned to power, which is entirely possible, - how would that make politics any more relevant than it is now ?
to be honest, i'd hate spoilt ballots to be a crime - so long as you actually went in and got your paper and stuck it in the box, that'd be enough for me! in fact, as it is, i respect people who think enough of their choices and morals (or whatever) to go and write a message on their ballots - if only such comments were collected and read by politicians, we'd be a lot better off! but i still think there should be an official 'none of the above' or 'RON' option as well.

and while there's no way of ensuring that people don't just take the lazy way out by simply automatically putting their ballot papers in the box without any forethought, at least there's some hope that some of them may bother to consider their alternatives before doing so.

and as for the 37/63 thing, it IS hard to stomach, but such is the system here at the minute i suppose. i've not been in this country long enough to have voted in the last general election, and the system here is new to me, but is that an anomaly due to how contituencies are divided up, with different levels of representation in different areas? and does that 37% still mean that more people voted for new labour than did for any other single party?

none the less, i really don't see how not voting solves the problem. yeah, it may take more general aggitation to get things changed, but if people aren't interested enought to vote in the first place, what reason would there be to believe that they would be any more intested in protesting for political reforms?!

Apathy. Plain and simple. If we had a system which reflected the opinion of the nation (Proportional Representation might be a start), maybe more would vote. Personally, I spoil my paper, to register my dissent toward the people for whom I'm allowed to vote, and this system.

i have to say, i agree with whomever posted earlier to say that it should be compulsory. I see it as a fundamental civic duty, the only way to ensure that democracy really does represent the masses, and as such should be protected. If people don't vote, they should not be entitled to state benefits. Obviously there are caveats to this, eg there should be a 'none of the above' box, and dispensations for those who are genuinely not in a position to vote, whether through illhealth, homelessness, deprivation, etc.
But, if there was a box for the conscientious objectors to tick, everyone should simply have to give up the couple of minutes it takes every few years, and participate in the running of the country.

You may not have noticed this but we do participate in the running of the country by not voting, so much so that politicians have at long last realised that
possible voters are not voting. It’s worrying them, but give them time and they’ll discover why.

i really don't see how not voting solves the problem. yeah, it may take more general aggitation to get things changed, but if people aren't interested enought to vote in the first place, what reason would there be to believe that they would be any more intested in protesting for political reforms?!

By not voting we ARE protesting for political reforms.

By not voting we ARE protesting for political reforms.

I think by spoiling our papers we are actually showing our true displeasure with the fare put in front of us. Not voting is apathy. All spoilt papers are counted and I'm fairly sure that if the majority of papers returned (like it would ever happen), showed a majority for the 'Don't Know' (some genuinely don't, so they should ahave a box to fill), or the 'None Of The Above' box there would be a hell of a shift in political policies across the spectrum.

I still say, however, that PR is the only way to govern.

I dont vote.

Main reason is because, whoever gets in power does not stick to promises they made when trying to get elected.

No I dont vote. For 2 reasons

1) There is never anyone that I would want to vote for anyway
2) My single vote doesnt make a difference.

And to the people who will just say "What if everyone said that". Well everyone doesnt say that, so I am correct.

I have voted every yr since I was old enough to vote which is prob about 50 yrs of voting. (can't remember whether voting age was 21 then )
I know that if I was not allowed to vote because I was female or because I was uneducated as some one said I would be most annoyed and would join the ranks of protesters, so therefore as I have a vote I use it

hazel

Anyone who voted new labour last time or three merely gave legitimacy to grinning chimp and trainer george - They are presumably proud of their achievements conducted in the name of the democratic voters.

The voters are also led to believe they were participants in effecting a minimum wage - Tell that to the the chinese cockle pickers or the polish immigrants.

The voters may also be of the belief that they were participants in affecting a ban on fox hunting - dont think so myself.

So what did the voters actually get that we can see in action in our own societies other that spot fines for farting after dark, increased crime rates, softer sentencing, overcrowded prisons, a colapsing health service, speed cameras on every corner, an improved answering machine when dialling police etc.

It is clearly essential to vote to save the country being run by unelected idiots

dont vote, dont follow politics :)

I do vote because as insignificant as my vote may be at least I can say I am participating in the process of deciding who works for us in government, and am not just sitting back, letting it happen and then complaining when it doesn't go my way.
I agree there should be a valid option for 'none of the above' or a legitimate opportunity to record objections.
And how much time does it take, really. Why not register for a postal vote?

The people will vote when they recognise a genuine issue worth voting for - They even pay for the privilege sometimes such is their conviction to the commitment of the person they are trying to elect. - It is called the X Factor- or Big Brother - Politicians could take a valuable lesson - i.e that voters are accessible if only the merit is there - sadly there is no meritous politician of which i am aware in day to day politics. If there were one politician - just one who did what it said on the tin... if only....

Always voted :)

Even took a few minutes searchin the net last night
Reading some 'other' party's policies this year (tho i'll not mention who) .....:suspect:

I feel I have to vote -
My kids will be on the receiving end of any future governments and thier cock ups ....so i gotta try my best . ;)

I really don't understand people who don't vote. We all surely have a duty to vote? And as someone has already said, this is something that wasn't a right for all of us until less than 100 years ago. If people who don't vote were suddenly told they couldn't, there would be uproar! I just have to think of the women who threw themselves in front of horses so that I could have the vote, and I feel compelled to do so. And the people in other countries who are thrown in jail just for speaking out against the people in power. We are so lucky to be in a country where we can vote.

If people don't like any of the parties, or feel disillusioned with politics, then why not spoil the ballot? That says more about how you feel than just not being bothered to go out and spend a half hour of your time putting a cross in a box.

I spoil the ballot paper - I'm a total idiot about 95% of the issues, so adding my uninformed opinion to the mix won't help things.

Then join the OMRLP - - (Official Monster Raving Looney Party)

The subscription freebies and annual party conference are something else !! and in the words of Donald Rumsfeldt - There are looneys we know we have - There are Looneys we do not know we have - There are Looneys who do not know they are Looney - and there are non Looneys masquerading as Looneys.

The biggest Looney of all is the elected senator trotting out such garbage and worl leader in T W A T - (The war against Terror)

I still vote, but I completely understand people who choose not to. Far too many politicians are crooked and dishonest, and there's nowhere near the level of accountability in politics that there should be. Political apathy exists because people are tired of watching slimy hypocrites who specialise in never giving a straight answer to a question. In 1997 Labour came to power promising an end to sleaze, but in the following nine years they've turned out to be at least as sleazy as the Major government, probably more so. That's enough to make anybody cynical.

I think the answer lies with smaller parties and proportional representation. More smaller party MPs and independents would mean more voting by conscience, as opposed to by party line. There'd also be less opposing the government just for the sake of it. The UK badly needs proportional representation to at least restore some faith in politics, but Labour and the Conservatives would never vote for it because it'd mean them getting less seats. :(

I've always voted, women fought long and hard for the right - and in those days I think the parties were well defined, so it made a real difference who people voted for. However, I haven't a clue which way to go in the next Gen Election. I voted Labour when Tony Blair got in the first time, but last time went Lib Dem - a bit of a waste in Rotherham but then any vote would be that wasn't Labour - 'red rosette on a donkey' springs to mind!

Whilst I appreciate Hallam has a LibDem MP, I'm not aware of any other seat in Sheffield being anything but Labour in the recent past. Does anyone think there may be any changes to the outcomes next year? I'd like to see PR introduced instead of the current system.

I really don't understand people who don't vote. We all surely have a duty to vote? And as someone has already said, this is something that wasn't a right for all of us until less than 100 years ago. If people who don't vote were suddenly told they couldn't, there would be uproar! I just have to think of the women who threw themselves in front of horses so that I could have the vote, and I feel compelled to do so. And the people in other countries who are thrown in jail just for speaking out against the people in power. We are so lucky to be in a country where we can vote.

If people don't like any of the parties, or feel disillusioned with politics, then why not spoil the ballot? That says more about how you feel than just not being bothered to go out and spend a half hour of your time putting a cross in a box.


Only one woman — not women — threw herself in front of a horse and I don’t suppose for one minute that she expected to die for her cause and become a martyr.

We are, as you say, so lucky to be in a country where we can vote. We are also lucky to be in a country where you can decline to vote.

As for the spoiling the ballot! What’s the point of going to the ballot-box that you don’t want, and shoving in a spoiled piece of paper that nobody else wants?
That’s just plain daft.

According to this, compulsory voting was originally a basic tenet pf democracy and still is in a lot of countries including Australia and several in the EU

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting

How can there be a tenet of democracy in compulsory voting?

How can there be a tenet of democracy in compulsory voting?Principle then.

dont vote, dont follow politics :)

:hihi: Did you join the forum just to say that..

Welcome to the forum anyway :)

I don't vote and I never have done..I don't really know what I have to do to vote :loopy:

When is the voting? and where and when do you see them trying to get your votes? sorry I don't watch much tv or read any newspapers.

As for the spoiling the ballot! What’s the point of going to the ballot-box that you don’t want, and shoving in a spoiled piece of paper that nobody else wants?
That’s just plain daft.I'm not an anarchist, so I do want ballot boxes and voting. I just don't think I'm qualified to opine about leadership. Also, as far as I'm aware casting your own spoilt ballot is legal, so I'll continue to do it!

Only one woman — not women — threw herself in front of a horse and I don’t suppose for one minute that she expected to die for her cause and become a martyr.

We are, as you say, so lucky to be in a country where we can vote. We are also lucky to be in a country where you can decline to vote.

As for the spoiling the ballot! What’s the point of going to the ballot-box that you don’t want, and shoving in a spoiled piece of paper that nobody else wants?
That’s just plain daft.

Well, then, even if she didn't expect to become a martyr, she did, and it was down to her and the other people who fought for the vote that I have the right to vote now.

It's not just plain daft. It might just be plain lazy. When people don't vote it sends out the message: I can't be bothered. I don't want to vote. Fair enough, people might be disillusioned with the parties etc, but doesn't it say a whole lot more if you're bothered to go to the ballot box, spoil your vote and actually say- hey, I want to vote! I want to vote for something that I believe in, and none of you have won me over with your policies, so I'm not voting for anyone. By spoiling the ballot, you are sending a message to the politicians that you do want to vote, you are for democracy but you just don't think they are good enough.

Only by people actually going to the ballots and letting the politicians know this, is anything going to change in this country. Declining to vote, to me, says that you don't want anything to change. And for most people, that's obviously not true.

perhaps in those days the vote had the power to make something change.

I would vote for the pollitician who outlawed speed cameras and taxed motor companies for providing cars which they know have the capacity to exceed the 70 MPH speed limit - That is called a change - if it were to happen then it would be noticed by a society at large.

I would even vote for a politician who recognises the stupidity of the Warren Lane no entry or the blockade on Thorncliffe estate. There is of course nothing that can be done due to endless tiers of mind numbing political shoulder shrugging and cliche - and that just asking for the sensible so what chance of the radical ? approaching zero from the negative or thereabouts.

I might even vote for a party who installed a minimum wage or a fox hunting ban or distanced itself from crackpot ideas of Iraq wars or millenium domes or reduced crime by removing criminals from society on which they impact.

I would guess that Pankhurst was not subservient to such impotent government options we have now - They have nothing to offer beyond the status quo under a different leadership - Is there a single noticeable change in the offing beyond the spot fines for being under 5 feet in a car ? and will the policing be provided to collect the new tax ?

You bet it will - Shipping dead servicement home isnt a cheap affair.

No one since Scargill or Gerry Adams has proposed a significant society change which is actually noticeable to the society from which the voters come. This is not pro or anti Adams or Scargill just a point that a difference is noticed by their actions or reactions to or by their opponents.

Are there any other radical thinkers who deserve a mention ?

If anyone can name a sheffield MP who can put his or her name to a society positive whilst riding the gravy train in the first class safe seat (Having paid for the ticket Mr Blunkett) then that would be nice.