I see it as a civic duty - a right, but also a responsibility
Of course I’ll vote on 7 May, I always do. I’ve voted in every election I’ve been registered for since I turned 18 - local, national and European. I guess I see it as a civic duty – a right but also a responsibility. However, I am now 62 and have yet to vote for the winning candidate in any election – ever.
Is this because I support some fringe party perhaps? Alas no, I’m a staunch Labour supporter. It’s all down to the crass and unpardonable stupidity of the first-past-the-post electoral system. There must be millions of us, up and down the land, who have spent a whole lifetime being effectively disenfranchised by it. When will we ever get the chance to join the lucky few in marginal constituencies whose votes actually matter?
Every decision made after this election will affect the course of my life
This is the first general election that I’m old enough to vote in. I’m young but I’ve already seen the country shift under me in the last 5 years, and for so many reasons I want the Tories out. But it’s more than that, I’m voting because I know that every decision made after this election will affect the course of my life, and the lives of my children. This is a critical point in history, we can choose ruin or face up to climate change and corporate power, with a more compassionate form of government. I’m voting Labour.
I’m voting for what I believe in
I think it’s our duty to vote, and current level of apathy is why we’re stuck in the position we’re in right now. Too many people believe that they can’t make a difference without realising that they could make a difference if enough of them didn’t think like that. We’ve been fooled into believing there are only two options – red or blue and that they’re the same as each other. I don’t think this is true, but there’s little point in me voting tactically in my constituency (it’s a toss up between Tories and Lib Dems, with the emphasis on toss) so I’m voting with my heart and voting Green.
Most people in the world can’t vote, we are lucky
We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to be able to choose from a range of bland anodyne politicians with their mindless slogans. Many people in the world don’t have this right and their lives are far worse than ours.
Our PR-driven political discourse is depressing and uninspiring, but we should treasure the right to vote because it’s immoral not to exercise it when thousands across the world have died fighting for this right.
Because I can, and because I should
Because a century ago, women petitioned, marched, were arrested, went on hunger strikes, boycotted censuses and even died because they believed in the fundamental importance of the right to vote. I owe it to them to not squander their sacrifices, but to make full use of the right that they fought so hard for.
Because as a young adult and first time voter, I don’t want to be part of the problem of low turnout among 18-24 year olds that leaves us ignored and marginalised by politicians who focus on subsidising wealthy pensioners.
Because if I can do even the slightest bit to help hold the current government to account for the many awful aspects of the past five years, then I will.
Because this is quite possibly the most multiparty election since the party system was formed in this country, and voters have never had so much legitimate choice.
Because if you don’t vote then you lose the right to complain about anything the government or parliament do until the next general election.
Because democracy only works when the people participate.
To send a message
I have always voted Labour, but this time I am going to vote Green. I was originally alienated from the Labour party by the Iraq war, and now I no longer see them as a left-wing alternative - they are too centre-ground these days. The most important issue of all to me is climate change. I regard reducing reliance on fossil fuels, increasing investment in renewable energy, and working to protect the natural resources we have as the most important issues facing us all as human beings. I cannot believe how little all other parties talk about this existential threat to all of us. I originally joined the Green party because of environmental reasons but I am increasingly with them for their humanism, care of the vulnerable in society, and they are the only party saying we should increase taxes and spend more in the public secotr - I 100% agree.
I want to make a difference in how our country is run
Having lived in the US for more than half my life and having no say in politics, upon moving back home to the UK I immediately registered to vote. I want to make a difference in how our country is run - we must have a social conscience, without which we devolve entirely into a greedy, selfish, self agrandising, and willfully ignorant country. We are better than that; I know we are. As more people choose to emulate the US, the faster we lose our sense of fair play and social grace - let’s not do that.
Shall we?
– Celt23
To spoil my ballot
I’m spoiling my paper. Despite the fact that Emily Dickenson died for my vote, and I always vote when I can, I can’t bring myself to vote for a single candidate on offer. The only one that doesn’t support a broadly conservative social and economic agenda is the “cannabis is less dangerous than alcohol” party.
The only one that doesn’t support one crazy religion or other is the Alliance Party, and their social/ economic agenda is unacceptable to me - I couldn’t even vote for them if I held my nose. Disenfranchised by the Northern Ireland political system.
I am voting for the vulnerable
This is the second election in which I am able to vote. I am too young to remember Thatcher, but I have been shocked and sickened by the politics of the past five years, in particular the denigration of the most vulnerable members of our society.
The bedroom tax, the changes to sickness and out of work benefits, the rhetoric about ‘shirkers’, the horrendous ‘assessments’ by Atos, the slashing of social care budgets, and the costly and disastrous reorganisation of the NHS: all of these policies have been ideologically driven by people who fundamentally doubt the sick, disabled and unemployed’s right to a decent quality of life.
Ultimately, I would personally gain from a Conservative victory. I am a young professional, getting married later this year and ideally would be looking to buy my first house within the next five years. I would benefit from help to buy, the married couple’s tax allowance, changes to the personal tax allowance, and the introduction of postgraduate student loans. But there is absolutely no way I could compromise my morals to benefit myself - placing myself at a further advantage to further destroy the lives of those who actually need governmental support is morally wrong and the thought of it sickens me.
So I will be voting for Labour. They are nowhere near as progressive as I would like - if I were Scottish or Welsh I would vote for the SNP or Plaid Cymru (and I’m a big fan of both Nicola Sturgeon and Leanne Wood), but when it comes down to it, a vote for the Greens means taking away votes from Labour in key constituencies and therefore increases the likelihood of a Conservative-led coalition. Last election the Lib Dems were the protest vote I chose, but they betrayed everything I believed they stood for and have done nothing but facilitate this government. I completely understand why people will vote Green as a protest vote but fundamentally, people are dying because of this government. Now is not the time for a protest vote.
Your vote means your interests being heard
There are any number of reasons to vote and no good reason not to. Amongst less politically-minded friends the most common refrain is “what’s the point/what difference will it make.” But by checking out of the process, you are checking out of both the right, but also obligation, to play your part in the society you want to see, and leave for your children. Little wonder our country grows more unequal by the day; until you vote, your interests will continue to be ignored!
– ID184493
If you don’t vote then you have no right to an opinion about the outcome
Voting should be compulsory. I don’t care if you tick the box that says “I don’t want to vote”, only that you participate in the democratic process. If you don’t then you have no right to an opinion about the outcome.
My vote this time will be tactical. Hitherto I’ve always voted for what I believe in, but now I find myself in a comparatively marginal seat needing to keep a party out of power. I hate it.
The Russell Brand solution is not a solution
As a young person I feel more emphasis to vote due to the poor turnout by my age group. People I know are disillusioned with the system and want PR and don’t believe in mainstream politics and I realise that although there is always room for improvement and modernisation, politics is always going to involve compromise and I feel those of my age who hold unrealistic ideological notions are wasting the opportunity many people across the world are denied. The Russell Brand solution is not a solution – it’s a cop out by cowards who are happy to sit by and complain about a system they do not even engage with.
That is why I have registered to vote.
We take our say for granted
Because my grandfather risked his life for me to. And because I’ve lived in a place where enfranchisement has only recently been universal. Like access to good education, we take our say for granted. If the politicians are unsatisfactory, engagement at some level is the best route to change.
Read the full submissions on GuardianWitness. Why are you voting? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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