Hello! The UK general elections take place next Thursday. I know a lot of people in my life who aren’t sure who to vote for, or even if it’s worth voting, so I thought I’d tell you a bit about my motivations. One of the crowning achievements of living in a developed, democratic country is that we can vote, and our votes our counted. Politics and policies affect all of us, and voting is your way to make your views count.
Even if you belong to the group that thinks politics in this country is totally skewed due to our First Past The Post system, remember – not voting isn’t a protest. Not voting is throwing away your chance to protest.The only way the system will change is if prove how problematic the system is. If something’s broken for long enough, it has to get fixed.
Young people (and especially young women) are the sector least likely to vote, so we never come top of the agenda. You only have to look at the hardships our generation and the next one are facing – funding for youth work and support cut by up to 70%, tuition fees tripled, loans and bursaries for post-graduates cut, start-up business and funding cut, no cap on renting in London (average renting age is 26), the so-called tampon tax, and so on. If we voted, we would matter. You can’t get annoyed about the way things are if you haven’t tried to change it. Ultimately decided to vote is up to you, and it can be overwhelming – so in case you’re not sure, I’ve rounded up some of my favourite articles and tools that have helped me in the past.
Party policies on funding for the arts.
Party policies on animal testing.
Party policies on animal welfare.
A useful quiz where you select the policies that mean most to you.
Another quiz exploring where your own policies tally with political parties.
A short, Black Mirror-esque film detailing what might happen if we don’t vote. #XXVOTE
TAPE PARADE 
It’s very true, people should vote. Especially of all the things women had to go to have the right to vote and now so many don’t want to – Ok, I respect it, as every person has his/her own reason. But I once heard from a friend the following “if you don’t vote, how can you claim for you rights later? If you don’t vote, how can you protest? You were not part of the process and should accept whatever comes, since you refused to be part of it”. Well, it’s a bit extreme, but I never forgot it. And Green is good – I liked the fact that they want to ban circus animals!
DenisesPlanet.com
LikeLike
People not taking the time to vote is something I hate as well. I am very Sister Suffragette so I find it appalling especially when women don’t vote. There isn’t an excuse for anyone.
Em x
LikeLike
I find it really difficult when friends have a lot of opinions about society and government – many of them intelligent and well thought out – but don’t vote. I am an American so I am not exactly sure how the UK voting system works, but for us voting in local or non-presidential elections results in a more direct impact but is more often than not neglected but with the results after complained about and debated over for years to come. In my opinion, if an issue is so meaningful, people should be working both within their system and around it to see change.
LikeLike
I completely agree with this and have been doing a series of posts about this – have you seen them?
Lizzie Dripping
LikeLike
i almost didn’t vote as i wasn’t sure if i had registered to vote until my housemates told me i was.. and i was really feeling like my past self, as well as the present one, was hugely disappointed, as voting really is important. i’m often in the wrong country when voting of any kind in either the uk or finland happens which means it’s not always possible for me to vote and it feels all the more special and important to do so when i can:-) great post! xx
LikeLike
You have such lovely photos! New subbie here!
http://adornedinarmor.com
LikeLike
Thank you so much! X
LikeLike