No, I did not vote. London doesn’t do local elections when the rest of Bucolia does. London is far too busy pontificating in any case, on whatever-it-is the dear little hayseeds think they could possibly be doing by voting in the first place. Bless their little hopeful hearts. A difference? Ah ha ha ha. They’d actually all have to vote at that point. Oh yes.
Sorry, do I sound sarcastic? I do hope so. I was trying very hard. I’ve been silent so long I worry I’ve got out of practice.
So, Elections, Local, Welsh, and Scottish. Just at present I thought I’d keep my own political views out of it. For the record, they are dyed-in-the-wool crimson and somewhat to the left of Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, and Tony Benn*. Allow this information to influence your judgment as you will. So, leaving entirely aside the question of who you may have voted for [Unless it was the BNP, in which case Reed will come round to your house with photographs of a) tortured asylum seekers and b) of every famous and useful British citizen of less than utter Anglo-Saxonity and wreck your afternoon], let us stick to the mere subject of voting per se. I thought I’d waste a tea-break trawling through all the intelligent and thoughtful comments left by my fellow citizens on the subject of voting in general. The BBC had set up a ‘Have Your Say’ page especially.
Dear God, people, but what’s wrong with you? So many, so very many snitty claims that none of the parties represented them, so they wouldn’t vote for any of them, or that it wouldn’t make any difference who they did vote for, so they couldn’t be bothered, or in one spectacular case, that they were ‘revising’ from 7am to 10pm and the polls should have been open at a more convenient time. Oh, all right, those of you who will insist on being students, bloody well be students then, but you’re letting the side down. I never let some daft exam or other stand between me and the ballot box.
Those of you who think it makes no difference who you vote for, so you won’t, you’re wrong. You seem touchingly to believe that They (as in the politicians) will notice your refusal to engage and indeed, even be concerned about it. You seem to think, for some daftly naïve reasons of your own, that They actually want you to vote.
Oh my dear saps. The last thing They want is your vote. They love it when you sit down and shut up. They each have their own inner hard-core of trusty eternals, who they can rely on to vote for them come fire, thunder, floods or the Judgment of Heaven, and they only really care when the hard-core start dying of old age and it’s time to indoctrinate a new generation. If the don’t knows, undecideds, issue-considerers, and just generally needing-to-be-convinced don’t vote, it’s wonderful. No having to waste oodles of cash trying to convince you to vote for Us not Them. No worrying that you’ll break loose and vote the other way at the General Election. No having to keep promises just to keep you on board. They can get on with fossicking about in each-other’s stationary cupboards and being self-serving and power-mad. If, on the other hand, they knew that they had been voted for, marginally, by a bunch of people who were really only choosing them because of the road-resurfacing thing, do you think they’ll fail to resurface the damn’ road? Or, at least, do you think the new lot will fail to resurface the roads, seeing that the old lot got junked for not doing it?
And yes, it is perfectly true, oh individual voter, that your vote as is straw and peanut-shells in the grand scheme of anything at all. Quite right. But the fact you voted, oh now that is an entirely more cheerful matter. As a student [incoming smug mode] I got a house of eight other students to all come down to the Polls with me and vote. All I did was announce loudly that I was going to the Polls and was anyone else coming with me? Lord knows who they voted for, or if it made any difference, but one vote suddenly became nine, as far as I can tell solely because I got off my then-much-perter bottom. How many of your friends, acquaintances, colleagues even, do you think you could dredge out of the Slough of Despond by the simple announcement ‘Well, I’m going home via the Polls. Anyone else?’
And who cares if they are all foaming idiots who vote with their scrota? They voted, they will be noted as voters, and the politicians with any kind of brain at all will panic like ants under boiling water. It’ll be hilarious. I promise.
*(No, I cannot see how leaders of great dictatorships can actually be considered left-wing regardless of what anyone’s propaganda machines say, so let’s leave Stalin for a less civilized argument some other time, because, yes, I was brought up a Communist, so yes, I do know what I am talking about, and yes, attempts to tell me that Mao is left-wing can lead to unpleasantness. But now you know).
As a fellow voter for the common person I am lucky enough to live in Australia where voting is not only recommended but compulsory. This means both major parties have to pitch their spiel at the not so well off. This leads to an interesting effect. Those who are elected as Liberals (Conservatives) carry on supporting the “Big” side of town with nary a look at what they promised the electorate when they were looking for votes. When Labour is elected, they are elected because they were able to promise that “Big” side of town something the Liberals forgot. Then they support big business (for that, read Rupert Murdoch) but at least they do it with a bad conscience about all the little people they are inadvertently hurting.
Sorry for practising on you but we have a major election up here in the Southern Hemisphere later this year.
Left by Archie on May 8th, 2007
I woke up on the day after the elections to find them all over the news and I was quite horrified as I hadn’t noticed and hadn’t, therefore, voted.
Luckily, I live in London, so was able to stop feeling small and embarrassed about it. Then I realised that the whole thing shows a worrying lack of awareness about the political set up of my country and current affairs. Ah well.
Left by Sol on May 8th, 2007
Well I voted. Talking to friends down the pub, they voted. Even my partner who had a round trip of around 150miles because she was away from home last week voted.
And one vote can make a difference. Two would have been better but in the council ward I live in the councilor has a majority of 1. So from red to blue but for two votes it would have been a much sunnier hue.
Talking with friends it seems a shame that a more verdant variety of politician didn’t stand, would have got some votes at least.
Left by Phil on May 8th, 2007
a) I agree. Wholeheartedly. Always go vote!
At the one occasion I can remember where I honestly could not make my brain point up or down (not to fall into the trap of specifying left or right ;)), I went up there and handed in a blank vote. Come to think of it, it would probably have been more fun to fill it with a scathing poem or such - but the key thing is, I exercised my voting right.
b) I never thought of it that way - that the politicians would prefer only the trusted guard to turn up . Could well be. Though I do not know if the same thing would be the case under our slightly different electoral system (honestly, I can’t be bothered to look up the terms in English right now) - where seats are allocated progressively by number of votes in each area unlike the “winner gets it all” system of the US and, I think, the UK.
c) You may be late with this - not that I noticed (yes, I did know that there was an election and even that the SNPs ran away with something up in bonnie Scotland). But more importantly, it’s so very well written. Bleep that I couldn’t make it to London - I’d love to hear if you speak as well
Left by SG V on May 8th, 2007
Archie - practice away. Actually, what you say connects to what SG V then said about not knowing “if the same thing would be the case under our slightly different electoral system.” Well, no, it probably wouldn’t be the same under, say, Australia’s system, where everyone has to vote will-he nil-he. My theory is a very British, first-past-the-post one, and makes no sense in other democratic contexts. But the basic principle is, don’t expect Them to WANT to HAVE to pay attention to your opinion. And engineer your voting habits so that They DO have to pay attention to what you want - whatever habit that might be under your own particular system.
Sol - I’m convinced they try to hide elections under rocks and things until the actual night in question, just after the polls have shut, when it’s too late to do anything at all, but now you have to watch the full coverage and feel like a wart. It’s to keep the nation’s apathy levels up. Fear not, you are but a helpless victim of their evil scheme.
SG - you flatter me outrageously. And no, you’re probably better off reading this and imagining me to have the voice of the loveliest radio-presenter you can think of off-hand. Lord knows I’d hate to shatter the illusion - but I actually sound like Bertie Wooster’s Aunt Agatha.
Left by Reed on May 8th, 2007
Well, in this case, as London wasn’t in the mix, it’s entirely unsurprising that we didn’t hear much about the elections until it was absolutely necessary to report them.
Felt quite odd to be watching the news on a matter of national importance that didn’t include about 90 per cent coverage of How London Feels About It/ What London Did/ How It Will Effect London and so on and so forth.
And nonsense. Your voice is lovely, Ag. Nothing wrong with a bit of proper RP as long as it’s as musical as yours is.
Left by Sol on May 9th, 2007
Politicians roughly divide into those who think they have a divine right to rule (who fit Reed’s description), and the attention-craving needy ones, who I think do worry about low turnout. They want to be voted for. They want to be loved. They’re in showbiz and don’t like our indifference. They like to boast about the size of their mandate. Of course, if they win a few elections, this latter type tends to morph into the first type anyway.
Obviously Reed’s analysis is right, in that non-voters will be immediately and cheerfully dismissed when the sharp-eyed pollsters make their calculations that will affect, you know, our lives. I just think that a number of the vainer politicos would love to increase turnout, if they could do it while still governing in the interest of an unaccountable elite. But since they can’t, well, I guess they sigh to themselves a little and learn to live with their 36%.
Certainly some parties are getting wise to the data mining techniques of the junk mailers - already American electioneers are good at sending exactly the right leaflet to the gun-owner/devout Catholic/SUV driver, pretty much ending the idea of a public debate or manifesto - different messages can be scattered to different voters who might actually vote, and no-one else need be troubled with the news that there’s an election on. It’ll be even easier for these sort of tactics in Britain where the electioneers can immediately discount all “safe” constituencies. Apparently in 2005 Michael Howard hired one of John Howard’s advisors and conducted “under the radar” targetted leaflet campaigns in some marginal seats.
I’d be tempted to field candidates for a Renationalise the Railways party in commuter towns. But under first-past-the-post, it would just let the Tories in. So I guess if I want to advance my agenda I should invent a rightwing splinter group instead to split their vote. Funny thing, f-p-t-p.
I’m rambling now, aren’t I? But I could hardly lurk this one out
Left by Ed on May 9th, 2007
We filled out our pstal votes a couple of weeks ago, so they’ve probably beenn eaten by badgers or stuffed down the back of somebody’s sofa by now.
Voted in an almost party-blind manner too, mainly for people standing who
a) Actually live in the village, which ruled out all the red candidates
b) Didn’t live in the million-pound houses and are therefore likely to have concerns similar to mine, which ruled out all the blue candidates
Lots of independants stood round here probably to deal with something that was annoying them. Fine by me
Left by Kelli on May 9th, 2007
I haven’t had the vote since I moved away from UK. For some reason they refused to put me on the electoral register, I had a huge argument with a very snotty woman about it, according to her I don’t have the right to be on it. I have no idea how posh ex-pats retain their right to vote in UK yet I lost it. It bothers me a great deal. Women died for my right to vote and I haven’t been able to vote for over 10 years.
In Australia, only citizens are allowed to vote so the compulsory voting doesn’t include me. We’re hoping to become citizens some time soon and then, you bet, I’ll be voting.
Left by Helen on May 10th, 2007
Thanks for that post. I had been brewing one about voting, but never got round to it (posting, that is, not voting). I am a firm believer that in our stupid system, you really should vote, as 1 or 2 votes really can tip the scales (and keep the poor vote counting peopleup very late indeed).
Voting for ‘the best of a bad bunch’ and getting it is much better than not voting and ending up with the worst of a bad bunch, surely? And if all of the ‘my vote doesn’t matter’ people actually got up and voted, we could have a very different political climate.
I get a bit pushy around election time, and particularly for national elections. I have not yet come across a reason for not voting, other than hospitalisation, which I found convincing. ‘I’ll be busy on that day’ is no excuse - organise a proxy vote or a postal vote! Voting is one of the greatest democratic rights, but it’s also one of the most important responsibilities we have.
Left by Singing Librarian on May 10th, 2007
This “not voting” thing is getting way out of hand. It bothers me no end when a few people make a decision. In our little town we have lots of apathetic lazy people who can’t be bothered to go to the polls when we have an election. They feel qualified to complain about the status quo, however. In our last election, which was only a few weeks ago, the subject was whether or not we should pass a school bond issue. The county clerk was expecting only 15 percent of the qualified voters to turn out; surprisingly, 28% voted. It was a pretty hot issue, and it failed miserably. However, in that election it would have only taken 57% of the vote to pass the bond issue. If it had passed, then the people who didn’t bother to turn out would have allowed 8.5% of the registered voters to dictate a rather large property tax increase to everyone in the entire county. This is not a democracy, it is a complete and horrifying shame.
I wish we had the Australian rule here, that you are compelled to vote. I am tired of having politicians “elected” by a “majority” that consists of only 25% of the registered voters in the country.
Left by healingmagichands on May 11th, 2007
I’m not quite sure how people can think it is alright not to vote! Now I will stop typing before I start ranting…
Left by Lilian on May 11th, 2007
I could not agree more. I have never yet actually spoiled my paper, but I am sure it is only a matter of time. If I am gooing to abstain, I am going to bloody well abstain and not simply fail to turn up out of apathy.
People died that I may vote.
People are still dying in the fight for the right to vote.
People are dying because they cannot vote.
(Breathe in, Aphra. Breathe out).
I too used Kelli’s method though the colours were reversed. The most local politican was Red. Well, there is NO FUCKING WAY I am going to endorse Ms Hubris at the moment. Or the war in Iraq. They aren’t socialists anyway. Bastards. The Tories? Given their posters in the previous election? I think I preferred them in the days of “Goodness gracious! Glory glory! Clever Sambos All Vote Tory”. So no. Not the Tory bastards either. We do have BNP party candidates so, again, no. I voted for the local Independent and only realised a couple of days later that he may have been too barking even for the BNP. Buggerit.
Personally I would make two reforms to the electoral system: the first would be a switch away from first past the post (the days of Tam Deyell, Dennis Skinner, Enoch Powell and even Tony Benn are long gone, alas) and the second would be to introduce the ability to cast a negative vote, one which said “any group of c**ts so long as it isn’t this particular group of c**ts”.
The main reason I vote is that, short of physical presence and rotten eggs, it is the only way I can make the bastards sweat.
Aphra.
Left by Aphra Behn on May 12th, 2007
I see I’ve set Aphra off. Helloooo, sister! Heh heh heh.
Left by Reed on May 12th, 2007