Whether the UK public are ready or not, a general election is happening next week. Undecided voters need to do their research and non-voters need to question whether they’re an oxygen thief.
#1: Why should I vote?
You live in a “free country”. If you don’t vote, you’re insulting anyone and everyone who doesn’t have the right to do so. In fact, there are people outside of your everyday environment who don’t have the opportunity to vote but could benefit a lot more from it than you. Don’t rub it in and don’t take the piss by not doing your civic duty. you have ONE JOB!
#2: But if this is a free country, I don’t HAVE to vote!
Skip to #4: Even if I vote, nothing’s REALLY going to change for me.
#3: But I dislike all of the candidates…
Apathy and cynicism will get you nowhere in life. Not liking any of the candidates or having a “bad feeling” about what the result will be are not good enough excuses to eschew voting. Check out the Vote for Policies website- their tagline is “Vote for policies, not personalities”. You can fill out a survey which tells you who to vote for based on which policies you prefer from each party’s manifesto.
#4: Even if I vote, nothing’s REALLY going to change for me- for better or worse…
Sure! But if you’re a fair-minded individual, you’ll have to agree that by not voting at all, you should probably keep schtum and avoid sharing your thoughts on or debating about anything economy, equalities & rights, health/NHS, jobs/work, crime, education, europe/Brexit, housing, retirement, democracy, environment, foreign policy/defense, immigration, and tax/benefits related.
This ONE thing that we’re able to do, voting, allows us to play our part in a democracy. If democracy is something you value, scroll up to see my answer for #1: Why should I vote?
#5: Okay, you’ve convinced me but it’s too late! I never registered to vote before the May 22nd deadline…
Congratulations for finally coming to your senses. Your punishment for taking so long to do so is clear: you’ll just have to wait until the next election to exercise your right to vote. Until that time comes, you’ll just have to suck it up.
Again, if you’re a fair-minded individual or someone who simply wishes to avoid conflict, it’s probably best you keep quite on matters of economy, equalities & rights, health/NHS, jobs/work, crime, education, europe/Brexit, housing, retirement, democracy, environment, foreign policy/defense, immigration, and tax/benefits- until the next election.
Voting for the 2017 General Election takes place on Thursday 8th June. For the Who, What, When, and Where details, visit the Your Vote Matters website.