Scottish/ Holyrood elections 2011 , Welsh Assembly, Northern Ireland Assembly , AV,England Council Finally arrived 5th May 2011

Scottish/ Holyrood elections 2011 , Welsh...

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Just thought I would throw this in as it is a big  election day tomorrow /today  I have always been very interested in politics and have always cast my vote ,  even if when I feel my vote is wasted.

I am looking forward to the Scottish Elections tomorrow. 

It is a personal view , but I am going to vote for AV so it gives a mandate that I would like a different system, even though AV is not quite want I wanted.   

I feel If you vote no, and you would eventually like to see proportional representation.  I think voting no to AV. They will never give us an opportunity for change again.

I think it is really sad that a lot of the youth feel their  vote is wasted in the Westminster elections.  

I hope everyone that can vote does in Scotland Holyrood, Welsh Assembly , Northern Ireland Assembly , England Council elections regardless of what party they vote for, or for AV or not.     There are countries where people have killed to get a vote.  So I am planning to use it .  The more people that vote the the more representative the vote will be regardless which way you decide.

 Do you think voting is a waste of time?

Replies (16)

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By taxhound
05th May 2011 06:53

People have died for the right to vote.

If people can't be bothered to vote, that is up to them, but personally, I believe that if you are fit and healthy, you should make an effort to get to the polling station.  People have died for the right to vote in the past in this country (and still continue to do so around the world today).  You should not take your "right to vote" lightly.  If you do not vote because you can't be bothered, then your opinion does not count.

Just my opinion.  Don't shoot me please.

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
05th May 2011 07:17

Good

I hope most will have the same view as you Taxhound 

-- Kind Regards Sarah@ Douglas Accountancy & Bookkeeping Services, Glasgow

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By petersaxton
05th May 2011 09:00

I've never considered not voting

My wife and I have just returned from voting. I usually vote just after 7 am and I've voted at every election held in whatever constituency I lived in for the last 40 years.

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By cathygrimmer
05th May 2011 09:35

Vote or shut up!

I have always taken the view that if you don't vote you have no right to whinge if you don't like the government/local government that comes from that election! I shall wait until my kids are home from school and walk to the polling station with them as I think it's good for them to see (even at 8 and 12) that voting is something we should all do. Children learn by example. When I was young, it was easy for my parents to set that example as our front room was the polling station and my mother was the presiding officer!

Cathy

[email protected]

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By cymraeg_draig
05th May 2011 09:52

.

In a democratic system there has to be a right not to vote. In Australia voting is compulsary - and people deliberately spoil their ballot papers as there isnt a "none of the above" choice.

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By mwngiol
05th May 2011 09:55

Voting

I almost agree, but not quite.

If there was a 'No suitable candidate' option on the ballot paper, then I would agree that there was no excuse not to vote. As things stand we don't know which of the non-voters just can't be bothered, and which of them just don't consider any of the candidates worthy of their vote.

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By thisistibi
05th May 2011 10:14

POSTAL VOTING

You don't even need to go to a polling station to cast your vote.  I signed up to postal voting several years ago (as have most of my friends) and your ballot paper is sent to your home before election day.  I sit down and google candidates, discuss it with the other half and cast my vote in my own armchair.  What could be easier?

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By Democratus
05th May 2011 10:35

No suitable candidate

There should be a no suitable candidate option. And if that option gets the most votes then, even though it may be costly (albeit that someone's opinion of a high cost may be insignificant compared to government waste ) then a re run must be carried out.

I looked at the array of candidates i had been presented with (Northern Ireland - so i have a special kind of appalling choice don't you know) and struggled to find anyone actually woth the effort - so it's tactical for me.

I didn't vote for the first 12 years it was available to me and I'm not completely sure my vote matters in the grand scheme of things but as i have aged (Oh so rapidly) I have become convinced that even if my vote doesn't change a single thing it is my vote and i should be glad of the opportunity. As others have pointed out people have died demanding the right to vote and I believe that we do not fully recognise the power we have in our hands as an electorate if we just engaged our brains rather than voting the same way as all of my family did. Imagine if we all decided to actually vote for policies rather than parties....

Anyway - as they say here in  Norn Irn - vote early - vote often.....

D

 

 

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By 3569787
03rd May 2016 18:10

A change to be considered!

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By cymraeg_draig
05th May 2011 11:25

.

I get the impression that the "none of the above" candidate would get the most votes.

Now, if I change my name to "None of the Above" - after all, MPs pay is quite good ........................................

 

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David Winch
By David Winch
05th May 2011 11:32

I have voted

I've been and gone and done it.

David

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By Johhny
05th May 2011 12:26

Postal voting

I too have had a postal vote for some years - I voted in the latest elections several days ago, simple.

What is interesting in these days of cost cutting is that several weeks before the postal vote forms were issued I received a letter advising me that postal vote forms would be issued in a few weeks. I know there are arguments about security, eg after the first letter I am in theory on alert to expect a 2nd letter and to take action if it doesn't arrive but really, what a waste of money. Stamps, envelopes, staff, machinery, paper, ink...multiplied by all the postal votes and there's a tidy saving without any loss of service.

Would we send a client a letter advising that his tax return will be sent to him in 3 weeks time? No, because it's silly. That and the fact that we're in the private sector and have to watch our overheads, something the public sector will struggle with for years to come I think.

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By Alan Ferris
05th May 2011 12:37

No Vote
I think every ballot paper should have none of the above. This year none of our local candidates have thought my area worth even a paper flyer through the door. So until I turn up to vote later I do not even know who is standing locally.

I do not believe AV will change this as I am in a safe seat for conservative councillors as they always get more than 50% of the vote anyway, but I would like a no vote to protest their lack of efforts.

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By petersaxton
05th May 2011 13:36

Parliament only

This AV vote only relates to parliamentary elections.

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
05th May 2011 13:55

Thanks for all the interesting views .

Hi 

I am glad to see so many people voting.  That none of the above person seems to be wining at the moment.  It saddens me that is the way people feel.  But I do totally understand it especially after the last few years we have all had.

I have to say .  I liked RavenTax point about letting her kids see she votes and cares .  I still believe in the young and this will also be their country in the future.    My mum and Dad always encourage us as a family to be interested . So much so every member supported something different it made teatime very interesting. 

I have a wee boy who seems really interested in politics and everything thing going on in the world. His school have also told us that.  It is Newsround where he gets most of his info .   He told his Dad he was to young to vote today.  But he wanted to know who we were voting for.  

If only we could bottle that enthusiasm , so it could stay with right through till their adults .  I know we can,t, but one thing I can do, is to give my child as many views as I can about the world and hope that he continues to be interested and cares about the world and where he lives when he is old enough to vote.

 

-- Kind Regards Sarah@ Douglas Accountancy & Bookkeeping Services, Glasgow

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Sarah Douglas - HouseTree Business Ltd
By sarah douglas
05th May 2011 18:04

None of the Above

Thats me I have voted for the Regional list , MSP of our area and Av .  

Out of interest one of the parties on the Scottish Regional List was The BAN BANKERS BONUS'S party.  Would that be classed as none of the above.  I thought it was better at least it is a statement, since the government keeps telling us we are all in it together. 

And no I am not joking .  It really was on my voting Ballot orange Regional List Ballot.

- Kind Regards Sarah@ Douglas Accountancy & Bookkeeping Services, Glasgow

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