Today is the opportunity to people to vote in some local council elections. In a couple of weeks there will be the opportunity to vote for an MEP. Will you be voting?
The poll makers have been out in force, and they suggest that people will do one of two things in these local elections. They will either stay away as a protest about what has been going on in Parliament recently, or vote for small independent councillors. I think the results will be interesting and maybe an indicator of what people are feeling right now.
I do vote. I never used to, but gradually over the years I felt that far from being a protest of disillusionment in our government system, if I stayed away and didn't vote I was allowing parties to get in that I didn't agree with. Even my one little vote could make a difference, and so I decided to use my constitutional right as a British subject. I'm not going to say how I will vote today but I made up my mind weeks ago, and have already decided for the European Elections. It's every persons right to make their own mind up and decide for themselves, though I feel it is very important to be well informed.
It's really strange, but the only leaflet I've had through the door so far is for the Independent councillors. The Tory MP has got my email somehow. I've been inundated with those! The Labour councillor obviously either hasn't got my details, or I've been out when they've called? I've read the information available, and made up my mind. I have no idea who Neil will vote for, though. We are a bit cagey with each other about politics, though we tend to mostly agree. We do discuss it sometimes and I've told him who I will vote for, but he hasn't said much about his choice. That's up to him, and neither of us have ever tried to influence the other. I think the only time the passion of a situation broke our usual silence was when the vote to stay or leave the EU happened. W were in agreement from the start as, interestingly enough, were our sons. I say interestingly, as neither ever bothered to vote before that date. It probably was the same with a great deal of people as the amount of vote count was high.
Traditionally the turn out for local elections is poor but maybe this time it will be different? In my area there has been an amalgamation of town councils which has caused a bit of upheaval. Out of the three town councils, mine is the smallest and so I think it's important we have a good and clear representative for our area. If I'm frank I think our current situation in Parliament may have an impact on the results, but we shall see.
Women haven't always been able to vote, and the fight to get that vote is a well documented one. What isn't so well known is the fight to get the 'working man's vote'. Before that came in, your right to vote depended on what land you owned and basically your wealth. The 1918 Representation of the People Act changed the face of our country. Working class men, as well as women over a particular age, could vote. It didn't, though, usher in the democracy that we know now. You would not think it now, but previously some men could vote in several constituents, meaning they had more than one vote. Hardly a balanced democracy! The 1918 Act meant that there was a maximum of two votes for those eligible. Still one too many for my liking, but an improvement on the old system. Women under thirty could not vote. How different to what it is now, and is partly why I use my opportunity to vote. It's taken years for me to reach this conclusion but I seriously feel that you cannot ever complain about our country's leadership system, or Parliament, if you do not vote. No amount of 'my vote won't make any difference' is a constructive argument. Every vote counts. We have a democracy. You are not forced to vote for a particular parliamentary party as happens in some countries. You are not persecuted for your vote and we live in a liberal forward thinking democratic country. Make sure you take advantage of that in the coming days, months and years. It could make that difference you've been asking for.
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