Why some people will not vote on 8th June

AFP photo

By

Hazel Speed

As a woman, I have always felt a genuine responsibility regarding my right to vote in UK elections, whether General Elections, or local ones.

This is because of the great lengths undertaken a century ago by Suffragettes, being force-fed when in prison (following arrests for chaining themselves to railings, and more overt activities), all in the one endeavour, namely the right of women to vote.

Emily Davison lost her life when dashing in front of the King’s horse (King Edward VII), at the Derby. Some thought she merely wished to pin their notice on the saddle of the horse, but with the speed of the race, and other surrounding horses, she was knocked down and lost her life. The jockey was injured but eventually recovered. This event was actually caught on film and various documentary evidence was considered regarding her train ticket for the day. Was it a single or return ticket. In any event that proved nothing as she may have had plans for after attending the race. It was considered to be a most sad accident. Emmeline Pankhurst is another famous name, of course, symbolising Suffragettes.

Leaving the aspect of modern day responsibilities for women with the opportunity to vote on 8th June, in honour of the Suffragettes, it got me wondering about comments I have heard recently regarding the forthcoming General Election.

Strangely, it has been quite intriguing to hear a number of people, of varying ages and genders, say they are not going to vote at all. Will the turnout of voters be lower than anticipated therefore?

Some of the reasons for ‘non votes’ seem to be as follows (though of course this presupposes the people were telling the truth, or do not change their mind and vote after all). It is also a small representative section of people I meet from day to day in various environments.

See what you, the reader, think about the list of remarks:

Everyone has political ‘burn out’ and are sick of so many requests to vote in the last few years.

The country is already split over Brexit and;

only the Conservatives will carry through on the original wishes of the Leave voters;

but the ‘non-voters’ may dislike the Conservatives and will never vote for them. They usually add the remark to this ‘the Conservatives will probably win anyway without their vote’, etc.

Each local area may have a ‘safe seat’ so why bother voting when their vote won’t make any difference.

Politicians are the same – they all promise things they never deliver.

It has been a pretty dirty fight this time.

Some think ‘arrangements’ not to contest a seat so another Candidate can win same for a different Party is against the spirit of a democratic vote.

(I myself agree with this point).

It all boils down to Corbyn vs May and a few people have made the comment that they do not like either.

The UK Family of Nations has finished anyway.

Everyone I have spoken to was in agreement that all the politicians spent more energy arguing the toss about each other than concentrating on serious issues.

I find all the above reactions understandable but more commonly expressed than many would expect. The Suffragettes would probably say that women should always vote just for the sake of it, and one can empathise as to their hypothetical/supposed reasons why.

That said, if one genuinely would not choose any candidate then perhaps for non voters that, for them, actually is registering their vote as a judgment against the system.

One wonders if in years to come there will be an option on the voting paper to put an X in a box which says ‘none of the above’.

The system does need to change, but that is like getting a turkey to vote for Christmas!

Hazel Speed

Photo (c) Hazel Speed – used by kind permision to Tuck Magazine

Hazel Speed is a Philosopher, Writer, and Artist with various creative projects at differing stages of development. Her flaship project is an animation which has produced a film short: www.thepinkprofessor.com. She has also written an E-novel, ‘Just Suppose…!‘ which is available via the attached link.

Art sites: www.candystoreart.com, www.terrificart.com, www.artbadges.co.uk.