Referendum Voters

Calendargirl Wed 23-Oct-19 18:58:03 thank you for explaining that, I would never have known!!!

I absolutely do not see the point of not voting.

If you go into vote,no matter what you write on the paper you will be ticked off as having voted and your form will be part of the tally of those who have voted.

Nonnie

Writing ‘ I Abstain’ on your voting paper achieves nothing. Just another spoiled ballot paper.

Many people, in interviews say they have never voted. I do not think if you haven't voted, being banned from voting will have any effect those banned would have had no intention of voting anyway.

I am opposed to compulsory voting as well. If voting was compulsory I would refuse to vote.

However, if you do not vote you have no right to complain about any government policy or initiative, no matter how awful or even illegal.

I think we have a duty to vote. Over the years there have been a few times I was undecided of the right thing to so so I wrote I ABSTAIN right across the paper. I do wish that was on the paper so we can show we are responsible citizens.

Could we have a rule that if you have been eligible to vote for 5 years and failed to do so you are prohibited for the next five years? Perhaps then people would appreciate the right to vote.

That is what they said before the referendum and the last election but the votes did not materialise. Why should it be different this time. Especially as the conduct of Parliament and politicians has been so bad recently.

I think the next time there is an election or a referendum, we will see a much greater vote from younger people.

Sadly the proportion of young people voting is much lower than the proportion of older people who vote (and I do not just mean people over 50).

I sometimes wonder when I hear younger people complaining about older people voting leave, whether they and their friends and university/workmates actually voted themselves. It is clear mainy of them didn't.

How many of the many new young voters will actually vote, if, as is likely, there is an election before Christmas.

There are probably about three million young adults now who didn't vote in the 2016 referendum because they were too young, but are now of voting age. They deserve to have a vote now.

My dad (78) and MiL (88) didn’t vote because they a)didn’t know it all meant and b)didn’t really think it would affect them.

I wasn't particularly interested in politics until I had my children and wanted the world to be a better place for their sake. And I think younger people assume that people older and wiser will do what's best for the country and them.

I hope the 12 million don’t grumble about the result.
If young people registered to vote, thinking that was all they had to do, heaven help us! Does not bode well for how interested they are in the future of their country.

Dinahmo, I know only one lady who did not vote. Reason being she told me she really did not know what to do, so abstained.

I can tell you about 2.
One had just moved from Scotland to Wales and wasn't registered in time. She now is but has not decided how she'd vote given the chance.
Most likely to be Remain but in a very pro Leave area.
Her sister was too young but is now registered and would vote Remain.
(I realise this is relevant only in terms of a 2nd referendum.)