Register to Vote in #GE17

The A-Team have relocated to Gosport ...

You may have noticed there's going to be a General Election in the UK on 8 June.  What fun!  Hands up everyone who rolled their eyes when Theresa May stepped onto the doorstep of No 10 to address the nation.  But ... But ...

This election is really important.  We need a a strong, level-headed government who looks out for the interests of the many, not just the few to steer us though Brexit and the other issues we face.  

I'm not going to tell you who to vote for.  Look at your local candidates, do some research and vote for person / party you trust will do the right things on the issues that are important to you.  Whatever they are.  Education, the NHS, Brexit ... 

We are so fortunate to be able to vote and I strongly recommend you register so you can.  Make yourself heard. The statistics about non-voting among women and the 18 - 24 age group are scary. The last date for registration is 22 May 2017.  

Register to Vote

I asked friends and fellow bloggers for reasons why you should or shouldn't vote in #GE17.  And, if they wanted too, who you could consider voting for.  Thanks to everyone who took the time to contribute.  The comments in alphabetical order by name and are as written:

Allie: "There's too much at stake not to!"

Carol at Family Makes: "I was considering not voting as I think calling the election at this point is a farce and a tactical move on the part of the Tories. I don't like this government but didn't really feel we had a viable alternative. However, my mind has been changed today by a friend who shared this on Facebook - "Not voting Labour because you don't like Jeremy Corbyn is like burning down your house because you don't like the curtains". Good point."

Debbie at My Boys Club: "It is more important to me that everyone exercises their right to vote, than which way they decide to vote - I'd prefer they spoilt their ballot paper than didn't bother. I will definitely be voting and have already encouraged people to make sure they are registered to vote. I have voted on every occasion since I turned 18. I couldn't wait to vote, it was a big thing. People lost their lives so that I could vote and that also means a lot to me. And too many people across the world are still not allowed to vote."

Emma at They Grow So Quick: "I always vote. I think it is so important to get out and make your feelings known even if it is to spoil your ballot to show you are not happy with any of the options. [Sorry to the ladies whose husbands are returning officers!]."

Hannah at East Sussex Mummy: "I will definitely be voting. My history teacher at an all girls school drummed it into us all that the Suffragettes died for our right to vote so we must all have our say. However, I have no idea who I will vote for. I was hoping to have another couple of years to make my mind up! Our MP seems to be okay, he got voted in in 2015 and has responded favourably when I have contacted him. He's Tory and has a massive majority (30k to 10k), and our constituency has been Tory since forever, so it would take an enormous swing for any change to happen, so I also feel like my vote would be useless and pointless."

Heledd at Yummy Blogger: "I will be voting. Women died for the right to vote so I always use my vote. If you don't vote, you can't complain about the state of our nation!  As for who, well I've had enough of these years of austerity cuts, I will be voting for one of the more left-wing parties that believes in a public, properly-funded NHS." 

Jenny at Accidental Hipster Mum: "I will be voting because I want to at least try and make a difference. I've had to study how political changes affect the economy lately and it lead me down the path of doing more and more independent research.  I used to be a single mum, and I honestly believe I wouldn't have been able to survive if all the cuts that are happening now were happening back then (and back then I was only just getting by).  I don't want to rile any Corbyn haters out there but the way the population is currently made up of people living on the breadline, with benefits for the disabled or even working single parents, if Labour get in, it'll give thousands of families a bit of breathing space. The way government works, there will always be a lot more conservatives and no doubt they will be in power again (if they don't win this time) but I believe the economy will start to heal if Corbyn is able to put his policies into play."

Katie at The Squirmy Popple: "I won't be voting because I'm not eligible. Despite living in the UK for over 10 years and being a permanent resident, I'm not a citizen (I'm originally from America), so I can't vote. It's kind of frustrating, because I've made my life here, and pay my taxes here, but I'm not allowed to make my voice heard at the polling station."

Lucy at White and Green Beans: "There was an election the year I sat my politics A level (97) and I was very frustrated I couldn't vote (I turned 18 in June, the election was in May). I went on to work in central government for 10 years and so of course I vote every time there is the opportunity. There are many things wrong with our democracy but we've got to at least keep trying to change them. Apparently 9 million women didn't vote in the last election - if they had the result could have been completely different. I'll be voting Green because here in Brighton I'm in a safe Green seat (and because Caroline Lucas is a wonderful MP). If I lived elsewhere I'd be voting tactically for whoever was most likely to beat a Tory candidate. Austerity is a political (Tory) choice and more and more people are hurting from it. Welfare cuts hit women and children hardest. School funding is being cut. Between £50bn and £100bn will be spent on HS2 while a million people rely on food banks. I want something different to their vision. I'm away on 8 June but will arrange to vote beforehand. It's SO important this time."

Maddy at The Speed Bump: "I have always been very pro-voting, and ashamed of my generation for their lack of turnout (I'm 22). This year, I've toyed with the idea of not voting at all, because now I understand their viewpoint. I feel angry, ignored and disenfranchised, and like my vote doesn't matter. However, I realise that's exactly what the Tories want, because students and young people vote against them, so I won't give them that victory. I feel more aligned with the policies of the Greens and the Lib Dems, but I'll be tactical-voting Labour, to try and keep the Tories out (or at least reduce their majority!)."

Mandi at Hexmumblog: "I will be voting and ensuring my daughter aged 19 comes along to vote too. I would like everyone to vote, but please do not waste it by spoiling your ballot paper as it is a lot of work for the presiding officers and as a wife of one I would like him home at a reasonable hour!"

Mark: "How did not voting work out in the Brexit referendum?"

Mary H: "Our great grannies were dying for the chance to vote."

Mary S:  "Being able to vote is a privilege and not to make use of it is a waste. It is your opportunity to vote in someone who you believe will do by you and all constituents. You should vote for the person rather than the party. Find out about the candidates and the sitting MP if they are standing again. Ask questions, see if they take time to respond, and actually answer them. Don't vote for the party your friends vote for. Vote for who you think should win. I am very interested in politics and don't think nearly enough is known about how parliament works or what an MPs job consists of. Many voters are led by the media but should make their own choice."

Natasha at Mummy & Moose: "I will vote. I believe in democracy and I want my children to grow up to be voters so I encourage them to read about politics and I ask them how they would vote and it sounds dull but they sometimes make really good points that I haven't considered. I think it is so important and I am always very disappointed if someone I know declares they have never voted. I just don't understand why you would choose to have no voice."

Nikki at Yorkshire Wonders: "I will be voting. A large part of my motivation is to make sure the nutters who vote for the likes of Ukip don't get a majority. The problem is your normal decent people are generally OK with the status quo and don't feel the need to vote to change things. So it looks like the nutters are more popular than they are. I am not having these people represent me, just because I have not got off my bum to vote!"

Rebecca at Becster: "I will be voting. I always vote in a General Election. My vote will be for our current MP who's Plaid Cymru. He's a good MP and a good man."

Sally at Teddy Bears and Cardigans: "I have voted at every election since I was eighteen. How can anyone complain about the way the country is run if they can't be bothered to get out and put a cross on the paper. Every vote counts. Low turnouts favour one party and high turnouts another. By not voting you are supporting a party you may not agree with."

Samantha at North East Family Fun: "I will definitely be voting. I don't think you have the right to complain about any decisions made if you don't use your right to vote. I also think it's very important to encourage the younger generations to vote too so it's good for them to see us doing it and sets a good example." 

Simeon: "Voting in the forthcoming General Election will be a harder choice than ever before. After the example set last year for the Brexit vote, I suspect that debate, argument and facts will be in short supply this time around, to be replaced with more scaremongering from all concerned.

I still feel that it should be our duty to go and vote and that, if I didn't, I would have no right to complain about whoever should get in (in the interests of balance, I won't assume what the result will be). I don't believe in voting tactically, that can only get you the other people that you didn't really want.

If you believe Theresa May will deliver a Brexit deal that will truly be of benefit to everyone in the UK, then vote for the Conservatives.

If you believe that Jeremy Corbyn can deliver a country with social services that will once again be the envy of the world, then vote for Labour.

If you believe that one of the other parties best matches your outlook, then choose them.

I intend to read all of the literature that comes through our door (even the BNP, cos I always like to see something humorous in the run up to a vote). I will then choose the candidate locally that I feel most closely matches my own current outlook and that will best represent the local area in Westminster, regardless of their party affiliation (with the obvious exception listed above)."

Tony: "We moan about the government all the time. This is our chance to actually do something about it."

Thank you for reading and don't forget to register to vote.  

PS:  If you're a blogger, you may get comments about the need to use your influence / voice to get people vote x or y.  It's up to you whether you join this particular conversation or not.  Don't let others make you feel bad whatever you decide.