Today we are going to discuss voting. I know what you’re probably thinking in between yawns and working out what to watch next on TikTok; why would I care about that? Well give me a couple of minutes and I’ll explain.
Firstly voting is a hard-fought right that many throughout the ages have sought to obtain. In America they literally fought the War of Independence over it (something about taxation without representation and very uncivilised tea making in Boston harbour; everyone knows that you don’t add the tea to cold water and there was no way that they had a kettle big enough to boil the Atlantic Ocean anyway). Closer to home in the UK, in 1918 after the Suffragette movement women over the age of 30 were “trusted” with the right to vote. It wasn’t until 1928 that true equality was realised when the voting age for women was equalised with men at 21; it was subsequently lowered to 18 for everyone in 1969.
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. Enough of the history lesson already. So some people fought really hard to be able to have a vote why should I care about voting?
Well the Government passes the laws which govern our everyday lives, determine what taxes we pay and the priorities for how those taxes are spent. Don’t like the fact that multi-national companies pay little to no tax? Then you can vote for a party who wants to tax them. Think the NHS waiting lists are too long? Then you can vote for a party that will prioritise that. Want the cost of Poptarts to be reduced? Then you might even be able to find a party that will support that.
Okay, Okay. You’ve talked me into it but isn’t my vote like, meaningless in the grand scheme of things?
Well sort of. On the one hand yes your vote will be one of several million cast but on the other hand there are some constituencies where the incumbent candidate’s (that’s the person who’s currently the MP for that bit of the UK) majority is less than 100 which means that your vote might count for over 1% of the reason why someone won or lost.
But where I live is considered a safe seat, you can stick a blue rosette (switch with red or yellow as appropriate!) on a cabbage and it’ll win.
Firstly, I must correct you that although the cabbage might have enough support to win, it technically won’t be able to stand as an MP as you have to be over 18 years – a cabbage that old would probably be a bit the worse for wear!
Secondly, this election is probably going to be one of the most unpredictable ones to call. In the recent by-elections there have been some record breaking swings (that is people voting for parties differently to how they would “normally” vote in that area). This means a lot of previously safe seats are considered marginals (that is one that could go to one, two or more parties). For this reason, your vote this year could count in a way that you wouldn’t have previously.
Fine I’ll vote just to shut you up, when is it and can I just ignore it for now?
The election this year is going to happen on the 4th July and I think that unless you dig a cave in the back garden and live in it for the next month (please don’t do this, it’s a lot of hard work, probably in breach of your tenancy agreement and caves don’t tend to have great Wi-Fi connections) you’ll be bombarded with information about it, whether you like it or not (actually that cave with bad Wi-Fi doesn’t sound so bad now…).
So I can just vote online right?
No. Sadly this isn’t quite Love Island where you have to go to some shady website, click on an option and get frustrated by one of those stupid captchas proving your lack of robotics by identifying which of the blurry pictures contain blue cars but not navy ones and not trucks (complaining for a friend…).
What!? You mean to say that I have to go somewhere that’s outside! Next you’ll be telling me that I have to interact with people?
Well, umm, there’s no easy way of putting this but yes. Polling stations are normally in a public building like community centres, school halls, libraries etc. but some are in private spaces like places of worship. You’ll be able to find out where your local one is closer to the time. As for interacting with other people there’s an election worker who will mark your name off of a list called the electoral role when you’re given your ballot paper. You’ll only need to speak to one person and they’ll only ask for your name and address. You can also vote by mail but that implies finding out where your nearest postbox is.
Whoa! List!? Are you telling me that the conspiracies are true and the government has lists of everyone?
That depends on how you look at it. There is a list of everyone that is eligible and signed up to vote in the UK called the electoral role. Only people who are on the list can vote.
So I’m going to have to sign up to a list and then the Government are going to have my details and they’ll probably sell it to some guy down the pub?
Well yes and no. Yes they’ll have your details but they won’t be able to sell it down the pub. Firstly, no-one can afford to go to the pub any more with beer being £100 a pint (that’s completely true if you round up to the nearest £100). Secondly, there is an option you can tick to remove yourself from the extended version of the list. Thirdly, if you are really worried about companies getting your details you might want to look at the information you give companies like supermarkets when you sign up to loyalty schemes, newsletters etc.
As for the conspiracies they are just that, conspiracies. Those people who believe them have gone a little bit too far believing what they read on the internet.
But isn’t this on the internet?
Oh dear… Yes this is, Ummm, well what do you know look at the time. Gotta go, speak to you soon...
