20 February 2011
11:0093457Perhaps it would be more use to focus on people who actually, really cannot get to the polling stations and are discriminated against. No, not prisoners, the severely disabled. Postal voting is, as anyone with sense knows, open to fraud, and it needs to be improved for people with disabilities before we start saying everyone can get it. Everyone should be able to vote, but there are a significant number of people who need support to vote, people with learning disabilities and physical challenges, people with mental health issues - all are entitled to vote but are often missed out. Perhaps we should start there if we want a properly level playing field.
I quietly agree with Vic up to a point: not about jailing people for failing to vote (for goodness sake!) but about it being a civic duty that should be more robustly encouraged, shall we say........
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,894
20 February 2011
12:0593471I have a postal vote and always use it.
With regard to forcing people to vote if the did not want to, they would either spoil it or stick a cross against someone like the Monster Raving lot. So many do not vote because they are cynical about politicians and their election promises, MPs etc need to find a way reach those people.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
20 February 2011
12:3193475If a law came out that people had to vote or else be heavily fined or interned in prison, the economy would collapse. 84% of Dover's electorate would fall under one of the two categories.
Many of those who were heavily fined would be unable to pay the rent, or the mortgage, so might end up asking for benefits.
Of those put in prison, none would be able to work during that time. Factories and offices would be largely empty.
Many children would be seeing their parents carted off to prison, and who would look after them?
Because many candidates would refuse to stand under the slogan 'vote me or you will go to prison', there would not be many candidates left to vote for anyway.
20 February 2011
12:3493476The Monster Raving Loony Party has significant merit. One of their policies involves selling socks in threes to cater for the loss of one sock - you know it makes sense............
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
20 February 2011
13:5393488The great majority of those who cannot be bothered to vote are presumably those who have no interest in, or comprehension of, the alternatives put forth by those seeking to get elected. The usual view expressed is that "they are all the same anyway so wot's the point?," "they are all as bad as each other," "they are all just out for what they can get," and so on.
As they clearly demonstrate that their vote would be wasted if they did turn out since they would vote at random for whatever box their pencil landed in then does it matter if they don't take the trouble? Indeed, would it not be better that they did not vote as they could potentially skew the result by virtue of their ignorance of the issues?
By default, this vast army of the disinterested are consenting to go along with the selection made by those who do take an interest and have consequently taken the trouble to vote. In a way, this could be construed as a vote in itself - that they are voting to trust the opinion of the majority of those who have made an informed decision.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
20 February 2011
14:1193490you missed a couple out ed.
a) whoever you vote for the government always gets in.
b) i never vote as it always encourages them.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
20 February 2011
14:4093492I think some of you are missing a point here, and that is none of you have taken up what I said is happing around the world with members of the public geting killed just for the right to vote,what are your views on that? and do you not think we as a nation should show how it should and can be done with all the public voting.
20 February 2011
14:4493494By oppressing the voters into voting? Kind of defeats the object, doesn't it? Although I agree the vote is precious and people have struggled to get it.
Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
20 February 2011
15:3593497I share the majority of views on here, i don't any more people would vote for vic if in was compulsary voting and this post is desperation to get more people to vote for vic, which probably wouldnt hapopen, and vic would lose by an even larger majoriy.
Although over the years the vote has been hard fought for and a shame that people don't get them,selves more involved and vote, it's also down the politicians natiuonally and locally to convince people it's worth voting.
There are big differences between parties.
So realy the way forward is for politicisans to get there ars** in gear and convince people of the need to vote
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
20 February 2011
18:1093514Alexander D,
Dont understand your statement that"factories and offices would be largely empty" have'nt you noticed that they already are?? or soon will be by the time David Cameron is finished with them.
Over to you Barry W!!
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,894
20 February 2011
19:1993521Vic, to put it bluntly, NO. We have won the right to decide whether we want to vote or not, that is what the other countries you mention want as well. The freedom to vote (or not) for who they want as a government.
In other words the same freedom of choice that we have.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
20 February 2011
22:0393580So that's a majority vote passed then.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
21 February 2011
08:3793606If voting were to be made compulsory, there should be an abstention option on the ballot paper.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
21 February 2011
10:5993618Things still get lost in the postal system. I had to apply for a duplicate tax disk earlier this month because the first one failed to arrive (probably jammed in the sorting machine in Swansea)! Postal voting has its place as Sue points out, as has getting on Shank's Pony and going along in person.
Apathy is the biggest problem, regardless of the voting methods available.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
21 February 2011
11:3093621However you vote, postal or in person, it is your right to do so or not. Part of that democratic freedom people are fighting for.
Getting people to vote is not a matter of convincing people that they should but rather that it is worth them doing so. Over the last hundred plus years the parties have convinced the electorate that it is a two horse race, where once it was Whigs or Tories now it is Red or Blue. It is up to the electorate to be more demanding of their candidates, by expecting them to represent their interests rather than the ideology of a party, and it is up to the candidates to show that there is some point in voting for them.
Forcing people to vote would just prove that there is not really a choice.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
21 February 2011
11:4593622phil,i am affraid that apathy rules in todays climate.
beforced to vote would be like a dictatership,dont vote and you end in jail.
21 February 2011
13:3593632Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
21 February 2011
16:5293650chris is partly right, but in the past people as a matter of CHOICE have voted in labour or tory.
i fully agree candidates should be questioned more but the alliance is part of a national political party.
i think mays elections will be interesting
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
21 February 2011
18:2893671jehovahs witnesses are not allowed to vote i believe, maybe there are other groups like that?
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
21 February 2011
18:3093672IM NO EXPERT but i think mormons dont either
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
