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Not Apathetic

Tell the world why you're not voting - don't let your silence go unheard

They're not voting because...

Disenfranchised, as usual. I'm not...

Disenfranchised, as usual.

I'm not voting because I haven't got the vote. I have moved house too recently (mid-March) to be on the electoral register.

This is the fourth of six elections since I reached voting age when I have been similarly denied the vote. So I can truly say that none of the buggers represent me. Not even in theory. And it's not my fault (I moved house because I had to: my former landlady is hoping to sell my previous flat before the housing bubble collapses, and gave me notice to leave).

Would I vote if I could? Well, I'm in a very marginal constituency (Torridge and West Devon). I couldn't bring myself to vote for either of the parties with a serious chance, but we do have a very credible Green candidate.

written 2nd May 2005

Responses

Paul Clark replies: Just because you miss the letter they send every year doesn't mean you can't get on the register. As I understand it, all you need to do is contact your local returning officer or council etc. and ask them to sort it out. It is fairly easy. I changed which contituency i was registered to vote in at the start of April.

written 2nd May 2005

Nick replies: I did ask the council. They told me I was too late.

Oh, and I forgot to say: I'm not even polled. ICM (pollsters) 'phoned this afternoon, but said they weren't interested in my views if I wasn't going to vote.

written 2nd May 2005

Bill replies: You can still vote at the polling station for your old address if you were registered. Its too latew now to do that by post as you've missed the closing date but you could go there on the day.

written 3rd May 2005

Nick replies: I probably could.

As it happens, it's just (by the width of one road) over the border into another constituency (South West Devon). I'd have to be dedidacted indeed to make that journey just to find out whether they recognise me, and if so spoil my ballot paper.

And if I did vote there, it would comprehensively give the lie to that strange notion that constituency MPs somehow represent people in their constituency. Of course, for an area like West Devon, they can't even live here most of the time, which is why the Westminster parliament only *ever* represents the interests of London and the Home Counties.

If a candidate proposed to abolish the Westminster Club, I'd be inclined to vote for them!

written 3rd May 2005

About Not Apathetic

NotApathetic was built so that people who are planning not to vote in the UK General Election on May 5th can tell the world why. We won't try to persuade you that voting is a good or a bad idea - we're just here to record and share your explanations. Whether ideological, practical or other, any reason will do.

A lot of users would like us to mention that if you spoil your ballot paper, it will be counted. So if you want to record a vote for "none of the above", you can.

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