UK Voting

Voting is the most important way to make your voice heard on issues that concern you. Decisions are made on your behalf every day, ranging from what is happening in local schools and what recreational facilities you have to national issues like healthcare and education, to global issues like defense and the environment. In many countries around the world, including the UK, people have been fighting to gain the right to vote. The right for women to vote on equal terms with men in the UK was still being argued about only 70 years ago. But having the right to vote is not enough. A strong and stable country relies on people using their votes. By voting, you can hold your elected representatives accountable. Voting is central to the way in which our society works. Yet the last UK general election saw a big drop in turnout - down from 71.4% to 59.4%. In other words, fewer than six out of every ten eligible voters across the UK decided to take part in choosing the country's government for the next five years. There has been much talk about 'voter apathy'. But we believe that the reasons for low rates of participation in elections are more complicated than this. Research shows that people do not vote for a number of reasons, including lack of information, distrust of politicians and inconvenience. It is important that politicians and the media make concerted efforts to encourage citizens to use their votes. Politicians have to show us that they are honorable.