How Can The Parties Tap Into This Rich Seam Of Voters?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-39784404
I find it disturbing that there are approx 15million people who don't vote, why is that? Can't grasp the issues? not interested? TBH honest I'd prefer a non vote to one based on fatuous non knowledge but really how can we increase the amount of people who actually vote?

[Old_Geezer]

What about giving them a representative they feel worth voting for, and who will canvass their views in order to represent them rather than themselves or some party ?

[ToraToraTora]

yes OG but no party represents anyone completely, it's all a compromise.

[mikey4444]

One of the reasons that people who don't vote give is a variation of "Well, they are all the same and it doesn't make any difference"

Plainly nonsense of course. In this election, there is a huge gulf between what the Tories say and what Labour say.

Another popular reason for not voting is " I don't know nothing (sic) about politics"...another nonsensical stance, of course.

Not sure what the answer is to this problem though.

[Old_Geezer]

Too much of one, which is why the party system is bad for democracy. When each party has something that puts them beyond the Pale none get voted for. Democracy is about most popular decision wins, not most voted for elite imposes on the majority. Many feel they have no stake in the system, nor any effect, then.

[jim360]

ᶜʰᵃᶰᵍᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᵛᵒᵗᶦᶰᵍ ˢʸˢᵗᵉᵐ

Ahem.

[jim360]

Actually I'm not sure what can be done. Both OG's and my (pipe-dream) suggestion probably fail because a large proportion of the public might not really care. To persuade such people that (a) politics matters in their daily lives, and therefore (b) they should participate in it, is a huge struggle that won't be overcome either just by offering another choice -- that anyway would be drowned out in parliament -- or by reforming politics to make each vote genuinely matter.

Still, it's notable that in the EU referendum, or the Scottish independence Referendum, turnout was massively boosted from typical general/local elections. Both referenda, of course, had a simple "most votes nationally wins" system, between two choices. Perhaps you can at least persuade *some* more people to vote if the electoral system feels more competitive, so that one person's vote does start to matter more, but I'm not going to pretend that it's a complete solution.

[ToraToraTora]

well resisted jim, I appreciate what you did there!

[jim360]

Thought you might appreciate it!

[cassa333]

Make voting compulsory.

If you have to vote you are more likely to at least find out a bit about what is going on.

[ToraToraTora]

no, democracy is choice, you cannot force people to vote.

[jim360]

I'm with TTT on that one.

[youngmafbog]

I think it just has t be accepted that 15m are not interested or not bothered enough to vote. It is interesting to note a lady where my wife works never votes then moans at the outcome!! I wonder how many more are like that?

If a party did not give me what I felt was good enough for me then I would either spoil the paper or vote for Lord Sutch, as I have done in the past to show my displeasure.

[mikey4444]

ymb...the difficulty with wasting your vote and voting for Sutch is that its a bit like peeing your self, while wearing dark trousers....its give you a warm feeling, but nobody else notices.

[naomi24]

In voting for Sutch you'd definitely be wasting your vote. He's dead.

[aelmpvw]

i live in a tory stronghold so any supporters of other parties probably don't think it's worth making a trip to the polling station

[youngmafbog]

He wasnt when I voted for him!

That is sort of true Mickey, but spoiled papers are counted and it has to be better than not doing anything.

[emmie]

im with cassa voting should be compulsory.

[jim360]

Let's just ignore the whole "I hate FPTP" thing and focus instead on what Mikey's saying -- which is that basically a person's vote is often not for who they want to win, but against who they want to lose. Well that's great -- such a positive, inspiring message, isn't it: "vote so-and-so to keep this *** out, regardless of what so-and-so actually stands for."

*** that for a bunch of bananas. I want to vote for who I want to support, thanks. And if that's no-one then why not say so, voting for Mr Spoilballot or Screaming Lord thingy? And if that counts as a "wasted vote" then, well... it's back to the whole "well maybe you should set up a system where my vote isn't effectively wasted by not going for Tories or Labour"?

[mikey4444]

ymb...then give your vote to the Greens !

I know that can't win but they are generally very nice people, if a little misguided....it can't do any harm can it ?

I am reminded of that bit in the life of Brian, where Jesus is doing one of his hilltop speeches, and someone hears him saying "Blessed are the Meek" ( about 02:48 in ):::::

[ToraToraTora]

jim: "*** that for a bunch of bananas" - I assume you mean bananas within the EU legal range of curvature?