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So. It's official - the election will be on May 6th.
Normally on election day, I would post something saying 'make sure you vote, people - it is your constitutional and civic duty to give a monkey's about your government for the next four to five years'. And I will still be doing that.
But this year, let me take this moment to say this. You have until May 6th to get educated.
No, don't look at me like I'm waggling an elderly fish at you. What I hear every sodding year is 'oooh, I don't know enough about the parties, I don't know enough about the policies, I don't know about who's running in my local area'. You know you have about four weeks. Get off your backside and do some research. Find out if your local candidates for the major parties are good sorts or not, regardless of whether you like the policy of the party at the national level. Look for any interesting independents. Think about the big issues you think are important. Check your current MP's voting record. Check numbers from previous elections.
You have four weeks or so to get yourself educated enough to make an informed choice on May 6th. With the internet, there's no excuse not to. I'm going to be doing exactly the same thing - I've normally rather half-heartedly based my opinion on 'well, he's a good constituency MP, and it's keeping the BNP out'. So if it's time for me to approach my vote more thoughtfully, then you lot can jolly well do so as well. No excuses when I encourage you to use your vote in a month's time, please.
Edit: oh, and also - make sure you're on the bloody electoral roll and are thus entitled to a vote! The deadline is 20th April; don't get disenfranchised by accident. You can register for a vote here.
Edit2: this post is deliberately public; if you would like to link to it, feel free to do so.
Normally on election day, I would post something saying 'make sure you vote, people - it is your constitutional and civic duty to give a monkey's about your government for the next four to five years'. And I will still be doing that.
But this year, let me take this moment to say this. You have until May 6th to get educated.
No, don't look at me like I'm waggling an elderly fish at you. What I hear every sodding year is 'oooh, I don't know enough about the parties, I don't know enough about the policies, I don't know about who's running in my local area'. You know you have about four weeks. Get off your backside and do some research. Find out if your local candidates for the major parties are good sorts or not, regardless of whether you like the policy of the party at the national level. Look for any interesting independents. Think about the big issues you think are important. Check your current MP's voting record. Check numbers from previous elections.
You have four weeks or so to get yourself educated enough to make an informed choice on May 6th. With the internet, there's no excuse not to. I'm going to be doing exactly the same thing - I've normally rather half-heartedly based my opinion on 'well, he's a good constituency MP, and it's keeping the BNP out'. So if it's time for me to approach my vote more thoughtfully, then you lot can jolly well do so as well. No excuses when I encourage you to use your vote in a month's time, please.
Edit: oh, and also - make sure you're on the bloody electoral roll and are thus entitled to a vote! The deadline is 20th April; don't get disenfranchised by accident. You can register for a vote here.
Edit2: this post is deliberately public; if you would like to link to it, feel free to do so.
