Election

[the_lady_lily]

I'm sure you all remember this post. The one I made when the general election date was formally announced. When I asked you all to start thinking about your vote, about the policies, about the issues, about the candidates running in your local area, because I was going to tell you to vote on May 6th and I didn't want to hear any whinges about 'oooh, I don't know enough to vote' or 'but it doesn't make any difference anyway'.

So, have you started educating yourself? I know I've made up my mind the best I can, as I sent my postal vote off yesterday; are you ready to enter the ballot box yet?

Maybe not. Maybe you want to see the last leaders' debate tonight before committing yourself. Maybe you're waiting on replies from your local candidates to e-mails and letters you've sent them. Fine - that's all evidence-based reasoning. But if you are still mithering around worrying about not having an opinion, it's high time to form one.

I suggest you start with the BBC's very helpful policy comparison website, which will tell you precisely what parties think about issues that may be of interest to you and shows you their manifesto pledges side by side. From there, you can explore the whole of the BBC election site, which is full of helpful information.

If you have been thinking about all this hung parliament malarky, then I recommend you pop over to Hang 'Em, which has some thoughts on the subject. In the interests of full disclosure, that is partly powered by libellum.

There's a week to go. There's still time to make an educated decision. Make sure you do.

Feel free to propagate this public post if you wish.

Comments

Election

[miriammoules.livejournal.com]

I would also suggest http://www.voterpower.org.uk and the policy match websites. They work for you is another good resource. Check out the memo to the minister as well from newsnight.

Re: Election

[the-lady-lily.livejournal.com]

Thanks - never hurts to have plenty of links in one place :)

[medieval-bunny.livejournal.com]

I too have already sent off my postal vote, as I will be out of the country next week at a conference.
I feel I have exercised my democratic right with all the sufficient data (but it's so much more interesting with the 3-horse hung-parliament possibilities!)
:-)

[the-lady-lily.livejournal.com]

Usually I'm all about posting the 'VOTE TODAY!' thingummie on the day of the election. I'm kind of feeling quite invested in making people think this time around. And yes, the hung parliament option is definitely making this the most exciting election I can ever remember!

[ixwin.livejournal.com]

I'm fairly happy with my parliamentary voting decision, but it's been frustrating how much that's eclipsed the council elections happening at the same time - I've had a bit of bumf from the Conservatives on it, but nothing more than names & photos as an effective afterthought on parliamentary material from the other two parties, and the local paper hasn't had anything I've seen either.

[the-lady-lily.livejournal.com]

I didn't actually get a council voting form, which was interesting; I used to, but I guess I've been out of the country for too long now.