EU Elections - Will you be voting?

[Galant]

EU MEP Elections don't usually bring droves to the booths. This one, though, is being billed in some parts as the EU Referendum Mark II.

So quick show of hands - did you vote in the referendum and will you be voting in these MEP elections?

[spacein_vader]

Yes.

As a proportional vote in what is a very safe parliamentary and council ward area the European elections are the only ones where my vote has any impact whatsoever.

May as well take the chance to use it one last time.

[Smudger]

Yes and yes. I always vote, even in local elections.

Edit - I say 'even in local', these seem to be the ones people bother with least, but probably have far more impact on your every day life. Decisions taken at a local level will be felt far quicker than at a national level. And where parliament voting can be "a pig with a <insert colour here> rosette would get in", local elections tend to mix things up a bit.

[b0redom]

Yes. I firmly believe it's an individual's responsibility to vote every time. I'd actually go so far as to make it compulsory to vote (as it in in Australia).

[Corky34]

What's the EU? ')

[Saracen999]

What's the EU? ')

Classic.

And .... I wish.



Vote? Yes. Though with reluctance.

Did I want to be voting? Hell, no.

But our darling politicians did what they do, and said one thing then did another, and we're still in. So yes, I'll vote, because we're still rude-word in it.

And seeing as the EU (with good reason, actually) mandated that we have to take part (as a nation, I mean, not individually) I'll be voting for whoever I feel has the best chance to throw the biggest possible wrench into the EU machine, the biggest flashbang into the EU wasp's nest, stir the pot, kick the sleeping ogre, etc.

Why? Well, if the muppets we have running this country couldn't organise a bonk in a knocking shop and get us to Leave, maybe we can make the muppets running the EU so thoroughly fed up with us (and we've unintentionally made a good start, thanks to Mrs May) that they'll find a way to just kick us out, like an unwanted and somewhat obnoxious guest at a party. A good old EU-boot kicking us in the chuff may now be our best way out.

[adidan]

Yeah i'll be voting, i'm not a fan of backing the Eton Mess of Brexit in an effort to help the rich avoid paying taxes.

[b0redom]

Geniune question to those not voting. Why? Don't you want to have a say?

[Saracen999]

Geniune question to those not voting. Why? Don't you want to have a say?

I will be voting, but I'm far from convinced it amounts to having a say.

First, there's a decent chance they'll not even take their seats.

Second, if they do, how long for?


Third, I rather doubt it amounts to much in the way of us having a say, seeing as how politicians are generally experts in saying what they think we want to hear to get elected, and doing whatever the hell they feel like once they are. They can't even seem to implement a referendum vote that they said they would implement, let alone voting in EU parliament.

In other words, I think it's next best thing to utter pointlessness, but it's all we get.

[adidan]

I also have a question, do those voting look at what groups the parties are joining?

I mean, for example, the Brexit Party are in the EFDD which, amongst others, has the AfD as a member.

[Saracen999]

I also have a question, do those voting look at what groups the parties are joining?

I mean, for example, the Brexit Party are in the EFDD which, amongst others, has the AfD as a member.

Personally, no. Don't care what groups they join.

By which I mean, it's not why I vote in the EU elections. My reason is to send a signal here to certain parties about what may happen in the next UK general election. What the EU does I care not, any longer.

[TeePee]

Watching with interest, but obviously I won't be voting. My Brexit is complete...

[Ciber]

I think it's important to vote whenever asked. Otherwise how can your voice be heard? Shouting at the television when you don't like what is done does nothing. Complaining on facebook is the same. If you want Europe to be more green, vote green in the EU elections etc.. If you want to continue to have a voice in Europe, vote for that. If you want to isolated outside of Europe, vote for that.

[adidan]

Personally, no. Don't care what groups they join.

I guess it's down to the individual and how comfortable they feel with what they do.

Personally, I don't feel comfortable steamrollering ahead - I don't believe in a Democracy you can just ignore voting rules.

Different folks and all that though.

[Galant]

This is one vote where I feel one's voice will be heard in a way more clearly than usual.
A strong showing of anti-EU parties, or the opposite, could be taken as an indicator of public opinion on the Brexit matter. All the calls for a 'People's Vote' etc. would, I suspect, be bolstered by majority pro-EU results this time around.

But maybe I'm wrong, maybe no-one in the government gives a stuff. In which case, the only thing that might matter is showing the major parties that they've lost/are losing support in a major way. I've never been someone who felt that it doesn't matter which party you vote for - and I'm still not - but with regards Brexit and related topics, including the notion of the general government attitude toward their responsibilities, I'm certainly more along those lines.

[scaryjim]

... maybe no-one in the government gives a stuff. ...

The sad reality is that very few people in Parliament give a stuff, let alone in Government. It's the main reason the whole "leave the EU to take back control" line really winds me up. The poor shmucks up in Sunderland and the East Midlands who fell for it never had any control, and will not have any more control, regardless of our membership of the EU.

I'll be voting in the EU elections, the only question is which of the Pro-EU options I vote for. Given it's unknown how long we're in there for, I'd rather have someone who's passionate about making the EU work and will actually represent the nation, than someone who, when put on one of the most important committees for the UK, doesn't even bother turning up to do his actually bleeping job.

Because perhaps one of the reasons people think the EU doesn't work for the UK is because their MEPs haven't been working for the UK for at least the last decade either?