Voting frequently feels futile, particularly in a very safe area for the Wrong Party. Why vote if you cannot effect change, if your single slip of paper will make no difference?
There was a local election yesterday, and my area’s strongly Conservative. The LibDems had had a decent vote in the past, and in the 2010 general election might have been a serious threat or even taken the seat if the Labour voters had switched over (which would have been a sensible tactical vote given they had no chance at that point). The LibDem shot themselves in the foot with their time in coalition and stopped being viable locally for 2015. Labour tried in the last general, but still failed.
The local election, then. What’s the point? The LibDems stand (among other things) for Remain, and I don’t believe my area’s that way inclined. Voting Labour won’t make a difference here, and there’s not even a Green Party candidate as an alternative. I considered not voting, but I believe I have a duty to take those few moments. After all, how on earth can I have the right to complain if I can’t be bothered to turn up to vote? Without a candidate I believe I can win, should I instead spoil my ballot, and at least use that to register my dissatisfaction?
In the end, I voted, and felt defeated.
In the end, the LibDems took my seat. The Conservatives still have a really strong majority in the council, but there’s a positive change. What’s wonderful is that the LibDem had a majority of just 33, so my vote made a difference.
So, the title of this post. It’s concerning matters about posting, and it’s saying that voting does matter.