If you’ve been anywhere near Hallward lately, you will have noticed the brightly coloured banners and smiley people handing out sweets and trying to get your attention – yes, it’s election time once again. The majority of us will have been attempting to avoid it like the plague, highlighted by the 11.1% turnout so far.* Even the general turnout at the last UK elections in 2010 were better, with over 65.1% of our population ultimately pushing Dave and Nick into a coalition, but even that’s pretty abysmal when you compare it to Malta and Austria, whose turnouts regularly hit the 90s.
So England doesn’t seem to have as much interest in or incentive to vote as it could do – maybe the Tories need to be standing in the streets handing out sweets? Her Campus Nottingham has 5 reasons why voting is cool and why us uni kids should be doing it. So get voting everyone!
1. It proves you are grown up
The ability to vote is something we are granted on turning 18. The ability to buy alcohol is also something we are granted on turning 18. It’s not hard to guess which one is taken the most advantage of. So why not use and abuse ALL the powers that adulthood brings?
2. It makes you sound smart and sophisticated
On a similar note, not only does voting make you sound mature, but you also appear wise and dignified. You know: ‘Oh look at me, I just voted’. You are now considered old and smart enough to have a say in the running of your country (or your SU). Oh yeah.
3. It embraces democracy, freedom & equality
We really don’t realise how lucky we are. Living in a democracy means that our choice counts, whereas many places around the world don’t even have this option. So why be stuck in the times of Henry VIII – now WE choose who rules. The alternative is very crudely stereotyped by this guy:
4. It shows you care about your life and country
Participating in elections is our way of acknowledging that we actually care about the circumstances we live in. How many times have you heard variations of ‘Our government doesn’t know what they’re doing’ etc. etc.? If you’re not happy with certain policies, VOTE to try to make a difference.
“All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing.” Don’t be that nothing.
5. Procrastination
If this article is really failing to convince you to vote, then why not use voting as a bit of a break? We know essay deadlines are looming – take out 10 minutes to browse through our HC interviews and the SU manifestos, and then try to assess who you think is best. Not only will you be investing your mind in something other than Shakespearean literature, you’ll also be honing those decision-making skills that employers are always looking for!
P.S…
We know how much time, money and energy you spend voting for the People’s Choice Awards/X-Factor/Celebrity Big Brother. We know you have those voting skills, so use them. Maybe if you imagine all the SU candidates attempting to survive in the jungle together it would make it easier?
Voting for the Nottingham SU elections closes at 3pm on Friday 14th March.
View all manifestos here: http://www.studentleaderelections.co.uk/
And vote after logging in here: https://webapps.nottingham.ac.uk/su/auth
Go go go!
*Data is correct at time of publication.
Edited by Luisa Parnell
Sources:
http://www.ukpolitical.info/Turnout45.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voter_turnout
http://www.studentleaderelections.co.uk/