Democracy

[tinyjo]

So, I have votes today. In fact, I have 3. Everyone’s been making so much fuss about a potential low turnout but actually, when it came up in the pub, most of the gang seem to have a view - I wonder how many of us will vote. I'm planning to, but it's easy for me cos its on my way home.

And by the way, bugger! I have just got an Egg card so that I can check my details on the net and Lloyds have gone set up my old credit card on the net finally! Typical

Comments

[zoo-music-girl.livejournal.com]

Internet banking is the greatest. I should get my credit card online I guess, since I've got two other accounts online and I love it.

I am bad. I am clueless as to what's happening and who's who in my ward so I am not voting.

I decided I wanted a mayor

[cleanskies.livejournal.com]

Why not, I thought? Sneaking suspicion that it's because I like chains and robes.

In the end I decided no mayor (Re: I decided I wanted a mayor)

[(Anonymous)]

we already have the chain-wearing sort -- our Lord Mayor will continue to do ceremonial functions (at least according to the BBC web site).

In the end I decided to be all Australian and decline to have a mayor elected through a system I didn't approve of. First-past-the-post discriminates against moderate candidates (they are likely to have their vote split with other moderate candidates), leasing to unappealing run-offs between two extreme candidates (like the USA presidential elections). A mayor elected via STV or Approval voting sounds more appealing.

I also thought the same when voting for 2 councillors. I wanted to be able to vote for 1 person each from 2 parties, not caring which particular one from each party was elected. There is no way to represent this on our ballots.

Re: In the end I decided no mayor (Re: I decided I wanted a mayor)

[oxfordslacker.livejournal.com]

Archie and I had the same problem. We couldn't remember which of the two Green candidates was prettiest, and that was the only piece of information we had to distinguish between them... In the end, I voted for the Lib Dem and Green candidates that came first in the alphabet, and Archie (says he) voted for the other two. Afterwards we wondered whether we should both have voted for the same people, to give them a better chance rather than spreading our votes. However, how would we have chosen which ones (except by the aforementioned attractiveness criterion, which is not necessarily a good indicator of political prowess)? Tricky.

Deciding 'fuck that mayor shit' was easy, though.

[redtangent.livejournal.com]

I planned to vote, but I'm in the States and forgot to arrange a postal vote. I've been out here two weeks, and would have had to arrange it 4 weeks ago.

There was next to no coverage of the election before I left, and the opportunity passed me by. I wish it could be easier for people like me in this situation.

[barberio.livejournal.com]

I dont get to vote today. This district had it byelection early due to a retirement.

I wouldn't have minded having a mayor but am too far away

[jinty]

Hmm. I have disenfranchised myself, methinks. Surely there was some form I should have filled out to get a postal vote? But it would have missed out the fun of voting on the sleepy day after May morning, anyway... sigh; now May morning I did miss.