If I understand correctly, it’s close to a majority that can’t be arsed to vote. Maybe we should ask why, rather than assume these people are lazy or disinterested.
In my experience the “politics don’t affect me” or “my vote doesn’t matter” crowd is significant.
You can try engaging them and telling them that politics affects literally everything in their lives or that “the only vote that doesn’t matter is an unused vote” but I’ve found it to be ineffective.
I really don’t know what the answer is apart from waiting for things to get so shit that they are finally motivated to get out and write an X in to the box.
I think part of the issue is that we’re living in a so-called democracy that allows you to do little other than vote once every five years is part of the problem.
Belgium has compulsory voting and as a result, turnover of c. 90%. I am not sure if this is the answer but it may be a compulsory voting so everyone must move their arse to the ballot box (plus all the recommendations in the article, ie for over 16y/o and for tax paying residents).
I would also include more direct democracy (ie referendums) Swiss style BUT with a simple test showing knowledge of a subject before being allowed to vote (to eliminate idiots who for instance thought UK were paying £350 million per week to the EU).
If I understand correctly, it’s close to a majority that can’t be arsed to vote. Maybe we should ask why, rather than assume these people are lazy or disinterested.
In my experience the “politics don’t affect me” or “my vote doesn’t matter” crowd is significant.
You can try engaging them and telling them that politics affects literally everything in their lives or that “the only vote that doesn’t matter is an unused vote” but I’ve found it to be ineffective.
I really don’t know what the answer is apart from waiting for things to get so shit that they are finally motivated to get out and write an X in to the box.
I think part of the issue is that we’re living in a so-called democracy that allows you to do little other than vote once every five years is part of the problem.
Belgium has compulsory voting and as a result, turnover of c. 90%. I am not sure if this is the answer but it may be a compulsory voting so everyone must move their arse to the ballot box (plus all the recommendations in the article, ie for over 16y/o and for tax paying residents).
I would also include more direct democracy (ie referendums) Swiss style BUT with a simple test showing knowledge of a subject before being allowed to vote (to eliminate idiots who for instance thought UK were paying £350 million per week to the EU).
It’s something that’s been asked repeatedly. Besides lazy or disinterested, a lot of them are also really, really dumb