Do we take the right to vote for granted?

In the UK it could be said that we certainly take the right to vote for granted. Some of us don’t vote and aren’t even on the electoral register because we don’t care or simply can’t be bothered. Although in the rest of the world voting for women can sometimes be forbidden, for example in Saudi Arabia women are dependent on their husbands and male counter parts; they can’t vote or stand for election. So without this political representation it’s difficult for women to get things done about serious issues like rape, divorce honour killings and also forced marriages.


Even in some countries where women can vote they can still be faced with intimidation or be harmed for doing so. The Taliban in 2009 threatened to cut off women’s ink stained fingers if they went to the poll in 2009. They faced suicide bombers and being killed in a free fall of terror, if a bomb was suspected. In Zimbabwe women who voted in against the country’s dictator Robert Mugabe in 2008 were beaten and raped by his followers.


It’s so easy to take our voting rights for grated here, even though less than 100 years ago women couldn’t vote in the UK. Many made huge sacrifices and fought for the right to vote at the polls. Things changed in 1903 when Emmeline Pankhurst formed the suffragettes. The suffragettes had the passionate aim of having the right to vote, finally getting what they wanted in 1928, which was long overdue. Throughout their struggle they were imprisoned for wanting to be equal to men. Emily Davison a suffragette activist was even killed when she walked in front of the king’s horse.


Today voting gives us the chance to vote on things that matter. Be it the price of alcohol, human rights or farming policies. The problem I think in the country is that people can’t be bothered. Some people I’ve been speaking to lately think that it’s a bitching match between “two sides”. Another told me she won’t be voting because she thinks it’s a joke. Another young person told me he won’t vote because he doesn’t understand what’s going on. To be honest I don’t follow northern Irish politics, but I know which party stands for what I want. I don’t follow Northern Irish politics as I too think it’s a joke, and echoes the era from which so many have moved on from and are trying to move on from, but are held back by so few.


Some people aren’t voting for change, they’re voting with the sense of collectivism. To show they belong to whichever side. I think if voting is done right you’re party could even change every year depending on what they’re aiming to change. In an ideal world I would like fresh minded liberal people to take over the running of the country, people who are not bias or bigoted. Maybe that way we would get something done and overcome the years of petty politics.






Don’t take your vote for granted may 6th; check out these websites below if you haven’t a clue who you’re voting for. They’re simple and easy to use.


Find out what your local MP/MLA stands for etc:


http://www.votematch.org.uk/


http://www.voteforpolicies.org/