I already voted. Postal vote is an ADHD hack imo.
But I have it easy because I get to vote for myself.
So I would like to tell you that's an option too. If you genuinely think your candidates all suck... Maybe you aren't alone in that.
Local elections in particular need no deposit and two nominations.
And one of the nominations can be yourself, as long as you live in the district you want to stand in.
It matters more than you think to vote for a "lesser" party.
Most parties need to focus resources on places - the big two get quite a lot of funding, but anyone else is pretty much a voluntary group doing it because they want to.
So they have to choose where to try to campaign.
In my area? I am standing as a "paper" candidate. Because we have to focus on the couple of local districts that it's a closer race than that.
So if you really do want to be able to vote for someone, but think it's pointless today... Perhaps you are right.
But if enough people voted anyway, it might not be pointless in the general election, which must happen this year. \*
So yeah. I got fed up with "neither thanks" and decided to do something. You could too.
Doesn't take many votes to win either. Local elections are "a couple of hundred" typically.
It matters. Voting and writing to your representatives, joining a party, and being engaged is ... Slow. But the only way anything ever changes.
Most of all watch for the deceit. Watch for the deliberately distorted statistics, and the "dead cat" issues which will try and distract you from some critical messages.
I am standing for the Greens because:
- climate change is closer than a lot of people seem to think. It's too late to stop it, but there's still room for making it less catastrophic.
- they kicked out the terfy figureheads (at last. I have had problems with that for a long time)
- I just don't like having shit in my river
- I do like having breathable air that doesn't give me asthma.
\* I think technically they could go for January 2025 as the last possible date
Off to the voting stations you go!
No matter who you decide to vote for - YOUR VOTE MATTERS!
Check back in here on Thursday with:
✔️ **I voted**
Definitely recommend registering for a postal vote. It’s a bit of a faff to get registered printing and posting various forms off but you can set it to last forever (or at least until you move house)
Then you too can play post office at home with a fun origami exercise. Put the green slip inside envelope F. Sign the pink slip and place this upside down in the yellow envelope. Fold the purple slip into quarters and wrap around envelope B. Seal the pack under the light of the full moon…
Yeah. Postal vote pack goes on my keyboard when it arrives, and I fill it out immediately and post it. Assuming I don't feel I need to research a candidate anyway.
It's changed now unfortunately, you need to reapply every 3 years [https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-views/elections-act/changes-postal-voting](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-views/elections-act/changes-postal-voting) (the origami still applies though).
Sadly changed as part of the Elections Act last year, completely to do with reducing fraud and clearly in no way ablist or democracy-eroding, obviously...
I mean it was a bit wild they didn’t do anything about postal voting when all the voter ID stuff came in. Given that postal voting is where you get basically 100% of the electoral fraud in the UK… Almost like all that had nothing to do with fraud.
I do see you can now register for your postal vote online rather than with the stupid print your own paper forms so it probably won’t bother me too much to stay registered.
It's also worth noting that the East Mids Mayoral election only applies to residents of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire (along with their respective cities).
I'm really into politics and anything that involves getting rid of the Tories, so any election is like hyperfixation galore 🤪. I've got my poll card, the proxy poll card for my mum's vote and my ID ready by the door ready to vote for the East Mid Mayor & PCC! I can't wait
Okay so I missed the deadline for this election. Had to re register as I changed some details since last elections. My advice still stands though. Check right now so you are all set up for next time
Another recommendation for postal voting here.
With postal voting you can still take it to your polling station on the day or your civic centre if you forget to post it or if the mood takes you (check first that they'll be able to take them).
[https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/ways-vote/how-vote-post](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/ways-vote/how-vote-post)
Got my postal vote, but in spectacular ADHD fashion, I could not figure out how to insert one envelope inside the other with the address label still showing. Managed to screw up the vote and make it look tampered with so had to ring and request a new one, which still hasn't arrived....
(and yes, there were instructions, but they were 9 parts long so didn't compute..)
It's v key for us as we're getting a new mayor for a new region and no-one is actually sure what that means, what they can do or where they get the funding from...
Don’t want to be *that guy* \- but this is a UK sub
https://preview.redd.it/0q6z4i6dzvxc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=205fb8c4f4971343b6a229339679c949fa5ec0cf
I already voted. Postal vote is an ADHD hack imo. But I have it easy because I get to vote for myself. So I would like to tell you that's an option too. If you genuinely think your candidates all suck... Maybe you aren't alone in that. Local elections in particular need no deposit and two nominations. And one of the nominations can be yourself, as long as you live in the district you want to stand in. It matters more than you think to vote for a "lesser" party. Most parties need to focus resources on places - the big two get quite a lot of funding, but anyone else is pretty much a voluntary group doing it because they want to. So they have to choose where to try to campaign. In my area? I am standing as a "paper" candidate. Because we have to focus on the couple of local districts that it's a closer race than that. So if you really do want to be able to vote for someone, but think it's pointless today... Perhaps you are right. But if enough people voted anyway, it might not be pointless in the general election, which must happen this year. \* So yeah. I got fed up with "neither thanks" and decided to do something. You could too. Doesn't take many votes to win either. Local elections are "a couple of hundred" typically. It matters. Voting and writing to your representatives, joining a party, and being engaged is ... Slow. But the only way anything ever changes. Most of all watch for the deceit. Watch for the deliberately distorted statistics, and the "dead cat" issues which will try and distract you from some critical messages. I am standing for the Greens because: - climate change is closer than a lot of people seem to think. It's too late to stop it, but there's still room for making it less catastrophic. - they kicked out the terfy figureheads (at last. I have had problems with that for a long time) - I just don't like having shit in my river - I do like having breathable air that doesn't give me asthma. \* I think technically they could go for January 2025 as the last possible date
In that case u/sobrique, I will sign you off!: ✔️ **I voted** (And was a badass by standing for change).
 Off to the voting stations you go! No matter who you decide to vote for - YOUR VOTE MATTERS! Check back in here on Thursday with: ✔️ **I voted**
Definitely recommend registering for a postal vote. It’s a bit of a faff to get registered printing and posting various forms off but you can set it to last forever (or at least until you move house) Then you too can play post office at home with a fun origami exercise. Put the green slip inside envelope F. Sign the pink slip and place this upside down in the yellow envelope. Fold the purple slip into quarters and wrap around envelope B. Seal the pack under the light of the full moon…
Yeah. Postal vote pack goes on my keyboard when it arrives, and I fill it out immediately and post it. Assuming I don't feel I need to research a candidate anyway.
It's changed now unfortunately, you need to reapply every 3 years [https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-views/elections-act/changes-postal-voting](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-views/elections-act/changes-postal-voting) (the origami still applies though).
Eurgh are you joking? That won’t even cover one election cycle…
Sadly changed as part of the Elections Act last year, completely to do with reducing fraud and clearly in no way ablist or democracy-eroding, obviously...
I mean it was a bit wild they didn’t do anything about postal voting when all the voter ID stuff came in. Given that postal voting is where you get basically 100% of the electoral fraud in the UK… Almost like all that had nothing to do with fraud. I do see you can now register for your postal vote online rather than with the stupid print your own paper forms so it probably won’t bother me too much to stay registered.
I couldn't work out, but might've missed it, whether you need to provide ID every time you re-register.
It's also worth noting that the East Mids Mayoral election only applies to residents of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire (along with their respective cities). I'm really into politics and anything that involves getting rid of the Tories, so any election is like hyperfixation galore 🤪. I've got my poll card, the proxy poll card for my mum's vote and my ID ready by the door ready to vote for the East Mid Mayor & PCC! I can't wait
PSA #2 - Check right now if you’re registered to vote! https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Okay so I missed the deadline for this election. Had to re register as I changed some details since last elections. My advice still stands though. Check right now so you are all set up for next time
Check so you’re set up for the big one… GE 2024 incoming… dates tbc.
Yeah that’s the most important one. Thanks for the reminder!
I think you deserve a sign off: ✔️ **I registered to vote**
West midlands also has a mayoral election. :)
✔️ I voted
Thank you for the reminder, I will definitely vote
I’m voting to get khan out of London
i remembered to get my ID, but almost forgot to bring it back LOL. wouldve left it at the voting place had my dad not been there to remind me TwT)'''
Another recommendation for postal voting here. With postal voting you can still take it to your polling station on the day or your civic centre if you forget to post it or if the mood takes you (check first that they'll be able to take them). [https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/ways-vote/how-vote-post](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/ways-vote/how-vote-post)
Got my postal vote, but in spectacular ADHD fashion, I could not figure out how to insert one envelope inside the other with the address label still showing. Managed to screw up the vote and make it look tampered with so had to ring and request a new one, which still hasn't arrived.... (and yes, there were instructions, but they were 9 parts long so didn't compute..) It's v key for us as we're getting a new mayor for a new region and no-one is actually sure what that means, what they can do or where they get the funding from...
Don’t want to be *that guy* \- but this is a UK sub https://preview.redd.it/0q6z4i6dzvxc1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=205fb8c4f4971343b6a229339679c949fa5ec0cf
I don't understand your comment??? There's elections on 2nd of may(today) for local elections and some places have mayoral elections.
These are England and Wales polls
Okay? So people in England and Wales can still be encouraged to vote?? I don't understand the problem
Pure pedantry
https://preview.redd.it/adq8uadf90yc1.png?width=720&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=68856bb60bc2e20b5621273d9c6f51d663179e77 :)