Women Fought for the Right to Vote Why You Should Never Waste Yours ...

How do you feel about elections? Do you dither about which party should get your vote, or wonder if it's worth voting at all? Voter apathy is common, and many younger people feel that politicians don't represent them or understand their point of view. But voting is important, and even if you're not a big fan of any party here's why you shouldn't waste your vote …

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:

Women Denied the Right to Vote

It's not all that long since women gained the right to vote. Even now, in some countries, women may have the right to vote, but often don't use it because of social conventions. Don't you think that those women would like to be able to use their vote and have a say in how their country is governed? It's a shame to waste your vote …

You Can't Complain if You Don't Vote!

We all love complaining about our governments and elected representatives. But if you don't vote, then you really shouldn't complain, as you did nothing to stop them being elected! Voting may not lead to the perfect system, and we won't agree with everything the party we vote for does. But abstaining does make it difficult to justify complaining …

Frequently asked questions

It Influences Policy

It may not seem that an individual vote has any effect, but if everyone who says that did actually vote, then all those votes will add up. We can influence policy by voting for a party who has the policies we believe in. It can also have an effect if you tell the politicians campaigning for your vote what you want them to do - some of them do listen!

Nothing Changes if You Don't Vote

I know it seems that nothing changes in politics - it's the same old faces and parties. But there's one thing you can be sure of if you don't vote - nothing will change. Put your vote in the box, however, and there is a chance of changes occurring. Abstaining and apathy are guaranteed to have a negative result.

Representative of the People

If only a certain demographic votes, the policies of the party they elect will only represent that group and what they want. The more people that vote, the more the government will be representative of the people it governs. Just because you're young doesn't mean that you shouldn't have a say - you have a right to vote.

Have a Say on Issues That Affect You

You may think that politics has nothing to do with you, but that's not the case. The decisions that politicians take affect every part of our lives. From relations with other countries to financial issues, from education to healthcare, politics is there every single day. Be part of the process by having a say on issues that concern you.

It's a Right That People Are Still Denied

At least we can be certain that in western democracies we have fair and free elections, where we can cast our vote anonymously. In some countries, votes are manipulated and people may even be threatened to make them vote a certain way. You can vote freely, so don't waste that precious right.

So once you gain the right to vote, use it, whether in local or national elections. What do you think are the most important issues facing young women today?

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

Great post, Alison! Every woman over 18 should be finding out where their candidates stand relative to women's health and reproductive rights...and if you are under 18, you should be educating yourself about the same issues! And you should also make certain you can square your political views with your political views, and understand the difference between the two. Voting is a right for which people, especially women, have risked their lives, Fallujah comes to mind, so no woman should take the right to vote for granted. One thing that has always bothered me, however, is the admonition "don't complain if you don't vote." We live in a free country, and everyone has the right to express an opinion, whether they have voted or not. Yes, it is noble to believe that every vote counts, and that we count every vote. But anyone remotely familiar with our electoral system knows this grade school civics class mentality is pure Pollyanna. VOTE, ladies! But don't let your failure to vote discourage you from speaking out: you have the Constitutional right to both 💪

My mother was 29 years old before the law was passed for votes for all women. However,women were expected to vote the same as their husbands .law was passed in 1918 for women over 30 who had the minimum requirement of property but in 1928 all women over 21 had a vote. I urge my daughters both not to waste their votes in our national election this week.

Even if you don't vote, you can still be selected for the oh-so-FUN jury duty.

I wanted Labour to win because they put the working class families like my family first but conservative put the rich first ;/

i agree as a woman voting is so important and we do take it for granted. however it is still up to an individual if they choose to vote or not.

Categories