To vote or not to vote?

Potential Exam Questions

Explain, in detail, why people choose not to vote

Explain, in detail, why people use their right to vote

Russell Brand – ‘Don’t vote’

In 2013, Russell Brand encouraged people not to vote

Watch the interview with Brand and Jeremy Paxman and answer the question below

Why does Russell Brand not use his right vote?

Does your vote always count?

In UK General Elections, only one party can win in each area

Why then, would a Conservative voter here in Cumbernauld be turned off of voting in the 2015 election?

Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East – 2010 Election Result

Labour – 23,549 SNP – 9,794 Lib Dem – 3,924 Conservative – 3,407

Reasons For Not Voting

People, like Brand, don’t feel the system represents them very well and only serve the interests of the rich

Some people don’t feel their vote will make a difference as the system is unfair (see previous slide)

The candidates on offer might not be to a voter’s liking Elections are often predictable due to the wide range of

opinion polls that are carried out. Therefore people see little point in joining in

Why do people vote?

Think back to earlier in this course to help you with this task

Create a mind map which shows at least four reasons why people use their vote

Be ready to share these with the rest of the class

Why people vote? – Some ideas

They see it as their duty – people have given up a lot in the past to allow us to vote

The election in their area will be very close – their vote could make a difference They are passionate about the outcome, for example the referendum coming

up in September Can you really complain about the winners when you didn’t take part in the

election? They have been persuaded to vote by an effective campaign Protest against what the current government is doing, for example the

Bedroom tax