Thinking about not voting...? Here's ten reasons why you should.
1. It’s quick and easy. It takes no more than ten minutes and polling stations are open between 7am and 10pm.
2. It’s free. What have you got to lose? If you’re willing to vote for your favourite contestant to win X-Factor every Saturday night, but you’re not willing to vote, you’ve got your priorities wrong.
3. You can’t complain if you don’t vote. Yes, it’s frustrating when cuts are happening right left and centre, but unless you try and make a difference, you’ve got no right to moan.
4. Decide how your money is spent. We all pay taxes, so you might as well influence how those taxes are spent.
5. Prove them wrong if you’re young! There’s a common misconception that if you’re young, you probably don’t care about voting. Prove them wrong! The younger you are, the longer you’ll have to live with consequences of this election.
6. Vote because you can! Women were arrested, jailed, beaten, chained and killed fighting for the right to vote. And in some countries, such as Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, members of the armed forces are banned from voting. So why pass up your chance?
7. It only (usually) happens every five years…so now is a real chance to make a difference.
8. Low voter turnout threatens democracy. In 2010, only two thirds of eligible people actually voted. Even if you don’t like any candidates, you can make a point by going along and ‘spoiling’ your ballot paper.
9. It’s anonymous. Nobody has to know which party you voted for.
10. It’s important. Like them or not, the MPs and the Prime Minister will shape the future of your country.
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