Election: A Call to Arms: Register to Vote by May 22

Most Londoners are in a bind. They voted overwhelmingly to stay in the EU but there is no strong party still fighting against Brexit, even though last year’s referendum on leaving the EU was merely an advisory poll rather than a legally binding one. Labour has gone along with Brexit while the only national parties that are committed to trying to stay in the EU, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens, have a grand total of 10 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons.

Theresa May has called the June 8 election knowing that Labour is in disarray and that the scheduled election date of 2020 would have been dangerous for the Conservatives because by then the true price of Brexit would be clear. It all feels incredibly fatalistic but voting is never in vain. There’s still so much to fight for, whether you’re a Tory, a Liberal, a Remainer or a Brexiteer.

First off, you can’t complain about how the country is run if you refuse to have your say.  It isn’t just about getting your party in power, as many politicians consider voter turnout when making policy decisions. If your age group doesn’t vote you won’t be prioritised, plain and simple. Having a voice is half the battle.

Some constituencies are considered “safe seats”, as their winning party hasn’t changed in years but if we’ve learned anything over the last year, it’s that nothing is predictable anymore. Brexit is set to cause commotion across constituencies so “safe” is no longer certain.

Your Voice: Use It or Lose It

Even if your party doesn’t get in, your vote helps your preferred candidate. They receive funding and won’t lose their ballot deposit if they receive enough votes. Voting for them now means they’ll be able to keep fighting for you in future.

If you don’t feel like anyone represents you then that’s okay too – you can leave your ballot paper blank. You will tell your government exactly what you think of them and you won’t be another stay-at-home statistic where everyone assumes you just don’t give a shit.

Talking About Your Generation

Turnout is particularly low among younger voters and with attitudes to Brexit differing wildly between age groups, it’s more important than ever to make sure young people have their say.

There’s still real bitterness between the generations over the referendum result but young non-voters should take some of the blame. Don’t just vote alone: hold your friends, family and peers accountable for their inaction.

Register Right Now

You can only vote if you’re registered at your current address and constituency. This is a particular issue for students, newcomers and people who have recently changed address. The deadline for registering is May 22 so register NOW! You can update your address or register online here. It takes about five minutes and all most people need is their National Insurance number. If you’re a British citizen living abroad you will also need your passport.

If you’re going to be on holiday or away from your constituency on June 8 you can vote by proxy or post. Both options also require online registration. Proxy allows someone else to cast your vote for you and postal voting is pretty self-explanatory. A postal vote allows you to avoid packed polling stations and removes any risk that something will keep you away from the ballot box.

If you have any doubt at all about whether you’ll be able to vote in person, do it by post. Register early and you can have your ballot paper sent to you rather than having to print it yourself.

London Needs You

There’s no excuse for not voting. It’s dangerous for all sides to think that a Tory win is a dead cert. If you’re a Conservative, you need to help your party retain its hold. If you’re one of London’s Remain majority and you still want to influence whether and how we leave the EU then this election is your last shot.

Even if the Tories stay in power the loss of some seats will reduce their control. It might be too late to stay in the EU, as even the unlikely prospect of a Labour/Lib Dem coalition might stick with Brexit, but MPs who support the EU could try to minimise the disruption.

A surge of support for pro-Remain candidates and the defeat of MPs keen on a “hard” Brexit could make Westminster look for a softer exit from the EU. So find out which candidate in your electorate is most likely to advance your cause on Brexit.

London is a young, anti-Brexit city. It’s one of the last refuges for Remainers and it’s vital that every one of us turns out on Election Day. You wouldn’t let someone else choose your lunch order, so why on earth would you let them decide your leader? Register now and be ready for the fight on June 8.

 

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