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Time to make a difference
Are you over 18?
If you are, and have registered to vote, you have the right to vote in the local district council elections.
‘Yeah, but why should I vote - my vote won’t make any difference and they never do anything for me?’
You might say that but your district council controls a range of things in your area that you might be interested in.
1. Planning – The district council controls planning issues in your area and they can determine the number and type of house built in your town or village. So if you want more cheaper houses in your area you will need to vote for candidates who support that idea. Equally if you want to see more wind farms then you will need to support candidates who think like you.
2. Refuse Collection and recycling - district councils are also responsible for this so you will need to look for candidates who support your views.
3. Leisure facilities – Swimming Pools, parks etc are under their control so again look out for candidates with the right policies for you.
You may decide that it’s not the local issues that you want to vote about but the national or international situation and here’s a chance for you to express those views through the ballot box.
Even though the government isn’t up for re-election the way you vote together with the opinion polls will give the government, and all the other parties a stir on what the country wants.
If you want your voice to be heard then you need to get involved. All the political parties are run by small groups of people who are active at the local level and if you want to have any say in how those parties develop their policies then you need to be in at this grassroots level. Sometimes your ideas can cause a government to change its mind and develop in a new way.
It may seem surprising now but just over a hundred years ago there was no Labour Party and if it had not been for a few dedicated people working for it there never would have been. In more recent times we have seen the re-growth of the Liberals and start of the Green Party. Even the Conservatives have gone through periods where they have kept the name but changed radically from inside. But it can only happen if you get involved.
Go on use your vote and wake them up
Disclaimer, Target Audience, Jurisdiction Last updated & checked: 30/03/2006