EU Election - Will You Vote?

[Stimme]

Greetings, Skadi community,

in less than a week the elections begin. Are you going to vote? And if so: Who are you going to vote for?

[Thusnelda]

Yes indeed, I´m going to vote on sunday. My vote goes to a small rightwing national-conservative party named "Die Republikaner". They´ve absolutely nothing to do with the US-Republicans and oppose the current condition of the EU as well as the Lissabon treaty.

www.rep.de

Well, and for Sigurd:

Traditional costume:

She´s the daughter of the chairs(wo)man of the party, Ursula Winkelsett, and I guess she hits your likings. Now you´ve something to hunt when you´re back in greater Bavaria, don´t you?

[Patrioten]

Probably, although it feels pretty pointless. If I vote I will vote for Sverigedemokraterna, the Sweden democrats, even though their policies are slightly ridicilous and too nostalgic about the socialist wellfare state for my liking. Nationaldemokraterna, the national democrats would be a better alternative ideologically but they are so insignificant that I might as well not vote at all if I'm going to vote for them.

[Nachtengel]

No, because it's pointless and a waste of time. If something really could be achieved through voting, it would have been banned already.

[velvet]

Probably, although it feels pretty pointless. If I vote I will vote for Sverigedemokraterna, the Sweden democrats, even though their policies are slightly ridicilous and too nostalgic about the socialist wellfare state for my liking. Nationaldemokraterna, the national democrats would be a better alternative ideologically but they are so insignificant that I might as well not vote at all if I'm going to vote for them.

This is the problem of such parties, the people who think they have a good policy dont vote for them, because they think it doesnt make a difference.

But this is thought the wrong way. If you feel their policy is good, vote for them. If they get in the end only 10% or something, it is still important. And likewise important, you gave your voice not to a party that does not represent you.



@topic: I will vote, but I cant decide which one. Reps or DVU? I think the latter has a more realistic chance and their program is not that bad, actually they cover some topics that I think are important. The Reps still going rampage more than actually offering alternatives, while the DVU talks about concrete goals without going rampage. In my eyes the better tactic in the current hostile climate.

No, because it's pointless and a waste of time. If something really could be achieved through voting, it would have been banned already.

Although this is (unfortunately) true, if you dont vote you're silently included in the mainstream, that is lefties
Go voting, unless anyone starts a revolution it is the only way to fuck the left mainstream, even if it is only a little bit

You know, who doesnt vote, votes left

[Sigurd]

I was heavily intending to vote, but due to bureaucracy not able to tell me conclusively whether I need a "Wahlkarte" or whether I should go to the ballot and vote for the FPÖ in Britain (since I'm obviously on the electoral register - essentially a must) ---- with the British voting tomorrow, and a "Wahlkarte" hardly arriving within only a few days, I'm essentially left without much of a choice but not to vote - I miss the elections back home by one day (I return home on the 8th).

[Patrioten]

This is the problem of such parties, the people who think they have a good policy dont vote for them, because they think it doesnt make a difference.

But this is thought the wrong way. If you feel their policy is good, vote for them. If they get in the end only 10% or something, it is still important. And likewise important, you gave your voice not to a party that does not represent you.

They got 0.06% in the latest general election, 3064 votes in total, and my guess is that they will get even less votes in the EU elections so my vote would be in a very real sense useless. So I might as well stay home.

[Sigurd]

They got 0.06% in the latest general election, 3064 votes in total, and my guess is that they will get even less votes in the EU elections so my vote would be in a very real sense useless. So I might as well stay home.

Well, if everyone thinks that way and stays home, then they get 0 (that is ZERO) votes, and the party might eventually disband due to gaining absolutely no voter recognition.

So perhaps they will do less, but it is the relentless vote of its supporters which eventually make a party. For all you know that one vote which you do not cast, might be the one vote that makes a difference between having an MP or not.

In Austrian General Elections, within the last ten years (1999 and 2006) it has happened twice that two parties were separated by less than 1,000 votes (amongst an electorate of several million), both times involving the FPÖ (in 1999, they came 2nd a few hundred votes ahead of the ÖVP, in 2006, they came 4th a few hundred votes astern of the Greens), that's where the single vote cast or not cast makes a lot of difference.

And especially in European Elections, where the turnout is traditionally low, it must be on the top of our priorities list. Let me give you an example.

Electorate: 10,000,000 - Turnout: 75% - Party X 250,000 votes. Share of the vote - 3.3%. Usually not enough to gain a seat.
Electorate: 10,000,000 - Turnout: 40% - Party X 250,000 votes - 6.25%. Usually roundabout the threshold to gain a single seat.

[Siebenbürgerin]

Hmm, for me it's a tough call because I've not many options. The party of the German minority isn't on the list, only the Hungarian one.

I think I'll hold my nose and vote for the Greater Romania Party, although I dislike this party. But it's the only Rightist party. The other options are Liberals, Democrat-Liberals or even worse... Communists and Social-Democrats. It will be choosing the way to die: firing squad or hanging?

[Hrodnand]

I think I'll hold my nose and vote for the Greater Romania Party, although I dislike this party. But it's the only Rightist party.

Indeed, but mostly for ethnic Romanians... are you sure that's a good idea?