Why should I bother voting in Cumbria?

Amid all the debate and drama of the General Election build up, you wouldn’t be the first to think ‘why should I even bother voting?’

The number of people voting in elections has declined rapidly since 1997 and factors ranging from age to health and political disengagement have been blamed for the drop.

Many people choose not to vote because they don’t like any of the parties up for election or they have little to no confidence that they have a say in what the Government does.

Other people may face more practical struggles like life events getting in the way, being in a difficult living situation or being unable to physically get to a polling station.

But there are ways to make your voice heard even if you think you can’t – or don’t want to – vote.

So, why should I vote?

Put simply – voting is a quick and easy chance to have your say on the way the country is run.

The party and MPs elected into power by voters have a direct impact on your life. They’re the ones making decisions on big issues relating to things like the NHS, housing, education, the environment, taxation and more.

Voting gives you the chance to choose candidates that will best represent your views in parliament and policy creation.

But if you really don’t want to vote for a political party – there are ways you can use your vote to speak out or making a complaint about the way the country is being run.

If you don’t vote – you will have no say at all on the future of the country.

It’s also your democratic right to vote and several movements throughout history have campaigned to allow people of all genders, races and class backgrounds the right to vote.

Still don’t want to vote? Leave your ballot blank or spoil it instead

If you don’t feel represented by any political parties up for election – you can spoil your ballot or leave it blank.

Not voting at all means that if you’re choosing not to vote for a reason, your reason will go unheard, and you will be another non-voter statistic.

But if you go to a polling station or apply for a postal vote and either spoil your ballot or leave it blank – your voice is counted.

Spoiled and blank votes are read out aloud at the count and are included with the results in future reports.

Will my vote make a difference?

Voting can make a difference in a number of different ways.

While many people choose not to vote because they feel parties up for election do not represent them – parties may only feel the incentive to develop policies that are relevant to the people who turn up to vote.

Voter turnout is considered an indicator of democratic health – so when levels of non-voters rise, candidates elected to run the country are considered to be less representative of the people they serve.

According to a 2021 study carried out by House of Commons Library, those aged 65 years and over have consistently turned out more to vote than those ages between 18 and 24 years old.

Experts claim this creates ageing democracies that skew policymaking in favour of older voters.

Large numbers of spoiled or blank votes can also cause political parties to reassess their campaign in a bid to reengage with voters.

Why should I care about voting in a local MP?

Voting in an MP for your area allows you to have a say on who is representing your area in parliament.

MP’s are responsible for voting on and debating national policy creation and raising local issues that can often directly impact you to central Government.

This means in Cumbria they can have a say on things like water pollution, housing, second home problems and NHS and dentist issues.

Voting can keep an MP in their post or remove them so another candidate can step forward.

Who’s running to be my local MP?

There are over 26 candidates running to be MPs for constituencies across Cumbria.

We asked the candidates declared so far a bit about themselves and what they are offering the electorate if they are successful in the 2024 General Election.

Cumbria Crack has not edited their answers – they are talking directly to you.

Okay, how do I vote?

The general election will take place on July 4 2024. If you want to vote, you must register to do so by June 18 at 11.59pm.

Once you’ve registered to vote, you will be sent a poll card just before the election telling you when to vote and which polling station you should go to.

You can only vote at the polling station location on your card. You do not have to take your poll card with you.

If you have not received a poll card but think you should, make sure you contact your local Electoral Registration Office.

You can still vote if you’ve lost your poll card and you don’t need to bring it with you.

You will also need to show a form of ID when voting in person – suitable forms include a full driver’s licence or provisional, a passport, a PASS card, a blue badge, an elderly person’s bus pass, a disabled person’s bus pass or an anonymous elector’s document.

If you do not have photo ID, you must apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

What happens once I’m in the polling station?

Once you’re in the polling station – give your name and address to the staff inside the polling station when you arrive.

You’ll need to show your photo ID to confirm your identity.

You’ll be given a ballot paper containing a list of the people, parties or options you can vote for. You can also leave the ballot blank or spoil it.

I have a disability, will my polling station be accessible?

If you have a disability, your local Electoral Registration Office can tell you about:

Physical access, for example wheelchair ramps and disabled parking spaces
Low-level polling booths
Any specific equipment you need

All polling station’s must provide at least one large print display version of the ballot paper

What if I can’t get to a polling station to vote?

You can apply to vote by post if you cannot get to a polling station.

If you want to apply for a postal vote online, you must apply by 5pm on 19 June 2024.

If you want to apply for a postal vote by post, you must get your postal vote application to your local Electoral Registration Office by 5pm on 19 June 2024.

When you vote by post, make sure you:

Mark your vote on your ballot paper in secret
Fill in the postal voting statement
Put the ballot and statement in the envelope provided
Seal the envelope yourself

You should post your ballot back as quickly as possible to make sure it is counted.

If you cannot vote via postal vote – you can opt for a proxy vote instead.

Can I vote on behalf of someone else?

You can apply for a proxy vote under the following circumstances.

Being away on polling day
Being registered as an overseas voter
Having a medical issue or disability
Not being able to vote in person because of work or military service

Your proxy should be someone you trust to vote on your behalf. You’ll need to tell them exactly how you want your ballot to be filled out.

They must also bring their own photo ID with them. They must also be:

Registered to vote
Allowed to vote in the type of election taking place
Able to vote in the polling station stated on your poll card

You must apply for a proxy vote by 5pm, at least six working days before election day in England.

If the proxy vote deadline passes – you may be able to apply for an emergency proxy vote if you meet the following criteria:

You cannot vote in person because of a medical emergency or disability
You cannot vote in person because of your employment
The photo ID you were planning on using to vote has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed
You’ve not yet received a new or replacement photo ID you’ve ordered

In England, you have until 5pm on the day of the election to apply.

I’m on holiday or away on the day of the election – what should I do?

If you’re on holiday or away on the day of the election, you can vote by post or by proxy instead.

You must make your arrangements to vote in advance. If the election is less than two weeks away and you have not made arrangements yet, apply to vote by proxy.

Your postal ballot will be sent to the address you’ve chosen no earlier than 16 days before the election. You need to return your ballot before 10pm on polling day.