Did you know that only 1 out of every 323 voters votes in the UK actually make a difference?
This site gives a list of the previous 12 election results and the number of votes that made the difference. It’s very interesting reading.
The Do You Count? website takes this and then works out whether or not you can make a difference to the forthcoming election. All that’s required is for you to provide your postcode. The site works out your constituency and determines, based on the majority in the 2001 election, whether you can make a difference or not… here’s what my result is:
YOU DON’T COUNT
Held by: Labour
Your outgoing MP is: Colin Challen
Majority last election: 12090
You are in a SAFE seat. Only an earthquake would shift the current holder of the seat.
It doesn’t really make a difference who you vote for in this constituency as it’s almost certainly going to be held by the Labour party (which had a majority of 12090 at the last election).
To go into it deeper, these were the actual results from where I live in 2001:
| Name | Party | Votes | %age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stewart Golton | Liberal Democrats | 5446 | 14.16 |
| John Bardsley | UKIP | 1248 | 3.24 |
| Colin Challen | Labour | 21919 | 57.01 |
| David Schofield | Conservative | 9829 | 25.56 |
As the Do You Count? site says, this doesn’t mean there is nothing I, or indeed we, can do.
Here are some suggestions given by the site for action. Lobby your MP about electoral reform (when they get back to work!) Sign a petition calling for electoral reform.
If, however, you’ve decided not to vote, or are planning not to vote, then tell the world why! Show them you’re not apathetic and you have real concerns and reasons for not voting.
I’d be very interested to hear from anyone who chooses to use these sites, whether you’re in a safe seat or not. Please use the comment form below to get in touch – it does require a little bit of time first, but it’s worth it, right?
