The state of politics in the world today can seem, at best, murky. It can be difficult to know who to trust or which party really upholds women’s interests. With the government calling on us to vote again on 8 June, we need to make some sense of the chaos and fast.
So, where do we start? Last month Theresa May announced a shock snap election (despite promising to not hold one until 2020), in which she was arguably driven by her party’s poll lead over Labour. An election win would enable the Tories to more easily pass their favoured Brexit related legislation. The announcement provoked Gina Miller’s progressive voting drive, with Green tactically pulling out of crucial election seats to help Labour topple the Tories. This is in the context of the UK’s unrepresentative electoral system, where the total number of votes cast for one party does not determine a win. No wonder many of us are suffering from ‘world-whelm’! It’s enough to disaffect us from politics altogether, which is what we saw with the sense of ‘Bregret’ from voters who cast a protest ‘leave’ vote in the EU referendum, then later claiming they didn’t expect to make a difference.
If there is one thing we must learnt from the UK’s political turmoil, it’s how powerful every vote is. With 57% of 18-24 year olds not voting in the 2015 election, a huge proportion of our population are not having their say, allowing for a minority Conservative rule. As 2018 marks 100 years since women were granted the right to vote, and with women’s rights at the forefront of activism today, we must recognise that every vote makes a difference. It’s important now more than ever to make the right decision on June 8. So, here are 3 ways that you can vote towards gender equality:
Ultimately, how you vote is your choice. Whichever route you think most effective, between tactically toppling the Tories or backing your local female or WE MP, don’t let the bewildering landscape of British politics deter from having your say. Register to vote by 22 May, do your research and use your vote on June 8.
READ MORE: The Pros And Cons Of Voting Tactically In The Election
READ MORE: How To Overcome Political Apathy In This Election