by James Street Many people struggle to choose which political party they want to vote for, even with an election imminent and approaching. Even after watching the manifestos and watching news, the main three still seem very similar, with the same old spin on issues and almost identical policies, in some scenarios. If you’re the same, it’s important to not despair. Many people don’t know who to vote for, and this is a major reason why many people don’t vote - only 59% of people did in 2001. Many of these would have been the so-called “floating voters”, and these voters often decide the election. The main parties are all near the centre of the political spectrum, and so there is not much to distinguish between them. Remember that you should believe in the main goals and policies of the party, even if you disagree with them over smaller ideas and decisions. This is similar to working for any company - you agree with the main aims of the company, even if you disagree with some choices your boss may make. Bear in mind which party has the policies that you would like to see them achieve and that would benefit you the most.

When choosing which party to vote for, try not to be superficial about your reasoning to choose one party over another. Thinking that “I hate Labour/Conservatives” is a theoretically valid reason, but try to look beyond their first impressions and actually analyse and consider what they are saying, and whether it makes sense to you or not.

Most importantly, even if you’re still unsure, don’t sit back on Election Day - go and vote. We may take our democracy for granted, but our very troops are fighting for it every day in places like Afghanistan. Even if you aren’t completely sure about a party, it’s worth using your vote to decide who gets to run our country. As clichéd as it sounds, every vote counts, and although it may seem that it is a tiny and worthless vote, many people choose not to vote and unless if everyone does, this country is no in a true democracy. So, I urge you, take the time to choose the party for you and make the proper decision.