Election Fever strikes Tonbridge Again!...

As I sit here listening to my favourite radio programme of the week (Prime Minister's Questions live from the House of Commons) I am struck by the lack of interest there seems to be among the people of Tonbridge about tomorrow's local elections and, even less so, about the referendum on the Alternative Vote (AV.) Very few customers in my shop have even mentioned it over the last week or so. Turn out is expected to be as low as 25%. That's only a quarter of those eligible to vote are likely to be bothered enough to even turn up at the polling booth which is usually within easy walking distance. If you stop to consider this then it's rather shameful. I won't start preaching about how people died in order to get the vote in this country and how they still do in other countries. I won't talk about the value of democracy and the freedom which that gives us all. I won't mention any of that stuff about the Suffragettes' struggle to get the vote for women (still less than 90 years ago; it took a world war to finally achieve it.) No I won't go on about any of that! It can't be that difficult can it. Go to the polling station, put a cross in a couple of boxes, walk away and get on with your day. It really is that easy. It's usually quite an uplifting experience; you get that smug feeling inside like you have done your bit. In your own small way you have influenced the outcome. Whichever way you feel about politics go and vote, even if it's just to officially abstain at least exercise your right. At least then you can moan about it down the pub with the knowledge that you tried to do something about it....