Today the nation goes to the polls to vote in a referendum, a referendum to decide whether we want a new voting system here. Well yes I do want a new voting system, I think that the current first past the post system is unfair and I think we need to change but what we have been offered as an alternative (the alternative vote system) is a very poor substitute for what I really want which is proportional representation which is by far a much fairer system than either of the two options that we have to vote for. Its not like I don’t understand the options or haven’t researched them. My husband teaches politics so I am probably more informed about the options that your average Joe Bloggs on the street :)

It means that I am facing a dilemma here, I hate the Tories and really don’t want to side with them by voting for FPTP but I have also fallen out with the Lib Dems who have sold out in a coalition, gone back on half of their election promises and generally proved themselves to be a weak party. I will add at this point that whereas I used to sometimes vote for the LibDems, in the general election I voted Labour as I could see this happening and decided to use my vote tactically and vote Labour instead.

So there we have it, I don’t want to vote for either option thank you very much. Now having come to this conclusion it would be very easy for me to just not bother turning out to vote but I can’t do that. You see many women fought hard to get me and every woman the right to vote and I appreciate this, I don’t want to be recognised as one of those people who can’t be bothered to turn up and be part of the no show statistics.

And so today I will turn out to vote, I will go to the polling station, pick up my ballot form and when I get to the booth I will add another option to my form, I will add proportional representation and place my X next to that. Yes it won’t achieve anything, it will be classed as a spoilt ballot but I will still be included in turnout figures, I will still be one of those people that exercised my right to vote, I will still be showing my appreciation to those who fought to get me that right, I just won’t be voting for either of the options available.