Just a few questions for my non-political friends. Elections are obviously all-consuming for those of us whose livelihoods depend on the whim of the voter. But to most normal people, elections are a rare event.
So for the normal people out there – what has been your experience of these elections? Had many leaflets? Read anything that’s changed your mind? Will you even be voting? (Anything to 80% of you won’t be, so don’t feel shy!)
Niles's Blog 
We’ve had one leaflet from Labour and four from the Lib Dems and nothing from any of the others. I haven’t seen any window posters or stakeboards or any other publicity.
I signed up for an internet vote to try it out, but it wouldn’t let me log in to the system. Apparently though, there is no way to spoil your ballot paper on line. I think we do need a ‘none of the above’ option.
I’ve had a good supply of leaflets from both the Lib Dems and Tories – I haven’t been keeping count – and nothing from Labour (who don’t stand a chance around here). I’ve been visited by the Lib Dems but not the Conservatives; I think my address has been flagged as one to avoid though (they’ve dragged me out of bed in the past), as I saw what appeared to be canvassers out in my road a few weeks ago, clearly deciding not to bother me. As for my vote, I voted some time ago, as I have a postal vote.
Since the last election for my ward ran to 20 vote difference (although to be fair it was 550 to 570) the LibDems and Labour are desperate for my vote…I must have had a new leaflet every day for the past fortnight. And on most of them the candidates have been frowning!
Managed to avoid actually speaking to anyone except tonight when the Labour man came to the door and asked if my wife was in (she appears first on the electoral register) and upon discovering she wasn’t asked me to tell her that an agent for Martin Cook (candidate) had called…What am I? Chopped liver?
I had a single leaflet each from Cons & UKIP but it’s a 2 horse race where we are, although the leaflets were getting progressively agressive as we got closer to polling day (he said this, he’s a liar, etc)
Popped out after 6 to vote and there were people behind us so there must be a few voters…I can’t believe teh numbers were so low last time.
There’s nothing like the feeling that your vote will make the difference to boost turnout 🙂
So far everyone’s in places the Lib Dems are working hard!
Had a postal vote so voted a while ago. Managed to turn Cardiff North from Labour to Tory. Fantastic result. Looking hopeful for Labour losing control of the Welsh Assembly.
I felt a bit let down by the Lib Dems this time, despite voting for them! The only leaflets I received were 1 from Labour and one from the BNP.
Which galvanised me to get out and NOT vote for the BNP if nothing else. But other than those two leaflets, I saw no other local publicity whatsoever.
Which given that we ended up with labour winning, the BNP not far behind and Lib Dems third, I felt was a definite, 4/10 Could try harder for the Lib Dem cause.
We had one leaflet from the Green Party and nothing from the LibDems, who were the only other party putting up a candidate in our ward. I think the three seats were all successfully defended by the Green candidates who had them previously. Maybe we are such a Green area (the whole town, and this part in particular) that the other parties think it’s not worth bothering.