Election 2010: How will citizens win this election?

I have to say 10 years ago I wouldn’t bat an eyelid at anything related to politics. I loathed it and wouldn’t give it the time of day. But I was naive then and believe it wasn’t because I didn’t care but mostly because I didn’t understand it. Its clear now that since then, my views have changed and my interest in politics now stems from my research into local government engagement online for my PhD degree.

Politics affects us all – Vote! Don’t let your opportunities slip through your fingers…

My research was motivated by the desire and enthusiasm to help communities connect with their government in a way that will enrich and make their everyday lives easier and better. We are in an age where information is not only power but is the key to survival. For us who are media literate, this might seem an easy task but for the lesser informed portion of our societies, life is not only hard, but opportunities are lost.

The beginning of the end? Or will it change the name of the game?

This blog post marks the day Britons go out and vote and make their choice. Some may have already decided and posted in their votes or gone to the polling booths. Eventhough I’m not a British citizen myself, I am just as anxious to find out the what the future of Britain will be. Will it be the beginning of the end? Will this election ‘change the name of the game’? Or will we see citizens playing a bigger role in governance as we know it?

Power play?

Who should win?

What’s clear is, there doesn’t seem to be a clear winner in this election. But maybe the question we should ask in this election is not who is going to win but how can citizens win in this election….?

• How will the single mother struggling to cope without a partner win?
• How will pensioners who have worked hard their whole lives be able to live comfortably in old age?
• How will jobless graduates be able to pay back their student loans without a job?
• How do we ensure every child is protected and gets the education that they need?
• How will we all get equal access to the internet?

How will citizens win this election?

The only way for citizens to win this election is to vote. But not only that, they need to vote for the policies that matter to them and to the people they care for. Citizens now have all the tools at their disposal to help them make the best decision. If you still haven’t decided who you are going to vote, here are a few pointers to help you… I’ve grabbed these links from here but selected a few of my favourites to feature on here.

Up My Street

upmystreet.com
Local information site Up My Street focuses on your local candidates, alongside its usual features such as information on house buying and local listings.

Voter Power Index

voterpower.org.uk
One person, one vote? Not so, according to the Voter Power Index, which argues that in many constituencies your vote is worth much less. Type in your postcode to see how much power your vote gives you.

My Vote Advisor

myvoteadvisor.com
My Vote Advisor is the most comprehensive test we’ve seen, breaking general policy areas such as education and crime into lots of specific issues. It has the widest variation of possible answer, from agreeing strongly to disagreeing strongly. Each question shows answers that are anonymous, so you don’t know which party you’re agreeing — or disagreeing — with. When you’ve finished — skipping issues that you’re not bothered about — you get a percentage score of how your answers matched the main political parties. Try not to second-guess which party’s answer is which: answer honestly and you may be surprised at the results.

Vote Match

votematch.org.uk
Vote Match is a simpler take on My Vote Advisor’s quiz format: you simply agree or disagree with questions on different subjects, such as the economy, education and foreign affairs. State your highest and lowest priorities, then rule out the parties you’d never vote for. You’re presented with a percentage score of how your answers matched the main political parties.

Vote for Policies

voteforpolicies.org.uk
Pick at least four areas of interest, from a list including immigration, crime and health, and take the survey. This test is more realistic than percentage-based tests, because it presents policies as packages. Even if you disagree with an individual policy, you have to pick the set of policies that you agree with the most — just as when choosing whom to vote for.

Democracy UK on Facebook

facebook.com/democracyuk
Facebook has handily pulled together a bunch of election tools in one place, right next to your pokes and likes. Watch the YouTube digital debate, take the Vote Match and My Vote Advisor tests, and rate the debate live.

Sky News

news.sky.com/skynews/Politics
Sky News has assorted cool tools alongside its election coverage, including its own voter quiz, a graph of poll results and a constantly updating picture of how parliament will look. Sky News has also electionified its iPhone app.

BBC News

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010
The BBC includes a number of tools with its peerless coverage of the election campaign, including anelection seat calculator and a section of the youth-focused Newsbeat dedicated to first-time voters.

Hope this was useful! Go out and vote!!!!

Liz xxx