Will you be voting in today's local elections?

I didn't even know there was any voting today. I've had no contact from any of the people running - I couldn't even tell you which parties were running. I thought the next voting thing was the EU one. Anyone else?

Where abouts do you live? There are Assembly elections in Wales, Scotland, London and Northern Ireland, Mayoral elections in London, Liverpool, Bristol and Salford, Police and Crime Commissioner elections everywhere in England except London and Manchester, local council elections in most but not all of England except in London, and parliamentary by-elections in Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough and Ogmore.

Currently I'm in Glasgow, Scotland.

So if you're registered, you can vote today in the Scottish Parliament election. The SNP there are looking to retain their majority and if they do, there's a strong chance they will eventually call a second referendum on independence. In terms of other options, there's Labour, Conservatives, Lib Dems and UKIP who are all opposed to independence, and the Greens, RISE and Solidarity who are in favour, as well as possibly TUSC depending on which part of Glasgow you're in. You've also got the Women's Equality Party who are largely ambivilent. The Scottish Parliament also has power over health, education, the legal system, housing and culture amongst many other areas, so is a very powerful body. Every party also has their manifesto published online stating what they intend to do if elected.

Interesting, I'm not sure if I will vote though. I don't particularly feel too strongly about any of the parties, I'm a doctoral student so it's fairly rare for any politcal policy to have an effect on me. Politicians tend to either target the working class, students (aka potential undergrads and Master's students), or the unemployed/those on benefits. We are sort of like a forgotten group. I'm also moving to Edinburgh in a few weeks, so what happens on this side of the country isn't all that important to my future.

Can confirm I voted at 7.20 today


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Interesting, I'm not sure if I will vote though. I don't particularly feel too strongly about any of the parties, I'm a doctoral student so it's fairly rare for any politcal policy to have an effect on me. Politicians tend to either target the working class, students (aka potential undergrads and Master's students), the unemployed/those on benefits, or the retired. We are sort of like a forgotten group. I'm also moving to Edinburgh in a few weeks (I am only here in Glasgow as a visiting researcher for the past few months), so what happens on this side of the country isn't all that important to my future.

Your vote will have a direct influence on the makeup of the Scottish Parliament, which will affect you whether you live in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Since it's an election to the Scottish Parliament rather than a local council, it'll affect Edinburgh as much as Glasgow. It depends whether or not you have views on some of the major issues being campaigned on. Should there be another independence referendum? Should income tax be raised to fund spending, as Labour and the Lib Dems propose, or perhaps rises in council tax instead which the SNP want? Should there be more private involvement in the NHS? Should fracking be banned?

Libs want Cannabis.

Not voting in the PCC election because I don't know anything about it.

Wish I could #BackZac in the London mayoral election, but alas I do not have a vote.

Nope, only got PCC elections, both at uni and home, both safe, and I don't believe the position should exist in the first place.

There's a local website for your location telling you more about the PCC elections. It will be on your local authority website.