A question about voting

[meriad]

I'm only allowed to vote in my local elections, not the main ones. How - if at all - does my vote affect the outcome of the main elections?

Am I right in thinking that the winning party of the local elections gets a seat in the house of commons so in effect would either then be in a supporting position of the PM if he's from the same party or be of the opposition party?

Basically what I'm trying to get at - for someone like me: single, decent enough income, no children or dependents, private home owner etc there really is no difference what so ever who I vote for; I have very little to gain or lose; my life would not change regardless of what party we have governing. In the past I have always voted for a particular party and would like to do so again; but there is one thing that, should they be in power after the next election, they said they would do that I really really don't like or agree with and for that reason alone I am tempted to vote the opposition.

So just wondering how it all works

[Kaz]

I'm not really sure Ria I know that the local elections, for councillors not MPs, is one thing and General Election is for MPs, as is a By-election if an MP dies or resigns.....

I'm not quite sure what 'level' of voting rights you would have

[meriad]

Thanks Kaz - I think you've just answered my question. I can only vote in the local not general so that would mean I'm voting for the local councillor only so no impact on the government

Which is good!

[Kaz]

I think that's about the size of it

Are you a German citizen Ria, or South African? *Being nosey smiley*

My German cousins had joint UK/German citizenship, but Zoe (the one who visited and I am closest to) had to become a full German citizen before being allowed to marry her first hubby, who wasn't German (Turkish I think)

[meriad]

I hold a German passport Kaz. I do also have SA citizenship (at least I think I still have it) but not an SA passport; never have had one of those.

I really should find out what I need to do to be able to vote here given this is where I live and pay my taxes

[Workingman]

Ria, South Africa is a member of the Commonwealth so if you still have SA citizenship and are a tax paying resident of the UK, which you are, you could be eligible to vote in general elections.

Go on, register, and have some fun.

[Kaz]

Oooh that's a point Frank

I think you should have a vote Ria, if you pay taxes I reckon you should have the right

[meriad]

I would need to look into that Frank - I was given citizenship by naturalisation in 1985. But a few years back I think the SA government withdrew these citizenships from people that hadn't lived in the country for a certain amount of years; and I definitely fell into that category.

I'll check with my brother who was at the SA embassy in Germany a while back to apply for a passport, I can't remember what he said because it didn't really affect me. But maybe it is a way for me to vote

[KateLMead]

If we don't know the answere to a question, Workingman Suff and a few others will thankfully come up with solving the problem.