This piece has been written by Niamh Geddes, one of the Centre’s current Parliamentary Internship Programme interns.
Like many other young Scots, my formative years were backdropped by the campaigns of Indyref and Brexit. Coming of age in such an electric political environment made it nearly impossible to look away, and I have been forever hooked by the state affairs which permeate our daily lives.
It wasn’t until I was 18 that I got a chance to vote. I practically skipped to the ballot, having thoroughly researched my candidates and eager to finally feel like I played a part in deciding who would be representing not only myself, but also my community. You couldn’t have popped my pride with a pin as I thought about the working classes and women that fought for my own enfranchisement today. A stark contrast compared to the lack of opportunities for political expression faced by many around the world, even today.
That energy followed me to the pub later that night, where inevitably my friend and I discussed our first experience of voting. My teenage self was absolutely flabbergasted by what he told me.
“Whoever wins doesn’t really affect me, so I just voted randomly.”
My brain hit a record scratch. What? How? Why? Say that again for me?
I couldn’t for the life of me understand his nonchalance. I had been counting down the hours until the election. Reading all the pamphlets. My internet history was full of manifestos. And my friend just didn’t seem to care at all. As a white, middle-class, well-educated man, he shared that he did not believe that the result of the election would impact his life in any way. I’m not proud of my reaction, and how I turned our friendly gathering into a scolding. However, I stand by the essence of my argument.
Political participation is essential within a democratic society. His reasoning was incredulous to me, and I posed to him an alternative perspective: in a scenario where you feel your vote makes no difference to you, then there should be a responsibility to use it in a way that you feel helps those who it will impact.
I get it. Politics can be intimidating. People in suits speaking jargon you can’t understand. There’s a lot to take in, and it can be hard to know where to start. Often, we cast our vote and forget about it, assuming that’s our role over. But democracy doesn’t end at the polls. True democracy is upheld by the true political representation the general population holds at every level. From government to council authorities to community councils. Our politicians work for us. They serve the interests of their constituents and communities. While representatives are human themselves and have their own ideologies, that does not mean that the people have no say. Our politicians have a responsibility to society regardless of party-political backgrounds. Your voice matters.
Apathy towards the democratic process often is a result of feeling unheard. Of thinking that your participation will make no positive difference. Or maybe, like my friend, believing that your interests will be catered to no matter who is in charge. It’s hard to argue with an individual’s lived experiences.
Our political system is not airtight, and it absolutely could be improved. That starts with you. With us. With your neighbours and your friends and your flatmates. Get talking. Get thinking. What matters to you? Whether it’s taxes or accessing healthcare or the potholes on your street.
"Where you feel your vote makes no difference to you, then there should be a responsibility to use it in a way that you feel helps those who it will impact."
Politics is more than people in suits walking around parliament. Politics touches every aspect of our lives. You don’t need to be immersed to be involved – hell, I can barely tell my devolved from my reserved powers. Politics is not an all or nothing situation. Start wherever. Watch the First Minister’s question time. Email your MSP about struggles you or your community are facing. Sign petitions that matter to you. Spare five minutes on your phone (I know you’re scrolling anyway) to see what legislation has been passed recently.
If that seems too intimidating for you, then just think. Think about what you believe in, what you don’t, what you’d change and why. Everything from our healthcare system to our schools to women and the working class having the right to vote only came into place because someone had a thought. Why can’t that thought be yours?
We are in this together. Our society only improves by hearing the voices of everyone that resides within it. To this day, I get a sense of absolute pride walking into the polling station. Looking around and seeing all the different people that make up my community. Grandparents and toddlers and immigrants and those living on every income imaginable. A tangible example of what politics means – making a difference to our daily lives.
If you feel like politics isn’t for you, that’s exactly why it is.
