Calderdale Results
Friday, May 4th, 2012 01:09 pm![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
miss_s_b
I came third. BUT I got more votes than I got last year in H&L AND more votes than last year's candidate in Brighouse got. Mat came fourth. Overall we held up fairly well; although I am sad that Olwen and Christine and Stephen didn't win their seats, Olwen in particular got a very impressive vote share, beating the sitting Tory into third place. And we held Calder ward, and Greetland and Stainland is back with us (can't really call THAT a gain)...
So, you know, it's bad, but it's not awful.
The big story, as nationally, is low turnout. Over all of Calderdale the turnout was in the thirties, and even in the hotly contested wards it didn't get above 45%. In Calderdale. We've always been particularly politically engaged around here, and my experience in the call centre phone canvassing the last few weeks has borne that out. Calderdale people are engaged; they know the names and records of the candidates in their wards, and they actually have opinions and they care. If we can't get turnout over 50% in that sort of atmosphere, there really is something utterly wrong, and it needs addressing.
So, you know, it's bad, but it's not awful.
The big story, as nationally, is low turnout. Over all of Calderdale the turnout was in the thirties, and even in the hotly contested wards it didn't get above 45%. In Calderdale. We've always been particularly politically engaged around here, and my experience in the call centre phone canvassing the last few weeks has borne that out. Calderdale people are engaged; they know the names and records of the candidates in their wards, and they actually have opinions and they care. If we can't get turnout over 50% in that sort of atmosphere, there really is something utterly wrong, and it needs addressing.
no subject
Date: Sunday, May 6th, 2012 04:57 am (UTC)We had very low turnout in the 2010 US elections too. I don't know about there, but here low turnout benefits conservatives, hence all the state bills put forth by conservatives making it harder for people to vote this November. 2008 was the highest turnout in ages, and I think even that was only 55%. Joseph Stieglitz came to the same conclusion you did about low turnout indicating a systemic problem.
There's a place called Stainland? That's not very nice, is it? You might as well call it Frog's Arse. At least the residents could have a little fun with that.
Cassandra
no subject
Date: Sunday, May 6th, 2012 04:46 pm (UTC)