Just f!@king vote

Just F@!king Vote! 
Gessica Sheridan

Growing up, “politics” was not a word you heard in my household. I never really knew what it meant and for that reason, I never knew that I cared about it.
I don’t know about yours, but my High School didn’t teach me about politics (or maybe I was just “sick” that day). When I was finally old enough to vote, I was so proud and embarrassed about the grey haze in my mind that was politics that I just told people it didn’t interest me. Something that six years later, embarrasses me so much more than my ignorance.

Politics felt inaccessible to me. I didn’t understand the words “party”, “candidate” or “policy”. I didn’t know how our voting system worked and I was too ashamed to ask. I knew who the Prime Minister was and I vaguely understood the difference between Labour and National.  I was intimidated and I didn’t think I would understand it if someone explained it to me.

What I didn’t realise was that we did talk about politics in my house. We talked about what was fair and what was unfair in the world. We talked about ways of doing things as a society - what we thought would work and what we thought wouldn’t. We talked about the problems around us and how we might fix them. Conversations I was passionate about because I cared, I had ideas and I wanted to know what other people thought about them - I didn’t realise we were talking about politics.

Politics is wrapped up in a lot of personality, conflict and big words. Its meant to appear complicated so that people don’t enter into it lightly but in reality it is simple - do you think this is right? Or do you think it’s wrong?

Before I knew this, I’m ashamed to say I didn’t vote. As a New Zealand woman, passionate about women rights, after Kate Shepherd fought for New Zealand women to be the first in the world to have their voices heard… I didn’t vote.

Don’t get me wrong, not “understanding” politics wasn’t the only reason. Looking back now I can tell you that I didn’t vote because I was too lazy and intimidated to educate myself so I chose apathy. I didn’t think I could make a difference and I didn’t think my vote was important.  I figured there would be other people, who were interested in politics who would be representing my interests and no one told me I was wrong.

None of the reasons I had for not voting are excusable, but don’t think they’re unique to me either.

I don’t want to tell you who to vote for, because I don’t know who you should vote for.  I want to tell you with complete honesty why I didn’t vote in the past and why I’m voting now; and why wherever you are, whoever you are, if you’re 18 and eligible to vote in New Zealand you need to do it too.


1. No one else is voting for you, only you can do that. If you do not vote then your voice is not heard. Don’t be that person who complains that the minimum wage is too low or the government favours the rich if you’re not prepared to tell the government what you want.  Young people are notorious for not using their votes in elections leaving older generation with the most say. If you understand nothing about politics, understand this: even if you don’t vote, you will be effected every day by the result of those who did.

2. The issues concern you, they concern you now and they will concern you in years to come. Housing, healthcare, wage gaps, education, environment,  (just to name a few), they effect you and as a member of society in New Zealand you have a responsibility to actively participate in how  and in fact, if these issues are tackled by exercising your right to vote. Homelessness is a New Zealand issue, as a New Zealander, it is your issue.

3. Voting is your right, yes - but you’re lucky to have it.  New Zealand doesn’t allow prisoners or past offenders who have been in a psychiatric hospital for three years or more to have their say in general or local elections. In the Vatican City and in Saudi Arabia, women still cannot vote while in Lebanon woman can only vote if they prove they are sufficiently educated. In 20 countries around the world, citizens simply cannot vote in their leaders. As a New Zealander with the right to vote, you have an important power that millions of people do not have and in some countries (across the ditch for example) it is actually a crime not to use it.

4. Overseas right now? Cool. Go and vote. Overseas voting is easy, you can find everything you need to know here.  Whether you’re away from the motherland short or long term, if you’re eligible to vote, if you care about New Zealand and you want a safe and fair country to come home to you then need to vote. 

5. Nothing changes if you don’t vote. Whether you are not voting out of rebellion, ignorance or apathy, inaction gets you the society you have today, and it is exactly what the current government thrives upon. If you don't like how things are. Change them. 

6. Finally, whatever the results they will have a bigger effect on the young than the old. Voter turn out for young people in Brexit and the US elections was lower then it should have been and tell me, how many young people do you know who were unhappy with those results? To be a little blunt and maybe insensitive, why would you leave the future of New Zealand in the hands of people who aren’t going to be alive to see it?  This is your future.


Heres where I will give you my opinion: The biggest issue in the New Zealand 2017 General Election is voter turnout. Because a country where not everyone votes will never be represented fairly and therefore will never be run fairly. If we live in a society that favours the rich and the old, it is because the young do not vote, and the poor do not vote. With your vote, you literally have your life and the lives of those around you in your hands and if you don’t, you’re choosing to be powerless.

Your opinion is important, you have a tool to create a better life for yourself and the people you care about. I want life to be better and brighter for my little brother and sister, for my friends and one day for my family. That is why I’m voting and why you should too.

Be the change you want to see. 

I don’t care who for, just f!@king vote.
Just F@!king Vote! 
​