Is the UK worth the change in life style and uprooting from America?

An election system that requires everyone to register but does not require everyone to vote seems very counter productive and contradictory.

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink....and it would be so boring if all countries were all the same, wouldn't ? 

So if getting involved in 'voter registration drives', is something you actively enjoy getting involved in and would miss - add that to your list of pros and cons list re: living in blighty - cos we don't have them here.

Although Overheadsmash couldn't get involved in voter registration drives for the UK here, some things he *could* get involved with...

- UK get out the vote drives (would probably mean vounteering for one or another political party)
- Voter registration drives (and get out the vote drives) for Americans abroad here (via Democrats Abroad, or Republicans Abroad etc...not sure if there is a nonpartisan one or not)

I received umpteen calls this year from Democrats Abroad to make sure that I had a) up-to-date voter registration, b) had asked for & received my ballot, and c) sent my ballot off.

Democrats abroad really cheeses me off in my area.  I must have tried to contact them 10 times about registering and attending an election party and have never heard anything back from them at all.

The person in charge of it is in/works at the Uni and they had the last election party on Uni property, so no plebs allowed.

Democrats abroad really cheeses me off in my area.  I must have tried to contact them 10 times about registering and attending an election party and have never heard anything back from them at all.

The person in charge of it is in/works at the Uni and they had the last election party on Uni property, so no plebs allowed.

That's a shame.    I received an email feed from them that would tell me about events in London, and also when they had one (or more?) in Leeds - seemed that anyone could go.  I just didn't have the time or was booked up or whatever, so didn't make it out to any events.

My only means of contact with them has been online, their emails & when they call me for something.

The calls were a little annoying at times - one, because it always seems to be someone who (IMO) sounds (as though they are trying to be?) overly posh with/towards an English/Home Counties accent.  I know it's just me being awful but, for this sort of thing - getting out the American vote, I would far & above prefer what sounds like a relaxed & authentic American accent on the telephone - I would be more likely to have a friendly chat about the election rather than just, ugh I want to get off the phone!  (They came off sounding a little condescending at times.  )  Also, they kept calling even after I'd said - yes, yes, yes, I've done all that already.  Still it's much better than the constant calls people seem to get in the States & it's a real person on the line from the beginning, not a robocall I don't think.

No one ever called me but I guess that is because I vote in a very safe blue state.

No one ever called me but I guess that is because I vote in a very safe blue state.

My oldest brother & his wife live in a safe blue state - and they were getting phone calls all day long! 

I think they kept calling me here because I'm a Florida voter.

I also do not like the fact that there are political forces primarily in one political party in america that use methods such as voter suppression in order to grab hold of power.I would be very surprised if voter suppression took place in the UK, and if certain ethnic groups were the target of such sleazy tactics.

Not voter suppression as such but gerrymandering is common and usually when the Conservatives are in power, they are carving up the constituencies again before the next election.
I also believe that this is why, despite Obama taking certain States they returned more Republican congressmen, because the boundaries were changed by Republican State legislatures.

As for it being a legal requirement to register to vote here. As previously said I don't think it's enforced, but it's so easy to register each year. I believe (though maybe wrong) that the requirement to register was brought in when the Thatcher government was trying to introduce the poll tax in the late 1980's, so your local council tax would be based on who lived in an household and was eligible to vote. The poll tax was so unpopular it soon disappeared but I think thats why it was made a legal requirement to register.
If it was enforced then you'd think my house would have been checked, because the Council tax form states 2 adult occupants but only 1 registers to vote (as DW is not able to vote)

Not voter suppression as such but gerrymandering is common and usually when the Conservatives are in power, they are carving up the constituencies again before the next election.
I also believe that this is why, despite Obama taking certain States they returned more Republican congressmen, because the boundaries were changed by Republican State legislatures.

As for it being a legal requirement to register to vote here. As previously said I don't think it's enforced, but it's so easy to register each year. I believe (though maybe wrong) that the requirement to register was brought in when the Thatcher government was trying to introduce the poll tax in the late 1980's, so your local council tax would be based on who lived in an household and was eligible to vote. The poll tax was so unpopular it soon disappeared but I think thats why it was made a legal requirement to register.
If it was enforced then you'd think my house would have been checked, because the Council tax form states 2 adult occupants but only 1 registers to vote (as DW is not able to vote)

Yes, but you need to list all residents at the address who are of age to vote, including foreigners - you just state the country of citizenship(s) and tick the ineligible box (or something similar). I have to fill it out every year, despite not being eligible to be on the electoral roll and I'm the only resident in my flat.

Yes, but you need to list all residents at the address who are of age to vote, including foreigners - you just state the country of citizenship(s) and tick the ineligible box (or something similar). I have to fill it out every year, despite not being eligible to be on the electoral roll and I'm the only resident in my flat.

Who iyo will win the next uk election?

Well, when will the next election be?  They can leave early here, but I think they can't call the election again.

Is that correct?  They can no longer call an election? I think that changed the last time.

Yes, but you need to list all residents at the address who are of age to vote, including foreigners - you just state the country of citizenship(s) and tick the ineligible box (or something similar). I have to fill it out every year, despite not being eligible to be on the electoral roll and I'm the only resident in my flat.

Exactly my experience too. And if you don't fill it in and return it fast enough in Ealing, they hound you continually.

They can still vote to dissolve parliament and call an election, but it requires either a vote of no confidence in the government or a 2/3 vote in favour of calling an election; previously it was at the whim of the government as long as it was within 5 years of the last one.

Who iyo will win the next uk election?

If it was held today, Labour would probably come closest to getting a majority...but they really need a better leader if they want to get a full majority and not need to form a coalition. Considering all that's gone on the past couple of years, I can safely say that it won't be the LibDems that win

Exactly my experience too. And if you don't fill it in and return it fast enough in Ealing, they hound you continually.

Same here in Manchester. And if you fill it in online, it sometimes doesn't register and they come to your door to hound you!