The Guardian - Publicerad för för 2 veckor sedan

My friends are passionate about politics – but they don’t vote. There’s no sense in that | Joyce Yang

As someone who is unable to vote in the UK’s local elections, I hope my peers don’t waste the precious gift they’ve been given

Local elections are coming this week. After receiving far-right leaflets (“Close the borders! Pause all immigration!”) through my letterbox and paying taxes to an underwhelming council, I can’t wait to vote – except that I’m not eligible. As an immigrant with no settled status, voting isn’t one of my rights.

And while most of my friends here can vote, many say they won’t. My best friend, for example, keeps his electoral registration up to date, but rarely goes to the polling station.

Joyce Yang is a freelance writer based in London

Se fler nyheter från The Guardian