"Now I realise that Commonwealth citizens are entitled to vote in the UK elections. Then I realise I have no idea who's who and what's what."

Mariam wrestles with the dilemma - to vote or not to vote?

MORE ELECTION ARTICLES Election 2005 BBC North Yorkshire Election 2005 index Constituency profiles: Hear from the candidates It's all in the margins - Len Tingle explains Listen again - Voter apathy debate Students: Mariam - To vote or nto to vote? Ann - Who to vote for? Matt - Political bias Toby - Election Dilemmas Sam F - Political overload MORE All Student Diarists Become a diarist Other Diarists: CollettaAnnMariamRachel RAdam SWan-yuFelicityMatt SOllySuzanne SallyPriscillaAdamMatt PRachelEmmaJenniferVeronicaHenryKateSamClaireRobbieKatyOliver CAmyStephTobyJohnHelen SarahKate I LINKS York University York St John YUSU YSJSU The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites

I never knew I was entitled to vote, despite having received my polling card, until I was sent an email from the facilities manager.

Being an international student, I never thought it an issue - now I realise that Commonwealth citizens are entitled to vote in the UK elections. To that I reply, "Cool!"

Then I realise I have no idea who's who and what's what. There is now a feeling of tremendous responsibility on me.

I know who the current prime minister is. I've heard of top-up fees, but ignored it since the fees I'm paying are much higher than what they were proposing for home students. Immigration and asylum? I'm leaving the country after graduation, what do I care?

But this is my one chance to make a difference in the world. Okay, maybe not the world, but t least the society I live in.

Prior to my knowledge of voting eligibility, I have, oddly enough, been looking into political parties' manifestoes this time around (intuition, perhaps?).

I've asked friends who they're voting for, their opinions on each party, and I've even read some of the mail shots and leaflets as opposed to automatically throwing them into the bin. My parents would be proud to know that I acknowledge the existence of another world apart from me.

I'm still left clueless though. There's still two weeks to go until Election Day, but do I really want to do my research? Or shall I just close my eyes, spin the card around and point my finger randomly on the card?

Tempting, but then I'm reminded of what women went through to obtain voting rights. Should I feel guilty? Maybe a little. After all, equality comes too easily for us nowadays, so I wouldn't know what it's like to not have what I have right now.

Well, when the time comes and I'm still undecided, I'll probably do what I usually do : vote for the best-looking person. Superficial, but it makes it easier to choose. After all, aren't they all working for the nation's best interest?

Mariam

More general election articles

Toby's diary: Election dilemmas

Sam's diary: Political overload

Matt's diary: Political bias

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