As we head towards the ‘snap election’ in the UK taking place on Thursday 8th June 2017, The Hindu Council UK (HCUK) along with other Faith Organisations is concerned about the number of people who are not currently on the electoral register. Research has shown that some Faith Communities across the UK are particularly under-represented on the voter register.
Faith Communities have a great opportunity to effectively engage in British politics in order to demand that Political Parties draw up policy plans to tackle issues that affect us. The right to vote has been hard-won, and it is the duty of everyone in public life, to make sure everyone who is eligible to vote is able to vote. Remember – by being registered means that Politicians will listen to you as they know you have the power to decide who wins and who loses in the forthcoming the General Election.
The Hindu Council UK has joined an initiative by Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG) and other Faith Organisations across the UK to encourage people from faith communities to take part in this election.
On Monday 15th May there will be a day long ‘Tweet Storm’ where faith leaders, organisations and individuals will be tweeting out to encourage voter registration.
The Hindu Council UK want you to get behind the drive to show that people from the Hindu faith want to help shape the direction of the country. On Monday 15 May, join us and other faith communities across the country in a drive to get more people of faith registered to vote. Using the hashtag: #MyfaithMyvote, tweet out your support for this initiative. This can be a simple tweet, or perhaps a picture with the words I’m voting; reasons why our faith has an obligation/duty/expectation to vote; a simple message of support; a photo of a person holding a sign encouraging people to vote or showing that they are voting; or a short video clip of someone saying they have registered/they are voting/why you it is important to vote. Content might also include the link to the voter registration page: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Ideas for signs people could hold in photos might be:
I’m voting because…;
My Faith My Vote;
Faith in Democracy;
I’ve registered – have you? Etc, etc.
PLEASE NOTE: “No partisan activity will be part of this exercise and please do not include any party political messaging”
Remember to use the hashtag: #MyfaithMyvote
Throughout Monday 15th May 2017, the Hindu Council UK will be tweeting messages from various Hindu Leaders, Organisations and Individuals supporting the initiative to get people registered to vote. For more info please contact
Hindu Council UK Email: info@hinducounciluk.org
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It is time Hindu Council and other community organizations guide our people how and for whom to vote.
Other faith organizations even preach from the pulpit and tell worshipers whom to vote for, but as most of us do not attend temples on regular basis, Hindu community is divided and vote as individuals which do not make an impression on political parties. But as we can now contact most of us by email and telephone, it is time we unite and vote for candidates who are pro us and stand by us in our hour of need. Last time we did unite behind some candidates and it did made a difference. It is even more important this time, as many of our community members have been chosen by both the parties, although it is most important to find out where they stand on core issues like Caste legislation, turn up at EDM in HOC to vote, as many such EDMs are regularly debated in both the houses and only a tiny number turn up and speak in our favor. So please get active and contact us with your recommendations ASAP.