ELECTION day is finally upon us and, all over the borough, residents will be visiting their local stations to cast their vote.

At least, I hope they will. One of the most disappointing revelations each election is when they announce the turnout and we all have to process the knowledge that so many of us didn’t bother to vote at all.

My colleague Chris wrote the Gazette opinion column on this subject last week and the numbers he quoted concerning the number of people registered to vote in the borough who either didn’t vote or had their vote rejected, were shockingly high.

Apathy can be understandable. Even though politics affects every aspect of all of our lives, we can give in to frustration or knee-jerk reaction, and believe that our individual vote does not matter, therefore we will not bother to go and cast it.

As a woman, however, I feel that I absolutely cannot fail to cast to my vote in whatever form.

It has not even been 100 years since women were awarded the right to vote and I personally believe that we owe it to the suffragettes who went before us, some of whom died for the cause, to use the equal voting right which they achieved on behalf of the women of this country.

I consider myself equal in all ways to my husband and I know how angry I’d feel if he were permitted to do something which I as a woman was not allowed to do, for no good reason.

Having listened to family, friends and colleagues as this election approaches, I have heard many opinions expressed and sensed the extreme range of emotions they feel about this election and the candidates involved.

Some feel anger and frustration, and believe that they have been let down by candidates or parties; others are much more optimistic and have a clear view of who they will vote for and why.

Of course, this key decision is completely affected by who you are and the priorities for your own life.

My husband and I both work full-time and are parents of a young child. We’re homeowners – well, mortgage-payers! – and we work hard for everything we have.

We balance our books carefully, don’t spend frivolously or accrue debt and we are concerned about our daughter’s future, especially her health and education.

We have also been employed during a difficult economic period when we have both seen and personally experienced redundancy.

I have also benefited, on several occasions, from the security net that the NHS provides and know how important it is to millions of people.

I also know that we must play our part by looking after our own diet and fitness, when possible, so that we do not over-burden its services.

Whatever your own priorities, play your part today in the democratic process, making the effort to stand up and be counted among the people of this country.