Back now after the Manchester break.
Mostly Retired and R R and Redundant.
Is a bad vote any better than no vote? Good question.
Let us consider what choices there are.
Under the 1st past the post system, there are 4 choices-
Vote Conservative, vote Labour, vote Liberal, vote UKIP.
You should look at their manifestos and consider two things-How do they affect me? and How do they affect the UK, consider long term rather than short term.
Under Conservatives you can expect U turn May, more cuts. So what exactly is going to happen is a question mark, and Brexit means Brexit whatever that means.
Under Labour you can expect Jeremy Corbyn, as described by some who are seen by some as the nasty party, and Dianne Abbott. ~The point about her is that she can be ditched more easily in a reshuffle than manifesto commitments.She should not be seen as a very serious consideration.
Their policies are based more on state intervention as markets are imperfect, lesser cuts and softer Brexit.
The Liberals are pro Europe but unlikely to be a major force in parliament unless it is a hung parliament.
UKIP - They have achieved Brexit and now are searching for a new role. However some of their policies such as one in, one out on immigration, are frankly bonkers. How can that equate supply of labour with demand? Secondly the choices seem to be to be have some immigrants to help pay for the retirees, or have retirees lose their homes for care.
So there you have it-
When you have thought through the above, you might select Conservatives or Labour, as one or the other will be the largest party, under first past the post.
If you voted remain you might consider Liberal, if and where they have a chance of winning, and/or like their policies anyway. Otherwise you will waste your vote under the 1st past the post system.
If you are still at a loss, remember that this is more than a normal election, it will affect your families, kids, and their kids for a long time so think which Brexit or otherwise do you want. i.e.consider the long term not the short term gain over the next five years or so.

I am distant from all this but it seems to me the 'only five point gap' story is just media hogwash. Yes, there has been one poll, but it's a YouGov poll - a rubbish system if ever there was one.

Looking at the Guardian poll tracker graph it seems obvious that what has happened is that the Ukip vote has suddenly sunk like a stone and been distributed between the two main parties. It's not clear what effect that will have on the number of seats for each.

Given that Cameron gained absolute power with only 37% of the popular vote and May is sitting at 47% in the polls, I think it would be significant if May actually managed to obtain 50%. That could happen given the way votes for the minor parties are disappearing.

I do not know about Corbyn looking like a leader, a figurehead more like for the union bosses rubbing their hands at the complete control of the UK that he is giving them, together with his wild promises of a Utopia for all at little cost except for the "rich".

If people have decided there is no point in voting for Ukip or the LibDems or the Greens in this election, both May and Corbyn could come out as winners - in as much as Ed Milliband only received 30% of the vote in 2015.