Mumsnet Talk

I have. Not a very exciting experience.

No. I haven't. And when I do go and vote I intend to spoil the ballot paper because actually, I disagree with the whole idea of a Police Commissioner.

Last time I went round to the polling station it was heavin'. Today I practically had to wake the polling clerks up. They seemed humbly grateful to see anyone at all.

I considered boycotting it, actually, or not bothering, but happened to follow a link to my local candidates the other day and found there was one in particular who was very nasty, so I used my two votes for people who weren't him, basically. (One of them even seemed to know something vaguely about policing, which was a bonus.)

No.
If they can't be bothered to let me know who they are, what they stand for etc then I can't be bothered to pick one of them.
We've had no information/ leaflets/ posters/ nothing round here.

I totally disagree with this election, and the whole concept of police commissioners. I considered not voting, but have come to the conclusion that, as it's a fait accompli, I might as well have my say.

That said however, I have no idea who to vote for. We haven't received any literature about candidates in our area. Nor do I know what the voting system is - how many people can you vote for?

I've googled and found that there is only one candidate who is unaffiliated to a political party, so I guess I'm going to go with him. I really don't think that the police commissioner (if we have to have one) should be endorsed by a politcial party.

I did vote: if only to make sure the ukip nutter didn't get in.

I have. But I don't know many others who are planning to vote, and some of those who are intend to spoil their papers like Pandemoniaa

It was eerily quiet in the polling station. Have to say, this has been the weirdest election. But as far as I can tell, at least not much money has been wasted keeping the electorate informed about the candidates.

I would go and vote but like whenisitmysleepytime, I have had nothing to let me know who they are!

Yes I have. I feel very strongly that I should always use my vote, people died to get it for me.

It did irritate me that I had to go looking to find out who was standing though.

You get two votes but only have to use one.

Not yet as at work and in all honesty considering I have not a fucking clue who is standing it's not bloody likely either.

I have emailed them today saying info on the candidates would have been pretty useful and that I seriously hoped they were not expecting a good turn out as I think they'll be disappointed!!

I do however not like the idea of not at least spoiling my ballot paper. My dad instilled into me at a young age how his mother (she had him late and he had me late) fought to get women the vote!!

Anyone wanting to look up their candidates can do it here - Choose My PCC

You can find your candidates here. All you have to do is enter your postcode.

http://www.choosemypcc.org.uk/

I find it a bit strange that I am expected to vote for someone I know less than bog all about. Am I alone in thinking that if a person wants electing then getting themselves out there is a basic requirement? I don't know who these people are or what they want - or indeed why I should pick one over another.

My grandmother was a supporter of the Suffragette Movement. She was also a local councillor and was very intolerant of women not using their vote. Which is why, in extreme circumstances (and today is one of them) I will not abtain altogether but I will spoil the ballot paper. Because that is exercising my right to vote since all spoilt papers have to be counted.

Badgers, I rather agree with you. My force is Thames Valley which covers Oxford, Reading, Newbury and thousands of square miles of countryside. There must be 10+ parliamentary constituencies. Hard for a candidate to get noticed.

Thanks for that Angel. Having looked at mine, there is just not enough information for me to make a decision. I don't want a waffly mission statement that says nothing, I want to hear what they're going to do!

I agree grovel - it just makes me think that maybe they don't want to get elected! I've seen better campaigning for the Y7 school rep ffs!

Yes I have as I feel it is important to vote and show my daughters that I am voting.

Dh downloaded a leaflet from the internet with details about the candidates so we could both decide who to vote for.

You can indicate a first and second choice candidate on the voting paper.

I was the only one there when I voted but it was 10 am so not a peak time. The staff seemed to be counting down time until they could have a cup of tea!

I have, although it is a by election here too so more imperative to attend, I suspect our area may have an artificially high turnout for the police commissioner vote!

Re: information we have been bombarded by info on the by election candidates, the conservative candidate alone delivered 3 pieces of information to my house yesterday - all different deliveries too! One info leaflet about the police commissioners. However the info is one click away on the internet so I don't really see what the issue is regarding information, a poor excuse I'm afraid.

I also don't agree with the police commissioner vote, however as it is going to happen anyway I don't see the value in not having a say in who gets the job.

How do I spoil my ballot card?

I haven't and won't be going to vote.
first time ever for me, but we have had no information at all about it, so I would just picking a randome name, so rather pointless

"Iodine" - I'd draw a picture of Ed Miliband on it. That would spoil any bit of paper.

Actually, you just scribble all over the ballot paper or write an objection to the election on it.

However the info is one click away on the internet so I don't really see what the issue is regarding information, a poor excuse I'm afraid.

How does that help my parents who have no internet? And the countless other people who don't have access to a computer.

Yes but that's because my dad is the campaign manager for the independent in out area. So we all went first thing.