What would you do? Proxy voting

[ProxyName]

I'm undecided on this and would like opinions.

A family member living abroad (outside the EU) has asked me to cast a proxy vote on their behalf in the referendum.

They want to vote the opposite way from how I plan to. I feel strongly about this and have read up on the issues. They are the sort of person to say they 'don't care about politics' and have never voted in any previous elections while they lived here. They aren't likely to return to the UK for several more years at least and haven't bothered proxy-voting in other elections either.

In my situation, would you vote on their behalf? Obviously they are legally entitled to a vote but I am not quite comfortable about being the person to facilitate it, under the circumstances.

[duckyneedsaclean]

Yes. It's still their vote, not yours.

[TamaraHiddlestoned]

Just get on with it- be flattered that they trust you to be their proxy.
We do live in a democracy, after all!

[TheFairyCaravan]

I'm voting for DS1 by proxy. It's his vote not mine. I'm obviously voting the way he wants me too. It happens to be the same way as I'm voting but I'd vote the other way if he wanted that.

FIL used to vote for DH by proxy when he was younger. FIL refused to vote for anything other than what he was voting for so DH stopped having him vote for him. It's a disgusting abuse of the vote imo.

[ProxyName]

Just to clarify that I'm not considering using someone else's vote to have two votes of my own. I'd consider that be profoundly unethical. My options are to vote the way my relative wants me to, or not at all.

[TheFairyCaravan]

If you agree to vote for someone by proxy you have to vote how they want.

[Pinkheart5915]

You vote on behalf of them the way they want to.

Everybody is entitled to vote whatever way weather you agree or not.

[YourPerception]

I wouldn't do this as I don't trust anyone. What's to stop them say they voted as I asked when they didn't. I would only do this if I could later obtain a copy of my vote later.

[ProxyName]

Well, yes. I agree. :) I only mentioned it because of your comments about your FIL, in case you/others thought I might be considering something similar.

[JuxtapositionRecords]

Having some respect for them and helping them to vote is far more important than a difference of opinion. If they have no one else to do it for them you are denying them a chance to vote, and if they do have someone else to do it the vote will be entered anyway, if you do it or not.

I'm really surprised anyone would question doing this.

[RainbowFlower24]

If you agreed to vote for them - please do it. I'm voting via proxy and would be disappointed if my proxy backed out after agreeing.. If you didn't want to, you should have mentioned before. I think they might still have a couple of days to change their proxy - until the 165 June? You can check if that is an option if you really care that much so you are not going back effectively telling them - I'm not going to vote for you therefore I personally decide you don't get to vote although you are entitled to. All other considerations aside - it is their vote.

[RainbowFlower24]

15th June

[ProxyName]

I haven't agreed yet - I received an email from them about two hours ago asking if I would be their proxy.

You're right that agreeing then backing out after it was too late for them to find someone else would be a shitty thing to do. Hence why I'm thinking it over/gauging opinions (which seem to be fairly one-sided on this thread, which tells me something :) ) before I respond to the email.

[bananabrain35]

If you agree to vote on their behalf, you have to honour their voting request. If you can't bring yourself to do that then tell them to find someone who will carry out their request.

[Seeline]

As it's an either/or vote your relative's vote will cancel out your vote.
Assuming that they will get someone to act as a proxy, this will happen regardless.
You have done the best you can for your desired outcome if you cast your vote. I can't see that acting as a proxy will alter this.