Historically ultra-safe seat, now with UKIP polling closely. How should I vote?

[RatOnnaStick]

Given that:

I do not like the current party
I definitely do not like UKIP
The party I want to vote for has no presence at all. Never has here.

To keep UKIP out, am I going to have to vote for the incumbent?

[ThatIsNachoCheese]

Same dilemma for me so marking place...

[RatOnnaStick]

Sucks doesn't it? I feel I have no vote.

[CMOTDibbler]

I live in a tory safe seat, where LD were second (tiny labour and ukip vote) last time.

I would go against my lifelong voting pattern and vote tory if there is any suggestion that UKIP could get in

[AuntieStella]

Vote for the party you like best (or dislike least, these days) or the individual who you think will be the most effective MP (genuinely local? Experience beyind a Westminster village?)

Yes, you might end up with an MP you abhor. This time.

But how will things ever change if tactical voting outweighs actual preference?

[ragged]

I am voting strategically.

[Alibabsandthe40Musketeers]

I will be voting to keep UKIP out. The thought of them being part of government is utterly terrifying.

[SwedishEdith]

I'd have to vote strategically I think. Would really stick in my throat though.

[throckenholt]

AuntieStella But how will things ever change if tactical voting outweighs actual preference?

Until the system is changed to make actual preference actually be counted fairly, then tactical voting is the only option for many. Or like where I live - my vote never makes any difference at all - the same party always gets elected by a large majority.

I worked out from the 2010 voting figures - average number of voters per seat (ie total vote divided by number of seats gained), that for con to win a seat took ~35000, labour ~33000, LD ~120000, Green ~259000. Not sure there is any way at all the call that actual preference being reflected.

[Fleecyleesy]

Assuming the incumbent is cons, lab or lib, I'd vote for the incumbent. Bearing in mind that if you take lib as centre, cons have moved closer to the centre, away from heavy right wing and lab have move closer to centre away from heavy left wing. So all 3 parties hover around the centre now.

I think we should stop all this seats nonsense and get a system where each party gets a number of seats matching the proportion of people that voted for them. Then everybody's vote would "count".

[Kampeki]

I would vote tactically to keep UKIP out. It would feel wrong, but what's the alternative?!

[SukieTuesday]

I'd vote to keep UKIP out. I'd die a little inside if I had to vote Tory to do it but needs must.

[Fleecyleesy]

Oh and op, is there a website where you can see info for your own area - last time's proportions, current predications etc?

[TheXxed]

I would vote for the party I believed in. My body would spontaneously combust if I had to vote Tory.

[BreakWindandFire]

Fleecy The BBC site for the 2010 election is pretty comprehensive.

There's a site where you can view all the leaflets of current candidates - here

[OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat]

Those of you shouting for proportional representation, ie I think we should stop all this seats nonsense and get a system where each party gets a number of seats matching the proportion of people that voted for them. Then everybody's vote would "count" may wish to remember that this would lead to UKIP gaining 10/20% of MPs, or whatever their current overall support percentage is.

I live in a historically safe labour seat, but the winning candidate won by less than 1% last time. Even though he is a high profile and unpopular member of the shadow cabinet, I feel I have to vote for him, because if he loses, which I wouldn't be surprised if he did, we would then have a conservative MP, which is even worse. I voted lib dem last time, but they came a distant third so feels like a wasted vote.

[claig]

Yep, vote for the incumbent. You have got little choice.

[SmileAndNod]

I'm with CMOTDibbler . I can't actually find details of anyone standing here at the moment.
It's either that or I vote for 'none of the above'...

[Fleecyleesy]

Yes I see that Ilkley but those people are entitled to their vote even if they choose to vote UKIP. More effort might be made to educate UKIP voters in that case anyway.

[OnIlkleyMoorBahTwat]

I know people are entitled to their vote Fleecy, but when people argue for proportional representation, they almost always have 'it will give the Lib Dems and the Greens a fighting chance' in their minds.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I'm in the same position.

Vote labour who have no chance of getting in. Or.....

Vote for the Tory MP who has been MP here for 30 years to make sure that the UKIP candidate who was a close second last time doesn't get in.

[quesadillas]

I'm voting Tory to make sure UKIP don't get in. I don't think they will, but they came 2nd in the local elections, and Lab/Lib Dem/Green get nowhere round here. I wouldn't naturally vote Tory but feel it's the best option this time. The MP is a pretty decent guy I think, and very into local issues, so I don't feel too bad having him as an MP.

[Seeker33]

I am in a marginal But the street stuff does not seemed to have kicked in yet. I have had leaflets. And the NHS supporters have campaigned in the shopping precinct. One or 2 big wigs have visited, but just to talk to their supporters and the local media.