spoiling ballots

[VMisaMarshmallow]

Is there any kind of list here or other websites of those who plan on spoiling their ballots?

[VMisaMarshmallow]

Sorry, no idea why there’s a vote option on this.

[Milanimilani]

Voting is unacceptable on this section. @MNHQ Are you really trying to give TRAs another way to bash us?
I don’t know about the list thing. I’ve sent an email to my MP and he told me that the men’s right’s movement was the best thing since sliced bread. I’ve sent an email to the candidate I want to vote for dead late, but I’m hoping for a more positive reply

[JellySlice]

What are you talking about? Voting is entirely confidential. Why would individual voters' intentions be listed?

[OhHolyJesus]

Check this out OP


www.votenone.org.uk

Votes or spoiling ballots has been discussed a lot on this board recently OP. You crack on.

From my reading of this board and talking to people in real life I know a significant number of women who are spoiling their ballots as noted on the link and writing where possible "women = adult human female". I intend to join them. Everyone should vote as they wish and spoiling your ballot is still a 'vote', just not for a party.

[VMisaMarshmallow]

Thanks holy I’ll have a look.

Jelly political parties take polls all the time, it’s standard, and there are commonly discussions in msm and sm about the predicted proportion of support for parties. I was interested in if there was any similar discussion around any predictions around spoiling ballots, if there’s an expected increase or if that’s been noted by media or parties themselves. I asked here because spoiling ballots with woman= adult human female or the penis stickers has been discussed here before. I don’t use mumsnet or any sm on a regular basis so I don’t know if it’s been brought up since or if anyone knows if there’s been discussions elsewhere about anyone’s intentions to spoil ballots. I’ve done so in the past with regards to this issue and decades ago with regards to other issues and expect I will again, but along with reading up on the candidates (sadly the parties stance I’m well aware of) I wanted to see if there was any discussion around support for spoiling ballots also. While I have no issue doing so as a personal protest vote I guess I’d be interested or reassured perhaps by it adding up to more or counting towards something measured.

[OhHolyJesus]

There was a thread in this, someone's Dad was was a retired polling station person, I'll look it up when I have time.

[VMisaMarshmallow]

Thanks I’d really appreciate that.

[tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz]

I've literally just spoilt my paper. First time ever. I feel a combination of slightly sick and a bit excited. I know lots of posters will say it's wrong/pointless etc but this time it was the only option for me. I'm sick of seeing us thrown under the fucking bus.

Oddly, I don't feel any more uncomfortable about my previous "vote for the least shit option " approach.

Just popping this here -

[OhHolyJesus]

I'm really sorry I can't find it OP

I did find this though
[[https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf_file/UKPE-doubtfuls-booklet.pdf
www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdf_file/UKPE-doubtfuls-booklet.pdf]]f_  

Essentially the other thread said that applied ballots get checks by election agents so to asses if it was a mistake and if another cote for their candidate can be argued

It seems that no one counts them up and adds them up nationally so for me it seems unlikely that it will be a big story...unless there are some smart GC journalists around doing the numbers and investigating as to what happened, what was written on them.

I'd love it if it broke as a story somehow but reading that thread it seems unlikely.

[VMisaMarshmallow]

I wasn’t really expected it to be a big story etc or that they were read by mps etc (I’ve put none in the past, and emailed mps/candidates to explain why- I know that doesn’t count for much more but i felt somewhat better) but I was always under the impression they were counted and noted as spoiled ballots, separate from the % that don’t vote at all, so thought they counted in some way due to that. I remember discussing that way back in high school modern studies classes, damn I’m miffed it that’s not at all accurate. Thank you for the link though, I will read and I’ve been searching here/elsewhere about spoiled ballots but not finding anything new.

(Not meaning to argue politics) but I feel lost as -

Won’t not vote - that feels horribly wrong.

Have 2 very vulnerable children with multiple disabilities and as a result know many families who live with the impact of disproportionate cuts to disability services/funding/benefits. I can’t vote Tory after the UN’s finding the UK guilty of violating the conventions on the rights of people with disabilities and the complete lack of any response from tories since about this, no apology, no shame, no change in policies.....

Can’t vote Lib Dem’s, labour or greens due to the anti women stances (which of course applies to Tories also).

And ukip are just as bigoted if not more so. No independent candidate here.

I emailed candidates ages ago now to ask their personal stance on twaw and haven’t received any responses. I’m not sure if I could stomach voting for a party that’s unbearable even if the candidate says they don’t believe twaw and would vote against the anti women changes, but I think I’d consider it if I felt confident in their response, if I felt they’d seek to address the misogyny (or disablism et al) from inside the party, but haven’t heard anything and the bits I’ve read in them don’t feel helpful.

I’ve been comfortable spoiling ballots in the past, a fuck you to lack of valid choice type thing, but I guess I feel more lost and frustrated this time, and feel I want it to count towards something, somehow. I want a choice that represents me, and my kids and the many women and children I see struggle with the same issues. Fuck brexit scares the shit out of me & yet the above issues feel way more overwhelmed to me at present. Voter apathy feels both appealing and appauling in equal measure.

[OhHolyJesus]

apathy feels appealing and appalling in equal measure

I agree completely. It's a still a vote counted and for me it's better than not voting at all.

[VMisaMarshmallow]

Yep I think i have to hold onto that by default.

Sorry I’m having a huge whinge about this here today.

[OhHolyJesus]

Don't worry it's good to get it out. You're not alone - I know 5 women who are also spoiling their ballots and even if it ends up being a small number overall we have used our vote in the best way we can to represent our views. I think it's what the Suffragettes would have wanted, given the circumstances.