The BBC want to know why you did/didn't vote. Please tell them!

[Olderbadger1]

If you are in Wales, the BBC wants to know if/why you did or didn't vote in the Senedd elections. Please tell them, especially if you spoiled your ballot because you are politically homeless as an adult human female.

Probably worth replying even if you aren't from Wales (they don't ask) just to make a point. Spoiled ballots should count for something. Invariably they are making a serious and carefully considered point, an expression of democratic exclusion.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-57086750?fbclid=IwAR1S1dvQclCakBSyokffodf6LYzxefxMcakAV1hjqlwGyZQKcPucvB6WrdI

Looks interesting!

Only takes 2 minutes (unfortunately there's a limit to the number of characters so my sex-based rights rant was cut short!

Definitely worth responding, takes no time and could help the Beeb wake up to women's concerns.

Done. I'll be shocked if they decide to publish my comments though...

Interesting! And defo worth it. Most women don't readily choose to spoil their vote. Another opportunity to make our opinions known is very welcome.

There were 6,354 spoiled ballots out of 1,118,084 votes- or 0.57%.

Voters in Wales seem fairly uninterested in the Senned- this election had a 46.7 % turnout and that's the best yet.

The Scottish figures were 9,215 spoiled ballots out of 2,715,898 votes cast or 0.34%.

That's interesting MissBarbary - wonder why the % in Wales was higher. I'd have assumed that Scottish voters would have more to be mightily pissed off at what with one thing and another and the definition of 'women' being 'someone with the name Pamela'.

@Olderbadger1

That's interesting MissBarbary - wonder why the % in Wales was higher. I'd have assumed that Scottish voters would have more to be mightily pissed off at what with one thing and another and the definition of 'women' being 'someone with the name Pamela'.

I doubt the "gender critical" aspect actually features high on the concerns of voters in Scotland. For those of us opposed to separatism it's merely item 592 or thereabouts on reasons not to vote for the SNP. I've only heard it mentioned in the context of the Hate Act, and even then only as part of the wider authoritarian tendency of the SNP.

There was a lot of tactical voting- it would in my opinion have been exceedingly foolish to waste a vote which could have counted towards defeating a separatist candidate by making a protest which likely no-one apart from the teller and the presiding officer will see.

The closest constituency was Ayr where the Conservatives lost by 170 votes to the Nats. I can't find a note of how many votes were spoiled.

Scotland had options and serious threats. Independence voters had Alba actively supporting women’s rights and unionists had the Tories Who have voted in women’s favour in the last few controversial votes. With the threat/promise of independence people were less likely to spoil a ballot and more likely to make an active choice.

Yes I get that... There were no viable options in Wales as far as women's rights are concerned so that might have accounted for a fair percentage of the spoiled ballots. It's frustrating that we have no way of finding out.

Will be interesting to see if the BBC does follow up any of the 'sex not gender' responses to their poll. I know that they have received a goodly number.

I would tell them but I don't wish to give my personal details. Quite happy to do it anonymously.