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Original poster

Anybody else not voting again?

198 replies

RomanyQueen1 · 20/05/2019 20:47

Just that, is anybody not voting and didn't vote last time?

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 20/05/2019 23:45

Well the spoiled ballots got in the news lately so 'raising awareness' awful term.

What they do individually is not a lot. But if for example young people all turned out and spoiled their ballots, they wouldn't be completely ignored as they are now. They are considered apathetic and therefore to be entirely ignored by politicians. If they turned out, even to vote for 'none' someone might bother to try to win their votes.

hellenbackagen · 20/05/2019 23:50

So I ask again

What does spoiling the paper actually achieve?

Tavannach · 20/05/2019 23:50

It's discounted. Spoiling the paper actually means nothing at all.

Spoilt papers are counted and recorded. They show the people who couldn't find anyone who in any way represented their views.

It's not voting or bothering at all that actually means nothing at all.

hellenbackagen · 20/05/2019 23:52

And please explain what spoiling the paper actually does achieve please someone.

Why should I turn out to do that. ?

MrsTerryPratchett · 20/05/2019 23:53

What does spoiling the paper actually achieve?

Just sit on your arse if you're married to the idea. I'd rather do something than nothing, even if it's just a hope.

Did you not understand my point about young people or do you want me to say, "spoiled ballots are amazing unicorns that float pixie dust over politicians"? Individually nothing is important. One person marching isn't. One person voting isn't. One person not voting certainly isn't. But if enough people do something it is important.

Tavannach · 20/05/2019 23:54

Why should I turn out to do that. ?

Because you're a member of society, and a citizen of this country with all the benefits that confers.

hellenbackagen · 21/05/2019 00:00

Please - no one
Is actually explaining to me
Why or
What benefit spoiling the paper has.

That's all I'm asking. Everyone is chorusing "you must vote and if
You don't want anyone spoil the paper ".

Except no one is actually explaining why? !!

I'm not doing it because everyone else is.
Please if it's that important explain it?'

BackforGood · 21/05/2019 00:08

What difference does it make if we vote?

17 million voted for leaving the EU

Voting means bugger all. I'm not voting

You do know that the UK has a population of virtually 67 million people ? (obviously some are children and a few, for other reasons, not eligible to vote).
Do the maths.
The country is leaving the EU which is a MASSIVE constitutional, legal, political, trade and social shift that will have impact for years to come, when ONLY 17million voted for it.

How can you possibly say that "voting means bugger all" ? Confused

If everyone who didn't vote in the referendum had voted, the result could still have been a fairly even split, or it might have been an overwhelming vote to leave or it might have been an overwhelming vote to remain. We don't know, but it would at least be a decision taken by everyone it is affecting, not a decision taken by so few people.

MrsTerryPratchett · 21/05/2019 00:10

So sit on your arse hellenbackagen strong in your belief that doing fuck all is the best choice.

Did you read my post about young people?

DorisDaysDadsDogsDead · 21/05/2019 00:16

It sounds like hellenback voted for Brexit on the one and only time she could be arsed, so quite frankly I'm quite happy if she never votes again...

PickAChew · 21/05/2019 00:24

How the hell can you get to be a functioning adult and not have a view on brexit?

MrsTerryPratchett · 21/05/2019 00:26

It sounds like hellenback voted for Brexit on the one and only time she could be arsed, so quite frankly I'm quite happy if she never votes again...

Me too.

slashlover · 21/05/2019 00:27

I use a few websites where I enter my opinions and they tell me which party is closest to what I want. Some do multiple choice and some do a simple agree/disagree. Every single site gives me the same two parties, in my top two and always really close percentage.

PickAChew · 21/05/2019 00:29

OK, hellen maybe you don't deserve the vote if you are that clueless. You've had it explained to you enough - I think you are being deliberately obtuse.

Tavannach · 21/05/2019 00:30

I think you are being deliberately obtuse.

Yep.

Tavannach · 21/05/2019 00:33

I use a few websites where I enter my opinions and they tell me which party is closest to what I want. Some do multiple choice and some do a simple agree/disagree. Every single site gives me the same two parties, in my top two and always really close percentage.

Doesn't matter. Each region will elect at least 3 MEPs so go ahead and vote for whichever you prefer.

Which websites are you using ?

YouBumder · 21/05/2019 00:44

I was first able to vote in the 1991 GE and have voted in every referendum or election since, I’ve never missed one, even where I’ve felt it was “meh” or pointless. I’ve done my postal vote for Thursday.

Spoiling a ballot paper does not send out a message to anyone. There’s no way of knowing when you hear the number of spoiled papers how many did so as a protest or how many were too thick to know how to vote properly.

Tavannach · 21/05/2019 00:50

Spoiling a ballot paper does not send out a message to anyone. There’s no way of knowing when you hear the number of spoiled papers how many did so as a protest or how many were too thick to know how to vote properly.

You'd have to be seriously thick and also very isolated not to know how to vote. It's a simple matter and is explained carefully and patiently to those who need it.

slashlover · 21/05/2019 00:55

yourvotematters.eu/en/
www.whoshouldyouvotefor.com/index.php
www.whogetsmyvoteuk.com/#!/

Every one says SNP or Greens (if SNP is an option)

tobee · 21/05/2019 00:55

This thread is very heartening that so many people will be voting. Smile

Tavannach · 21/05/2019 01:03

I'm assuming you're in Scotland, so remain voter suggests Lib Dems.

Have a read of the website. Equally if you choose between SNP and the Greens it's hardly the wrong thing to do in this context.

happyhillock · 21/05/2019 01:07

I won't be voting, politician's alway's do what the hell they want wether i vote or not, i will complain all i want about politician's i pay tax i'm not exempt if i don't vote. Women died for the right for women to vote as it's a free country i chose not to,
politician's never do what the people want them to do they look after number 1 themselves.

twinsrunmylife · 21/05/2019 01:14

I agree with a pp in some sense that no vote says something but only if you go in and spoil your ballot by not going at all you really aren't saying anything you just look like someone who isn't bothered by the outcome.

I would urge everyone to vote but completely understand people's reasoning for not doing so but in those cases I just ask you to go along and spoil your ballot it says so much more than just not voting at all.

WillardJStevens · 21/05/2019 06:27

I won't be voting, politician's alway's do what the hell they want wether i vote or not, i will complain all i want about politician's i pay tax i'm not exempt if i don't vote. Women died for the right for women to vote as it's a free country i chose not to,
politician's never do what the people want them to do they look after number 1 themselves.

Of course it’s your right to choose not to vote.

However, in my view it is due to a largely disinterested and passive electorate that ‘politicians do whatever they want to do’. If people paid more attention, engaged and told their politicians their views (even if only during elections) and held their politicians to account when they do not represent their views (even if only during elections) then they would have to take more notice. The FPTP system doesn’t help, but if they are faced with an apathetic public they’ll do what they think is right, whether that fits with whatever the public are talking/ getting incensed about behind closed doors

In fact being Proportional Representation, your vote in the EU Parliament elections ‘count’ more so it baffles me that people don’t want to vote in these ones. For all the morning about the ‘undemocratic’ EU people don’t want to vote in the most democratic bit of it!!

WillardJStevens · 21/05/2019 06:31

Also a spoiled ballot paper shows that you cared enough to get off your arse and try to vote but that you couldn’t be convinced by any of the candidates.

I have worked at numerous counts and no one pays much attention to how they are spoiled —other than the amusing ones that counters giggle about after— but if there was a growing number of spoiled ballots above the usual number one would expect then I would imagine people would sit up and pay more attention to the spoiled ones.

Given the breadth of parties on the ballot I’d be surprised if you couldn’t find one that would broadly fit with your views. Have you even bothered looking up online to figure out which parties and candidates are being fielded in your area?