Straw poll: Are you voting tactically?

[Hereismyreply]

To explain what I mean by "tactical voting": imagine that you were the only voter in your constituency and therefore whichever candidate you voted for would become your MP. Which candidate would you vote for? Then think about which candidate you actually plan to vote for in real life. Are the two the same? If not, you are clearly voting tactically. It seems to me there are the following possible scenarios:

A. Yes, I'm voting tactically.

B. No, I don't need to vote tactically because the candidate I like best (a) does stand a decent chance of winning, or (b) is the candidate with the best chance of beating the person I really don't want as my MP.

C. No, I'm not voting tactically. The candidate I'm voting for stands no chance of winning, but I live in such a safe seat for one party that I might as well vote with my heart.

D. No, I'm not voting tactically. Even though it's not obvious who will win in my constituency, I am voting for a candidate who has no hope of winning. I'm doing that because as a matter of principle I want to support my preferred candidate/don't feel able to support any of the candidates who do stand a chance.

Think I've thought of all scenarios (assuming you are actually voting)! Which one are you? (I'm B.)

A

Barsh - the problem is that if lots of other people do the same as you and vote tactically then Corbyn could be pm! ‘Tactical voting’ as an idea only works on the premise that most people don’t do it. I think it is foolish to second guess everyone else and to vote for anyone other that your preferred candidate.

A
West Country 3 way swing seat
Current polling showing 35 tory 33 Labour 32 libdem 😕

A

Feel very frustrated about it but am desperate to be rid of the despicable Tory that is currently our local MP.

A

B (b)

A - but it’s a very safe seat, the MP got 62% of the last vote, despite being a complete shit. My vote will make pretty much zero difference to anything.

B but would vote the same way if it was A. It's a straight run between SNP and Tories here. I'm voting SNP, anyway but would do so to keep the Tories out.

C

I am also a "B, but would be A (anti-Tory) if necessary". Fortunately, I live in a constituency which the Tories clearly don't regard as winnable. (Hasn't had a Tory MP for a long time. Tories haven't bothered to campaign here.)

I would literally vote for a candidate ranging on the political spectrum from left wing of the Labour party to Dominic Grieve, according to who I judged to be most likely to beat the Tory. That is how damaging I think the Tories will be for this country.

Unfortunately C. I live in an area that the same party have held since the beginning of time and people vote for said party because their great, great grandfather always did instead of thinking for themselves.

C

C

Yes - just decided tonight bet reviewing the last election’s figures and frightening myself over how close we came to having a Tory.

I’m definitely in that anyone but Tory camp - and I will be voting tactically to ensure they are blocked from my constituency.

No I am voting for who I want to win even though there is no way they will ever win the seat ☹️

B (a) it’s a safe seat so I hope the candidate I like the best will win but otherwise I would vote tactically, it’s the only way with the current system imo.

Sort of C , the party I’m voting for doesn’t stand a chance of winning, but I cannot bring myself to vote for the one who might be able to win

This is because the one who will win has done a deal with 2 small parties ( Lib Dem & Green ) I cant vote for them

So thanks Plaid Cymru for taking my choice away 👎🏻

And to add, in response to the OP's latest, if I thought there was the remotest chance anyone could unseat my Labour MP I would vote tactically instead - that is how strongly I feel about Corbyn and Momentum.

A

A

A

C

C - I'm in a Tory safe seat with an absolute majority. Would vote for Labour, Lib Dem or anyone at all further left than the Tories if they had a realistic chance of defeating the Tory candidate, but they don't, so I'm voting with my ideals - the Green party.