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.)

32Bickles

No.
I am voting LibDem in a swing Labour/ Tory seat. I usually vote Tory. We had a Labour MP last time who was very good and a Remainer.

I am in a Tory safe seat where if every non-Tory bit was for a single party they would still have their seat. But I live right next to a pretty marginal (less than 1000 votes in it, pro remain MP in pro leave area), and have been campaigning hard for tactical voting, including this kind. We've been asking people to consider a Tory Lib Dem switch off they can't countenance a labour vote. In this constituency our MP only won last time due to massively depressed lib Dem and green votes so I really do believe tactical voting can make a difference.

B

But would be A if my preferred candidate wasn't the most likely challenger to the incumbent.

B

E) Looks like I'm voting for my MP for the first time ever. I'm over 60 and voted Labour all my life in a true blue tory area.

I can't bring myself to vote Labour with this shower in charge even if they do manage to plant enough magic money trees. I don't want my grandchildren paying for them.

I won't vote LibDem or anyone else because I voted for us to leave the EU. And the LibDem leader is too proud off their ConDem past.

I would probably vote Brexit but unfortunately I don't have the choice.

Not sure I will be able to put a cross in the box for a tory when it comes to it. Even if he is a good constituency MP.

Maybe I will spoil the paper.

My 24 year old is aiming to be first in the queue when he votes on the way to work. He is voting Labour. I brought him up too well.

A - one of the safest fucking Tory seats going but they’ve just stepped down so I’m voting for the one party which may, may just have a chance of winning (if the voters who voted for those who have zero chance also vote tactically) I’ve probably just given away where I live now

A

A

A

A

D

A

E - I'm spoiling my paper.

A.

Made easier by the fact that the I’d previously met the candidate for my natural first choice party in another setting. Found her to be both patronising and patently untrustworthy.

So I’m voting for another party, who have a good chance of beating the incumbent. The sitting MP won the seat by a narrow margin last time, and the party I am now voting for had held the seat reasonably comfortably for a while.

C I think - safe Tory seat but voting for the Independent candidate who has been a great local councillor, voted Remain and is heavily involved in the community. He has no chance at all of winning but would be miles above the idiot we have representing us at the moment.

A

B

I've changed my mind. I'll vote for the party I really believe in. If I vote tactically I'll be voting for a party whose policies are the opposite of what I really want and I can't bring myself to do it.

It's fucking shite actually.

A

A

A - I'm voting Lib Dem but would vote Labour if I could.

A

A
Voting Lib Dem
Heart says Green
Please god she can do it

B. I’ve always lived in areas where that’s the case, I hadn’t really imagined how frustrating it might be to want to vote for one party but having to vote tactically.

A and swapped my vote

A.
Didn't want to vote too 2 and defo not
Lib Dem so didn't have any other choice in my area.