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Straw poll: Are you voting tactically?

194 replies

Hereismyreply · 11/12/2019 20:36

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.)

OP posts:
CountFosco · 12/12/2019 08:38

A.

We're in one of the Tories key target seats. Don't want Brexit, don't want Boris Johnson as PM, we have a good standing Labour MP who I respect. Labour is not going to win a majority (thankfully, hate Corbyn's policies, he is far too far left and far too far dogmatic) and so I'm voting for a hung parliament. Plus the LDs have made it clear they don't want my vote so I've lost my political home.

AllYouGoodGoodPeople · 12/12/2019 09:28

A

But it was a struggle and I'm still wanting to run down the road and get it back Grin I wanted to do C but there was a glimmer of hope that A would work.

Skyejuly · 12/12/2019 09:28

C

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

LolaSmiles · 12/12/2019 09:31

B

The candidate I like the best has a reasonable chance of winning.

If someone was going to tactically vote in my constituency (marginal) then my preferred candidate would be the tactical vote.

Wauden · 12/12/2019 19:19

Changed my mind as I went with my heart. The present MP has a strong majority and the other main party is not really what I stand for.

Hereismyreply · 12/12/2019 21:03

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply! I have read all the replies with interest. If it were up to the posters on this thread, Boris Johnson would not be getting his majority. But I am enough of a realist to realise that a group of MNers who respond to a thread with "voting tactically" in the title might not be a representative sample of the electorate as a whole Grin

OP posts:
SJaneS48 · 12/12/2019 21:05

A - much good it’ll do in my area!

Milbo · 12/12/2019 21:07

C

BeyondVotesForFlube · 12/12/2019 21:11

A and E (spoiled)

I have voted tactically and made a note on the ballot so it is technically spoilt. Up to the counters whether they count it as A or E.

KenAdams · 12/12/2019 21:21

A

Wynona · 12/12/2019 21:22

D

Justajot · 12/12/2019 21:23

B, but would happily do A.

Shadowboy · 12/12/2019 21:23

A

BrokenWing · 12/12/2019 21:44

E - I refuse to even consider tactical voting and vote for the candidate I support. I'd love to see the results if everyone just voted for the party they were most aligned with rather than playing amateur politics games which are as dishonest as the politicians they complain about.

Tiredandgrumpytonight · 12/12/2019 21:46

Voted tactically - wouldn’t have voted otherwise

ProfShillyShally · 13/12/2019 10:56

E - I refuse to even consider tactical voting and vote for the candidate I support. I'd love to see the results if everyone just voted for the party they were most aligned with rather than playing amateur politics games which are as dishonest as the politicians they complain about.

Hear, hear @BrokenWing

ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy · 13/12/2019 17:12

If we didn't have the ridiculous FPTP system we wouldn't even have to think about tactical voting. We should have PR, and THEN we'll see what the political landscape is!

fedup21 · 13/12/2019 17:15

If we didn't have the ridiculous FPTP system we wouldn't even have to think about tactical voting. We should have PR, and THEN we'll see what the political landscape is!

Didn’t Nigel Farage say last night something about forming a Reform party which would campaign for PR?!

ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy · 13/12/2019 17:16

Did he?! Bloody hell. I suppose he needs to do something when his job goes next month!

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