to ask if you've voted for a Police Commissioner yet?

[grovel]

I have. Not a very exciting experience.

[AnyaKnowIt]

I have spoiled my vote

I knew it was today but no idea who was standing, first time I've heard of that website.

[CremeEggThief]

Yes. The poll lady described the turnout as 'pitiful', at just before 6 p.m.

[cbeebiesatemybrain]

I've just been and the place was empty! The people in there said they were pleased to see someone so its been like that all day. I don't really agree with the idea but its going to happen anyway so I may as well have a say in who gets elected.

[nannynick]

Yes, just been, wasn't very busy though did see two people arrive as I was leaving.

In my area we fortunately have an Independent standing who also happens to be chairman of the policy authority, so they were the sensible vote I felt, as I don't want it to be a party political thing.

The ChooseMyPCC website address was printed on my polling card along with a 0800 number, so I used the website to look up the candidates - though I guess people without an internet connection could call for information.

[ilovesooty]

As I work in criminal justice I wouldn't consider not voting and I'll be going out in a few minutes. I shall be voting for the Labour candidate who simply appears best equipped to do the job.

I can't really see why anyone with an internet connection would say they haven't had any information. Our candidates have been on local radio too.

[R2PeePoo]

I voted to cancel out a vote for the English Democrat candidate.

I voted for one of the independents, but the polling station was empty. The polling people were bored enough to compete to entertain my children whilst I voted.

Both DC got the suffrage lecture on the way in.

[Loveweekends10]

Nope we won't be voting. It is a ridiculous idea. I don't want the police to be politicians. I want police to be police. It's based on an American system.
It's going to end up being a police service for the rich and powerful.
It fills me with dread, no one has even tried to alleviate those concerns. I wouldn't have a bloody clue who I would be voting for. I've seen no one!

[TheOldestCat]

Yes I voted. But mainly to help cancel out the English Democrat candidate, like R2PeePoo.

We're in favour of the election in this house, though, as it's DD's birthday and she thinks the school (polling station) was closed because of her big day. I had to use one of my precious 14 days of leave a year though (am trying not to be grumpy about this because of DD).

[fullofwoe]

I have spoilt my ballot paper by writing my objection on it.

[picnicbasketcase]

I have spoilt my ballot paper by taking it to Disney world, filling its room with expensive gadgets and buying it more chocolate than it could ever eat.

[BoakFace]

picnicbasketcase

[LineRunner]

I let mine climb all over library shelving.

[Bogeyface]

I didnt spoil mine because I am a far better voter than you. Mine didnt deserve anything so we stayed at home.

When I say something, I mean it, not like you PFV ers indulging your brats

[RuleBritannia]

I voted but did website homework first. We'd had one paper through the letter box about a candidate (conservative) which meant that his party paid for his what there was of a campaign - so I didn't vote for him. I voted for a UKIP for 1 and an Independent for 2. For once, I don't care who knows where my X went.

[picnicbasketcase]

Bogeyface

[SlightlySuperiorPeasant]

I didn't vote because I forgot In my defence:

1. Today was my first day on my own with a newborn and a toddler;
   
2. We have had a total of 2 leaflets through the door. That has been the entire 'campaign'. Both candidates seemed like nice enough blokes who might do a good job of whatever it is they're supposed to be doing so I don't really care who gets it; and
   
3. I think the whole idea is rubbish anyway and I was only going to vote because I think voting is a good thing to do.

[Bogeyface]

Slightly you didnt need to get passed #1 for that be a perfectly acceptable reason to not turn out!

[Bogeyface]

past...ffs.....I am soooo tired!

[Bogeyface]

no, it is passed isnt it?!

I cant even go to bed, I have to wait for the washer to finish its stupidly long cycle because I forgot that tomorrow is CIN day and the kids outfits werent clean

[LulaPalooza]

I'm in London, so no voting here.

We're stuck with that insufferable buffoon Boris as PCC

[Notquite]

I voted on the grounds that if you don't vote you cant whinge when G4S are running the local CID. Though in fact all the candidates insisted it was the furthest thought from their minds...

[Iodine]

I think the problem has been lack of information. I don't watch local TV or listen to the radio so havn't been reminded to look online for info about the candidates. I'm also much more likely to read something that has come through my door than to remember to search online for the info.

FWIW, I did a quick search today and came up with what looked like personal statements of the candidates. I don't care what school they went to or what their hobbies are FFS.

[Tiggles]

I spoilt my vote - if someone wants a job earning £100k I expect them to make an effort to get my vote, not have me searching for them on the net, which is what I wrote on the vote paper. I voted about 9pm, at which point there had been about 3% turn out in our ward!

[GrendelsMum]

I said that to the women manning the polling station, and they said that there wasn't any funding for mailout to people about the candidates, so if you didn't check online, you didn't find out anything about them.

We agreed that they could have managed something, even if it was a 1 page article summarising it all in the parish magazine or the village noticeboard!

[Bogeyface]

We had no information locally at all, not even in the local paper. As Littlemiss said, I expect a bit of effort on their part! And there was nothing on the local radio either, cant say about TV as I dont watch local news etc.