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

[grovel]

I have. Not a very exciting experience.

I nearly boycotted it, but there were candidates who I definitely didn't want to get in, so I voted. Having seen how spoilt ballot papers are ignored, I didn't spoil mine as the only person who would take any notice would be me.

"I'm in London, so no voting here.

We're stuck with that insufferable buffoon Boris as PCC"

in solidarity with Lula

Though I spoke to my parents an hour or so ago, they had just been to vote (like OP, also in Sussex) because they know one of the candidates (the one with experience of the police board). Polling people said turnout had been crap apparantly.

I voted but we also had a by-election here today. I also took my PFB to vote for the first time.

I had to scuttle past the poor man that had the misfortune to try to canvass at my house on Saturday morning while I was in the throes of PMT. I nearly bit his head off

I wonder (and hope) whether Independents will win a lot of positions, as it seems to me that its quite likely that those who vote will tend to have strong feelings that this should either not happen at all or at least have nothing to do with politics.

In our house DH, DD and I are all eligible to vote and have all decided not to, much as that grieves me.

Our area has 4 candidates, all representing political parties so no independents. None of them have campaigned and their campaign statements on the PCC website are almost identical.

I have voted as I couldn't waste a vote as a feminist.

That doesn't mean I agree with the system. Its wrong that
A) only one person is accountable -surely an elected committee would be better, less chance of corruption
B) the police should Not be politically affiliated

Car broken into no response just an incident number. Last house vandalised and constant anti social behaviour reported. Nothing. Couldn't give a shit about the new police commissioner.

WineGless, what was happening before? An unelected committee selected by Councils by the political vote (plus a few unelected independents-always the minority).

I havent, there are few truly independent candidates (basically because it costs too much to campaign) do who paid for it? A total waste of money, I told DH to go for it (he works in the police) he told me he wasn't qualified. Neither are the rest of them. If there is a job there people should have applied and be interviewed. Politicians running the police. Grrrrrrrr

I voted for Ann Barnes.

mamababa, but who was running the police authorities before?

I voted but the place was deserted.

I was talking to some pensioners outside, who told me they had no idea it was voting day. They immediately went over to the polling station to vote.

I suspect that there will be a lot of older people who have missed it due to not having internet access and/or the confidence and ability to use it.

I didn't vote today, and it's my first time ever (well, apart from when I was on honeymoon for the general election and couldn't sort out a postal or proxy vote in time).

It pained me really, as I do think everybody should exercise their right to vote, but DS has been really demanding today and the one time I could have gone to vote... he had a randomly long nap. TBH if it was a general election, or by-election, I'm sure I would have found a way round it. But I feel so disengaged from this this - we've had no information or communication from candidates, and when I did log onto the website to look at who to vote for, over half of the candidates hadn't even bothered to give particularly useful information about themselves, so I wouldn't even have been making a very informed decision. If even they can't be arsed, it's just a sham.

coppertop, I think that's the shocking bit. The idea may be OK but the campaign has been awful and unfair.

I always use my vote, but couldn't this time because we moved house before the election but our polling cards were issued to our home address . I would have voted if I could.

I didn't say that I agreed with the previous system, however the amount that has been spent on this non election would have funded 3,500 police officers

Grovel a group of different people that make up the PA has got to be better than one person who has the power to hire and fire a chief constable? How can that be a good thing. Ultimately of course the police is run by politicians anyway ie the Home Office but I would hope that a Chief constable who knows a thing or two about policing is better equipped than having to keep one politician happy

kdiddy, don't feel bad.
Actually they can be arsed but don't have the means to canvass.

I spoilt my ballot paper. If those standing want me to be engaged with the idea they should come to me and not me chasing them up.

When DH went to vote, 9pm ish, the staff said turnout was 7.5%.

Looked all our lot up on line - they all looked like your typical overfed councillors with personal axes to grind except one "independent" who seemed very namby pamby and had a very waffly statement. So I sent in a spoilt postal vote, as I always feel compelled to use my vote. But I have the distinct feeling that these commissionners don't really understand policing (bit like Cameron wanting a load of volunteers to run libraries, only more scary!)

I always vote, so I did this time, but it was a very uninspiring experience. I had been undecided as to whether to spoil my ballot paper or vote for the independent and in the end did the latter. Empty when DH and I went, though that was 9.15pm so late on. It has been a real shame that it was felt to not be worth allocating funds to sending out some proper information.

I spoilt my ballot for the pcc. Can't bring myself to not bother to vote but know nothing about the candidates and in any case am uneasy about party politics and policing.

I'm in London, so no (except indirectly at the last Mayoral election).

I wonder what the % of spoiled papers will be - that, combined with low turnout, will tell a really interesting story should the powers-that-be decide they want to look at it ...

I feel quite ashamed as I haven't voted. I am 53 and it is the first time since being eligible to vote that I have failed to do so.

I have always banged on about the Suffragettes and women dying so that we could have the right to vote, but somehow I really just couldn't be arsed for this one.