to wonder why people spoil their ballot papers?

[RedButtonhole]

What does it achieve? Surely you'd be as well not voting, or am I missing the point?

It shows you turned up and you care, you just don't want to vote for anything on offer. Not turning up doesn't separate you from the apathetic non voters.

This might be the first election I spoil my vote.
I honestly do not want to vote for anyone they're IMO a complete shower-but I feel obligated to turn up.

That's why.

it's a protest vote, the spoilt ballots are counted so it is recorded. If we had a 'none of the above' box people wouldn't need to spoil their ballots.

I'm tempted to scrawl wankers across it .. But I don't want to be rude to the person tallying up the votes - perhaps a disclaimer * not you tally person

It shows you aren't part of 'voter apathy' and in fact might be part of 'why are all the parties so shit and so similar' instead.

Because I would never not vote. I want my voice to be heard.

I don't think I would do it for a national election - we need a "none of the above" option IMVHO.

But I did do it for one of the last local elections, because the candidates were a shambles.

As PPs have said it exercises my right to vote. They count spoilt papers too so they can see the level of annoyance (although some are accidentally spoilt e.g. crossing too many boxes)

My DH does this usually for general elections as he doesn't want to vote for any of the parties on offer. Spoiling a ballot is the only way to register a "none of the above" vote. DH says it is a way to be a part of democracy whilst not having to vote for anyone you absolutely don't have faith in.

Just come back to say, people died to give me the vote. I want my hands on that precious piece of paper, even if the people on it are dreadful.

To turn it around, what does it achieve if you vote for a party despite feeling none of them represent you? As other posters say, it shows you care about your vote. As things stand, I feel that whichever way I vote I'd be making the wrong decision. I don't want to vote 'none of the above,' quite honestly.

Couldn't agree more Mrs TP. I would feel very, very guilty if I didn't vote (and wasn't ill). A lot of people all over the world aren't as lucky as us and aren't able to vote. The struggles of the women's movement to get me the vote shouldn't be wasted - but if I didn't believe in what any of the candidates stood for, then spoiling my ballot paper is the only way to show this.

They get lots of statistics from who votes and who doesn't. Young people have poor turn out so policies don't focus on them. Older people have a good turn out, pensions are always mentioned, so is inheritance tax.

If you and people like you don't vote, then policies won't be built around your demographic.

So from a selfish point of view, if you want the politicians to listen, you need to vote.

Not to mention that people died so that you had the right. Spoiling a ballot paper is respecting that right. Not voting is not.

As PP have said, it's because I want to vote, but I don't want to vote for any of the idiots people listed.

I have spoiled my local vote ballot paper as the only options for candidates were Tories.

It is seen as a way of registering a protest vote when you don't like any of the available options but want to use your right to vote. I would like to have a "none of the above" option on the ballot paper too.

I have never spoiled my ballot paper, tempting though it is this time around. I like to vote and of course the vote for women was particularly long and hard fought for. I believe in using it. Somehow.

We don't have a perfect system, but we have to work with what we have. This is the way some people choose to do that.

The candidates and their agents see spoiled ballot papers at the count, as they have to agree with the returning offer to discount them. The contested ones, where there may be a suggestion of an attempt to vote (e.g. a smiley face instead of a cross) are discussed and hopefully agreement reached whether to accept or reject.

So if you want to send a secret message to a candidate, it could be fun.

Ok, it makes more sense now, thankyou!

I've never been in a position where I haven't wanted to vote for someone so hadn't really given it alot of thought. I can see now how it still allows you to be counted. It makes me mad when people don't bother to vote so I'm glad I can differentiate now.

Liner runner : if that's the case each candidate will get a personal message !

I didn't know that Linerunner I've only ever done it once and I put a line through. Wish I'd been more creative now.

I was going to do this and started a thread to ask this and other questions.

Somebody politely asked me what I would do if the party I didn't want to get in did?
A brilliant answer, so I went away and am comparing 2 parties now to make my decision.
I have been wavering for weeks, but won't spoil the paper now.
I hope this helps.

I've done it once as I really didn't want to vote for any of them. I will always turn up and exercise my right to vote because women fought and died for me to have that right.

The candidates are able to inspect spoiled papers, so in a sense the "spoilers" are able to make a direct, personal appeal.

My OH just wants to write 'Fuck off' in the box next to his most hated candidate, but I agree we should be more creative.

Actually I might take a miniature print-out of the MN bat and pritt stick it next to my favourite candidate. The least favourite would get Peter Andre.