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?

All spoilt ballots are viewed by the candidates or their agents so that it is agreed that they are 'spoiled'.
Absolutely.
That was definitely the best part of observing the count when I did it

TwatFace it's not about not being "arsed" it's about trying to make the best use of party resources and finances which are very much finite. It makes absolute sense not to field candidates that are goingt to get acouple of dozen votes and loose their deposit.

For example I have been out campaigning in a constituency 10 miles away which is currenty labour but under serious threat. That's a sensible use of my time and energy rather than knocking on 300 doors on the offchance I'll find one voter who might think about voting labour which would make no difference to the result anyway.

I find it amazing that so many people thnk that ony brainless idiots spoil their papers for a laugh.

But you will never change a safe seat if you give up. People's views change, I know it may seem pointless now to get 1/2 a dozen but next time it might be higher then and so on... It's a long term view I know.
But not to at the very least having your name on a ballot paper, IMO is as bad as people not turning out to vote. People want a choice and to be-able to express that choice through a vote.

A family member has run for the green party in the locals, because there was only a choice of 2 and one is classed as a 'safe' seat. But they thought it was about time people actually have a choice.

It's this kind of sloppy politics of ' no point'
That actually leaves the doors open for partys like ukip.

Sorry that was ^^ for bit

It costs nothing to stand as a candidate in local elections. It costs money to fight it, but the major parties usually have a paper candidate at least, so that supporters don't get into the habit of putting their cross against another party.

thefallen
Indeed, but in Westminster elections it costs £500 per candidate - times by 650 ....

and its very unusual to have all three levels voting on the same day

Is there a constituency (outside NI) in which Labour isn't fielding a candidate? The comment was about local elections, for which there is not a deposit.

So bit if there is no deposit for a local candidate. Then why isn't there a labour box to tick on your ballot paper?

In 30 years of voting I was tempted myself to spoil my paper today. Faced with voting for the liars, the muppets, the fuckwits and the downright lunatics, the urge to scrawl "bunch of wankers" across the paper was strong.

You could be the labour candidate on your ballot paper. You'd have someone to vote for then. And so would the other labour supporters in your ward.

On principle I vote at every election and if I really don't like any of the candidates I draw my own box labelled "none of the above" and put my cross in it. Like others, I believe it's better than not bothering to vote; it shows I'm engaged in the process, just don't like the candidates. I spoiled my ballot paper in the police commissioner elections because I thought it was a total load of bollocks...which is pretty much what I put in part of the rant I wrote on my paper. Thankfully this time I am very much in favour of one particular party and was able to vote for their candidate in both parts.

I spoilt one of my ballot papers today (the one for local councillors). I could choose between 4 different Tories and a liberal. I wrote on the paper this is not a democratic vote. Whether doing that makes any difference or not I don't know. I was simply appalled that there was not a labour, green or independent candidate - maybe it is a forgone conclusion where I live that the Tories will win all votes but there ought to at least be some opposition. Appalled from xxxxxxxxshire.

You could stand yourself perhaps? All you need is 10 signatures. Ballots are undemocratic when people don't put themselves forward for them.

4 Tories standing against each other? Or were 4 seats in the same ward all up for grabs at the same time?

I think a "None of the above" option should be included and all votes for that category counted and announced at the declaration along with the numbers of votes cast for candidates. If the parties had to recognise just how many people are disillusioned with them they might just have to think again, or at least think for a change.

A couple of posts have mentioned the situation in the speaker's constituency. Not only do you not have a realistic choice but in terms of Parliamentary votes, you are unrepresented. What happens to the normal constituency business. Does that happen or do you have to do without that too?

I'm very politically engaged and have voted in every election (general, euro, county, district & parish council ) since I turned 18. This is the first time I've spoiled my ballot - it was on the local election part. I wrote a comment.

My vote in the general election won't make a difference in this seat, but I still voted for the party I wanted to vote for and not tactically (as the tactics would have to include bumping off 90% of the population, it's such a safe seat even though our MP was one of those feathering his own nest(s) during the expenses scandal ).

Ballot spoiling felt strangely more empowering than the vote casting. I think that speaks volumes.

I tell you what twatface next time I het up early to go leafletting or canvassing at crack of dawn on a Sunday, I'll have your lecture ringing in my fucking ears eh?

I agree with your long-termism, TwartFace

So why don't you stand for Labour in your ward BitOut? Genuinely? I was in a similar position, politically active but in a stronghold for another party, and I stood myself several times, really just to get an alternative of the ballot.

bit if commend you on your dedication, but all that's needed from what I can see, is it to get labour to make sure there is candidate from them in the local elections. Instead of giving out a 'we can't be bothered attitude', which isn't very confidence inspiring in the party on a whole, and could make people wonder why they should bother giving them allegiance in the parliamentary elections,

Ok twatface I'll explain it again. It is not a matter of not being arsed. Far from it. I can assure you that we very much CAN be arsed.

It's a matter of using money and resources in the most effective and efficacious way. As a labour voter in a staunch Tory constituency I can absolutely 100% understand why the party decides not to field a candidate and am happy for the party - and me - to concentrate on winnable seats

So perhaps you can understand why your lecture about how I need to get more politically engaged is, to say the least, rather galling

TheFallenMadonna I give as much time and energy as I can afford as a FT working lone parent.

But good for you

Ok bit I heard blah blah after the first sentence.

Because we have been talking about local election, which has been established does not need money, just a candidate to go on the ballot paper.

As you said you spoilt your vote because there was not a labour candidate.

I said that must piss labour voters off that labour could not be arsed to put a candidate in the local election.

I FULLY understand what you are saying about time and resources in the parliamentary elections. (although it would be nice if there was T&R available)