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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to protest vote?

51 replies

CaptainObviousTwo · 22/05/2017 21:40

And simply write "none" on my ballet slip? though "they're all wankers" would probably get my point across more efficiently

I think its really really important to vote, especially as a woman. HOWEVER...

I don't like any of the parties. None of them have a manifesto where I solidly support the majority of their points. Or even many of their points.
None of them are going to/going to be able to fulfill all their promises anyway.
all Most of them are inconsistent and hypocritical.

From what I understand, protest votes get counted so if they're enough of them it would make a valid point.

AIBU?

Surely no one can say that they 100% agree with one party totally and 100% reject the others?

OP posts:
mulberryytree · 22/05/2017 22:12

I counted in the last general election, they don't get counted, they just go into a pile of what is basically rubbish, it's a waste, but if it makes you feel better...

acquiescence · 22/05/2017 22:33

Yabu.
It is unlikely that any party manifesto is going to be perfectly what you agree with. Look at some of the key points and consider where you stand.

A good starting point would be: do you use and value the NHS? Yes- vote labour. No (for example if you have private healthcare) vote tories.

I know this sounds simplistic but it is one of the more significant issues.

I was told by a teacher at school 'if you choose not to use your vote then you waive your right to complain about public services and policy' and I have remembered this ever since.

WhereDoesThisRoadGo · 23/05/2017 00:32

I hate to tell you, OP, but the term 'protest vote' is made up by propoganda pushers. As a count manager, we collect SPOILED votes and have them verified by the returning officer that they can't be included. More often than not, someone has not made their vote clear or signed the vote sheet, only about 1/20 are obvious protest votes. So waste your vote if you wish, but be aware it has little impact on anything other than the volunteers who have to separate your slip from the proper votes.

Italiangreyhound · 23/05/2017 00:44

"I don't like any of the parties." then form one of your own.

"None of them have a manifesto where I solidly support the majority of their points. Or even many of their points." Then join a political party and campaign for what you want or write to your MP to influence them.

"None of them are going to/going to be able to fulfill all their promises anyway." Possibly neither is anyone else you meet, everyone if flawed, even the M and S food advert is an exaggeration, you know, but we still love food!

"Most of them are inconsistent and hypocritical." Maybe, yes, but again, so are a lot of people but we need to engage with them, hold them to account.

"From what I understand, protest votes get counted so if they're enough of them it would make a valid point."

What is the point of making a point? Who do you think will step in to run the country because of a protest vote?

"Surely no one can say that they 100% agree with one party totally and 100% reject the others?" That is not really it though, is it.

You are voting for the party, or leader, or party and leader that you think will do their best to fulfill the policies that best represent their party and that you most agree with.

If you really cannot do that then it doesn't much matter if you spoil your paper or just don't vote, IMHO. But there is nothing to stop you from putting yourself in the picture if you think you could do better.

DJBaggySmalls · 23/05/2017 00:50

Protest votes allowed Brexit to go ahead, got BNP and UKIP MP's in, and will kill the NHS. YABVU.

LellyMcKelly · 23/05/2017 01:03

YANBU. Do whatever you want with your ballot paper - that's your right, be be aware that it will influence nothing.

ScarlettFreestone · 23/05/2017 01:08

StillDriving what nonsense!

Captain you can spoil your paper of course but a government still needs to be chosen. We can't choose "spoiled papers".

The options may not be great but we still have to pick one of them I'm afraid.

I'd rather feel like I had a hand in the process even if my preference doesn't get chosen.

Italiangreyhound · 23/05/2017 01:10

Scarlet " We can't choose "spoiled papers". " Brilliant, and so true.

Lozzy5790 · 23/05/2017 01:40

I say YANBU. I think the act of turning up at the polling station shows you are interested and care about how the country is run. Make sure to check that you haven't any independents running in your constituency- they might suit you to a T.

But if no one on the ballot is agreeable to you then spoil your ballot. Write "none of the above" or score them all out. Party members will be at the count and there is a table there which looks at the spoiled ballots - they will notice them, but I can't say they'll take them into consideration.

I think spoiling your ballot isn't as good as voting properly, but it's a dawned sight better than those who don't bother.

BoneyBackJefferson · 23/05/2017 06:53

Much as people (on here) hate it spoiling your ballot is a valid option.

harderandharder2breathe · 23/05/2017 06:58

It's pointless. You might as well not bother voting.

Virtually nobody agrees 100% with any party. You go for the least worst option.

kalinkafoxtrot45 · 23/05/2017 07:00

Waste of a vote that women fought for. Better to go out and use it as well as you can.

AlternativeTentacle · 23/05/2017 07:07

It really isn't that hard.

Pick the issue you care about the most.

Pick the party that will affect the issue you care about the most in the way you think you would like it to go and vote for them.

If you care about nothing and no-one at all, not about people in school, not about people who can't afford to eat, not people who work for a pittance in zero hours contracts, not people who are ill, not people who may get ill, not people who are already needing care and therapy, not those with disabilities or special needs, not the environment - then maybe get yourself to a private healthcare clinic and get checked to see if you have a heartbeat.

Coulddowithanap · 23/05/2017 07:19

The spoiled votes are counted and number announced in my area (I've been working as a counter for around 10 elections)

GuntyMcGee · 23/05/2017 07:30

As others have said, an unused vote, spoiled paper or protest vote won't make a difference to who get into power. Surely it would be more use to society for you to decide who's policy you identify with, (and remember that you won't agree with every part of a manifesto) and vote for them. It's about choosing the lesser of the evils really.

If you have the opportunity to vote, please don't waste it. Not voting, spoiling your ballot paper et al on the whole means nothing. It's a waste and it's allowing the rest of our society to speak for you. Your single vote will make a difference.

As my dad always said 'if you don't vote, you can't complain if we end up with a crappy government or ruling party'.

DeadGood · 23/05/2017 07:34

Nah, don't spoil your vote. Just vote tactically to keep the Conservatives out

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 23/05/2017 07:36

Those that are eligible have a vote. It is up to them to do with it as they wish whether you agree or not. (As long as iys legal of course). It's a democracy.

squishee · 23/05/2017 07:44

You're lucky to have the right to vote. So YABVVVU IMHO.
My ex spoiled his general election ballot paper in a country where I didn't have the right to vote as a recent expat. Was one of the reasons why I dumped him.

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 23/05/2017 08:04

Spoiled votes are acknowledged in the count, but not their motivation. Spoiling is better than abstaining in that unusually high numbers may be a sign of dissatisfaction whereas a low turn out may be a symptom of apathy.

I have spoiled for police commissioner elections as there was no information distributed to select a candidate. The first time I'd even seen the names was on the ballot paper. A high number of spoils was reported.

For a general election, what is the usual outcome for you area? Is it a safe seat where there will always be a clear margin in the tens of thousands for anything with a red/ blue rosette and a pulse, or is it a marginal seat where the outcome really does depend on each vote. The seat next to mine had the incumbent lose by less than 100 votes in 2015. On that scale, every vote/ spoil contributes to the outcome.

If it's clearly a safe seat with restricted choice of candidates then that is a better situation for spoiling than where the result is more fluid.

For me, I'm in a safe seat. I favour the 3rd (well currently 4th after 2015) party. I can't see them getting the seat. I have no intention of voting for the second party for a large variety of reasons. Although I can't currently bring myself to vote for the party that the current MP represents, she's actually a decent constituency MP with a decent local presence so I'd rather use my vote for a no chance candidate than support a party I have multiple concerns about in order to obstruct the current MP.

MeowWoof · 23/05/2017 10:14

Protest voting brought us Brexit. Don't do it.

ExplodedCloud · 23/05/2017 10:23

@Awwlookatmybabyspider
That's definitely not true. Spoiled papers are not allocated as a vote for any party.

BoneyBackJefferson · 23/05/2017 18:53

squishee
You're lucky to have the right to vote. So YABVVVU IMHO.
My ex spoiled his general election ballot paper in a country where I didn't have the right to vote as a recent expat. Was one of the reasons why I dumped him.

You dumped for exercising his democratic right in the way that he wanted! wow.

Mouikey · 23/05/2017 19:40

They all get counted and get read. They are also shown to all the candidates whi have to agree that it is a spoilt ballot paper!

As a counter in the past I love the protest votes as they give me a smile when I'm counting!

squishee · 24/05/2017 12:15

@BoneyBackJefferson

Yep - among other things, as I said.

OOAOML · 24/05/2017 12:28

When I counted (good few years ago now) all the 'doubtful' papers were put in a pile and after the rest of the counting they were reviewed by the candidates and their agents - some were clearly votes for a candidate but just not in standard format (I remember one that had a smiley face) others were confused (eg votes for multiple candidates) and some were very rude. From watching coverage of counts, adjudication of these papers still happens, so your paper will be seen by the agents/candidates - for that reason if you really can't vote for anyone then why not make it clear why you are spoiling your paper? I spoiled a council ballot once because all the main parties had pissed me off locally, so I wrote them a list. It didn't count as anything other than a spoiled paper, but I felt it was the only way I could have my say at the time. However, I also felt that due to the way the council operated it wasn't going to make that much difference. I'd find it much harder to do in a General Election, unless I lived in a seat with a massive majority.