to think banksy has gone too far this time?

[Dandandandandandandan]

//www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-40167008?ocid=socialflow_twitter&ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source=twitter

[user1489675144]

Perhaps Banksy is worried about the funding cuts to police, the NHS, education and social care. Maybe he is annoyed that billionnaires who own most of the press have their companies registered offshore to pay no tax yet tell people who pay tax how they should vote.

Who knows?

[ComputerUserNotTrained]

Tim Farron has promised me an original Tom of Finland if I put my cross in his box on Thursday.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

I stand corrected although I would have thought this could lead to abuse of the system if there is a pile of papers with votes on just being shoved in the ballot box at the end.
On counting do they count the number of people who voted against the number of ballot papers received from each polling station.

Seems very open to abuse

[Calyrical]

I think democracy really just doesn't matter to some people. Fair enough I suppose. I noticed this during the referendum: many people not only thought the question should never have been asked but having been asked the answer should be ignored.

The problem with demanding people vote "against the Tories" (which effectively means a vote for Labour for most people) is not that it might influence people one way or the other. It's that the people it will influence won't be swayed by it - however the people it won't may see it as a message not against the conservatives but against the democratic process. That's how I see it. Unfortunately the gesture, however well meant, has tarred Labour with that process.

[Toysaurus]

Be assured the people of Bristol are really not this stupid. Most of us anyway.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Toysaurus unfortunately some will think they are in with a chance of getting something .

Offering something to an individual for their vote seems pretty illegal and any Labour candidate voted in , in Bristol will always have the question did they get in on policy or because there votes were because some one wanted a pretty picture

[Argeles]

I think it's disgraceful, and I hope he's dealt with accordingly.

[BringMeTea]

I really can't get worked up over this. Maybe focus on tory campaigning irregularities if you're interested in the rule of law around elections.

[StripyHorse]

It's been withdrawn www.google.co.uk/amp/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/40170559

[Coddiwomple]

It's a good publicity stunt, but on a serious note, I am glad we are still living in a country where it's illegal to pay for votes.
I am getting really bored of these people who are all in favour of the democratic process, as long as their chosen party wins

Defend your candidate, express your views, share your information, by all means. If the majority doesn't agree with you, then too bad. Keep getting involved, your message can still go through.

[CrossWordSalad]

I really can't get worked up over this. Maybe focus on tory campaigning irregularities if you're interested in the rule of law around elections.

You might not be bothered but luckily in a democracy, that's not how it works. Attempts at election fraud are taken seriously whoever commits them.

Are you under the impression that it is only Tories who have been convicted for election fraud? If you are, that is not the case.

[BringMeTea]

As far as I am aware (I'm sure someone will correct me if necessary) we are talking about violating electoral law (conservatives) v election expenses (labour and the lib dems). And very many conservative mps at that though not all are being/have been prosecuted.

Banksy's offer of a print for proof of not voting conservative pales in comparison.

[CrossWordSalad]

I'm bemused why people are trying to defend it. It's illegal, immoral and undemocratic. It has wasted police time when I imaging they have better things to do, but they can't turn a blind eye as these things are slippery slopes. Yes, there are worse crimes

[AlpacaPicnic]

olivermumsarmy

If you make a mistake on your ballot paper, you have to hand it in to the Polling clerks, who mark it as clearly spoiled and collect it and any others in a specially marked envelope. Then the number of the spoiled paper is noted on the sheet that the clerks mark your electoral number on, and a second paper can be issued. As long as it hasn't been posted into the ballot box then it's fine to be reissued.

And yes, they do count the number of papers in the box against the number of papers given out. The total is marked down hourly and counted and any discrepancy at the end of the day has to be accounted for.

[AlpacaPicnic]

How to vote

For anyone who may not be sure of procedure.

Also worth noting is that is you have been issued with a postal vote, but you have not posted it in time, you can hand the whole envelope in to any polling station in your ward. I think that is something that people may not be aware of.

[PacificDogwod]

I think Banksy would/does love this whole discussion

[Buxtonstill]

He is a vandal. Graffiti is awful and a complete scourge in cities. Don't care if he thinks he is talented. So do all the other graffiti artists. There should be the heaviest penalties for defacing property and buildings.

[squoosh]

People pray he'll deface their building with his graffiti.