To think deliberately spoiling a ballot paper......

[needmorebalance]

Is the same as not voting at all?!

No, they count blank and spoiled papers, it shows parties that you don't relate to any of them and there is a whole number of people who feel like that.
Not voting at all makes you a statistic of people too lazy to go vote in political parties eyes.

But how do the parties know which are spoilt deliberately and which aren't?

Surely it can't be measured as an act of defiance if there is no way of knowing which are accidentally spoilt or not?

When people spoil them they tend to do it obviously deliberate e.g massive penis or f*ck you written on it

You can get another paper if you accidentally spoil your paper.

They are stupid and it's a stupid thing to do.

But if enough people gave the same message - a concise "None of the above" would that no t send a message? It bloody well should.

A person who spoils is a person who bothers to turn up and engage with the process: a person worth targeting next time.

A person who doesn't vote at all isn't worth their while.

And I imagine the profanities and drawings of cocks lighten the mood slightly during counting, which must be stultifying.

No, it's a perfectly valid means of protest and indication of lack of faith in the political system.

It's not stupid, it's a valid form of protest. I'd rather the disaffected went and spoiled their ballot to show that it's a conscious refusal, instead of just not show up and therefore not being counted at all.

Write a treatise or your shopping list on it, doesn't matter, don't just not show up.

Many years ago as a student, not in this country, I volunteered to count ballot papers in an election. People write all sorts of stuff on their ballots, or draw pictures. Some vote appropriately but still draw a little picture or a short message like "hi dickhead!" Others very obviously spoil their ballots like PP said above with people writing "fuck your politics" "suck my cock" or just scribbling all over the paper.

the speaker is Buckinghamshire's mp and none of the main parties oppose him. He doesn't vote so people are understandably frustrated at not having a proper vote for a representative.

It has been noted they have the highest level of spoiled ballot papers so someone is obviously paying attention.

I had 4 candidates to choose from today (much less than usual). I didn't want to vote for any of them, none of them stand for me, for various reasons. My vote counts for absolutely nothing because the incumbent party in this area has a very large majority and is always re elected every 4 years. So, for the first time, I put my cross in all 4 boxes and wrote "nobody decent to vote for". Maybe it was stupid, but it's how I felt, and it will be just as effective as picking the best of a very bad bunch in my area..ie: both actions are equally ineffective.

Cider: "But if enough people gave the same message - a concise "None of the above" would that no t send a message? It bloody well should."

Gosh, that would really show them.

No it's not valid it's cowardly.

Emily Davidson did not die for twats to draw cocks on a ballot paper.

That's a strange image I know.

They count and announce the number of spoiled ballot papers.

How it cowardly?

No it's not the same as not voting at all.
Not voting is being silent
Spoiling your ballot is saying something - that you are not happy with any of the political parties

How do you accidentally spoil your ballot?

Surely if it's spoilt, it's pretty clear

The joys of democracy really I.e. You can choose how you vote. 😀👍

It not 'advertised' as a way of registering protest though, which is a shame.

Spoiling shows you care enough to turn up, whereas just not voting is the exact opposite.

YABU- it is not the same at all as not voting.

You have specifically gone out of your way to participate in the democratic process, you've turned up at a polling station. It means you want to express that none of the options available to you are satisfactory. It is a statement.

It's as others have said, it shows engagement in the process & dissatisfaction with the options available. It's absolutely NOT stupid.

I think it's an absolutely pointless thing to do and, yes, equivalent to not voting at all.

So all the spoiled papers get counted: so what? It doesn't achieve anything.

Because a spoiled vote is still counted your sending the message that your vote is up for grabs.

It's a long term strategy rather than an instant impact though and in some constituencies a bit pointless if there's a long term seat.