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

[needmorebalance]

Is the same as not voting at all?!

[FatGirlWithChocolate]

It does actually only mean "leaving the choice to everyone else" if you are voting in a constituency where there is a chance of someone different getting in, in which case I imagine people would feel far less disenfranchised. For those of us in safe seats with historically consistent majorities (ie: me!) Voting for an actual party, were there one we could support, makes zero difference if it's not the party of the incumbent majority...our vote literally means nothing because it has no hope of influencing the outcome. I would still vote, of course, but easier to feel despondent about it all, and perhaps spoil an ineffectual ballot in these circumstances.

[Imamouseduh]

No it's not the same at all. Spoiling your ballot is making a statement that no parties represent your views. Not voting it stupid and apathetic.

[CiderwithBuda]

I did vote. However I would have liked a 'none of the above' option.

[ScarlettFreestone]

FatGirl a "safe" constituency is only safe as long as everyone keeps voting that way.

I've twice in my life lived in very, very safe seats that were completely overturned. A spoiled paper can't contribute to an overturn.

[OwlinaTree]

Someone asked how can you accidentally spoil your paper?

I did once, put the cross in the wrong box and had to ask for another one! I often wonder if the spoilt one got counted too.

[Beerwench]

I had 3 to choose from. I don't like any of them, strongly disagree with at least one policy of each. I don't want to vote for something I don't believe in. If I'd voted for any of them it wouldn't have represented my views because it would have meant voting for a policy that I am against. That just doesn't sit right with me at all. The idea is that I vote for who my beliefs are most aligned to and the policies I maybe don't agree with but can make peace with. This wasn't the case. I wanted to have my say, as is my right to do so, and my say was I don't want any of you to win.
My choices were not turn up. Spoil my ballot, vote at random. Of those spoiling my ballot was the one that represented my views. So that's what I did. It's not ideal. I'd like to see a none of the above box, that is counted, to show that there are a % of voters that want more from their potential government.

[needmorebalance]

Haven't read much about spoiled ballot papers this morning. Haven't even read any statistics.

[GerdaLovesLili]

I spoiled mine. I live in a safe Labour seat where my vote counts as 0.126-worth of an average vote. I am basically powerless (Although, it seems, not as powerless as those in the Speaker's constituency.)

I made it clear why I was spoiling my vote, I engaged with a system that utterly frustrates me. I bothered to go to the polling station, (unlike postal voters), I made my feelings clear, and I didn't have to hypocritically vote for someone I cannot and will not give my support to.

www.votenone.org.uk/protest_votes_count.html

[KatyBerry]

Laniakea good for your husband. If you write on a spoiled ballot (as opposed to drawing cockshots), the returning officer is obliged to read it. I was tempted to do the same as him, but voted lib dem instead (in one of the safest tory seats in town - but the lib dem and labour vote was massively up in % terms). It is a valid form of political engagement. Not voting is disengagement.

[KatyBerry]

there is an established campign to require uk ballot papers to include a "none of the above" option:
www.votenone.org.uk/none_of_the_above.html