To have exercised my right NOT to vote in today's elections

[taratill]

Just as the question says.

First time I have not voted in my adult life (24 years).

Just can't bring myself to vote for either party. Traditional labour voter but Corbyn is impossible to vote for (anti-semetic/views on self ID)

Torn between feeling guilty and hoping that enough people have not voted / there are voter analysis done that realise that labour have lost votes due to this and will evoke a change of leadership!

cool

Good for you, OP. I hope you have also contacted your local politician and let them know why you haven’t voted, otherwise it doesn’t really have the impact you may have been hoping for.

There's more than just two parties to vote for though - what about the rest?

Not yet. I am going to though.

Husband is a bit miffed by me not voting. Not that he disagrees with my opinion on self ID. Just that I have always said that no vote = wasted vote.

Do it now, before it loses impact. The more women that speak out against this nonsense the better.

I really struggled we had three candidates, I was doorstepped by two and emailed the third trying to engage with it all, none of them impress me and seem to think all anyone cares about is bin collection and pot holes. I did vote in the end but only because the labour candidate was anti Corbyn and it's a predominantly Tory council at present so thought a bit of balance can't be a bad thing.... Our Tory candidate based his campaign on being a cabbie who wants to ban uber in our town and the lib dem doorstepped me , couldn't answer any of my questions on his views on various local social issues and just wanted to gossip about other councillors. It was most disappointing.

We had no independent or green candidates

Good question lolipop. I don't think voting green or lib dem would be making a protest in my area. I am making a protest by not voting.

Yes surely more than 2 parties? Im upset as there is no election in my area.

YABU. There are more than 2 parties and often in local elections there are outstanding independent candidates. Not voting is as likely to be read as either apathy or election fatigue as a principles stand against anti-semitism.

On the plus side there's still time!

Not voting is not a protest though. Its, well nothing at all.

I will tomorrow don't worry Perf I just hadn't realised the strength of my feeling about it until it came to casting the vote .

I was disgusted at the lack of choice TBH. Normally our slips are so long with ridiculous parties, we had to vote 3 from 7 candidates (choice of 3 cons, 3 labs and 1 lib) . I miss the Monster Raving Looney Party, The Dutch Elm Disease Party, And the Natural Law Party.

Dare I ask if UKIP has died a death because we used to have a UKIP councillor who actually was the only down to earth sensible bugger on the council . I'd have even liked a BNP candidate so I could be offended.

I totally understand, but coming from a country who lived under a right wing dictatorship for a few decades, I take the right (and obligationl to vote seriously.

In those circumstances, I'd voted blank as I feel that makes a powerful statement that none of the politicians running merit your support.

A no-show just gets diluted into the "can't be arsed" high percentage of people who don't vote.

Better to turn out and be counted and then spoil your ballot IMHO.

Your protest will be lost in the inevitability low turnout and interpreted as apathy.

No election in our area. Shame.

YABU. Women died earning your right to vote.

But those who are saying it's not a protest and you should vote, who should you vote in these circumstances? Locally we are a tory stronghold and they do a pretty good job in all honesty. They will win whether I vote or not.

snookie I know! Hence my post.

Please excuse the sintax and grammar above; it's shocking!

Hopefully the message still makes sense.

I think that's foolish personally. Just because you can't have what you want doesn't mean you couldn't help contribute to the "least bad" option for the people in your area. And yes, it may be a tricky decision. But we're grown-ups, and life is full of tricky decisions.

But that's just my opinion. If you're happy with your stand then yeah, fine. No high-five from me though.

We had 3 candidates. 1 Tory, 1 labour and 1 Green Party. Haven’t had a leaflet or anything else political anywhere in the area apart from the local paper a couple of times reminding us there was an election.

In what way is that supposed to inspire anyone?

It’s like they didn’t really want to do an election.

Possibly a spoiled ballot paper would make your point better - you still have 30 minutes - do it!!

People will say that women died so you could vote. No. Women died so you could have the freedom to vote. If you are forced to vote then I personally believe that is as bad as not being allowed to vote. You have the choice.

RatRolyPoly I think you are missing my point. I genuinely can't choose. I can't vote for labour under Corbyn. I can't vote Tory either. I don't have enough knowledge to cast a sensible vote any other way (my bad) but have a lot going on.