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!

But those who are saying it's not a protest and you should vote, who should you vote in these circumstances?

Write ‘none of the above’, or ‘RON’ (re-open nominations), or draw a cock and balls if you like.

Don’t kid yourself that staying at home is a protest.

Awesome thank you. That is what I mean.

Surely I have the right not to vote if no suitable candidate? I'm not apathetic. In. The. Slightest.

Totally agree op.

I would have spoilt my ballot paper though but understand your view

I would have spoiled your ballot by writing ‘none of the above’ or similar. Spoilt votes are counted; not turning up could risk being interpreted as voter apathy.

REX if that makes a difference then I will but how does it?

But these elections are local. It's fair enough if you don't know enough about what's going on (although I would argue that's it's pretty high up the priority list to find out! But life comes first...), but if you're saying it's because of national-scale principals I think it's a missed opportunity to have a positive impact on your own community. I wouldn't miss the opportunity for anything!

Cross post with everyone!

Each to their own and all that, its your democratic right not to vote but as others have said there are more than 2 parties in a hyperbolic scenario your sole vote be the difference in an independant giving up or carrying on until the next local election.

I will add though, that although you will inevitably get involved in online political arguments, you will be a hypocrite if you start using the tired memes of political arguments by trying the gotcha against the majority voted (cons/labour/brexit/remain) with an answer of "only 70% voted" etc.

If you can own not voting and take that forward, then yes YANBU

You could spoil your paper, vote for a local independent candidate, or have a frivopus vote if you have one of the more niche party candidates.

But local elections do matter, if you care about schools, social care, pubic health, social services, environment and planning, affordable housing, recycling and loads more. Because all councils are facing spending cuts, but some deliver better services than others. And those choices will probably make a bigger difference to you than the bare idea that choices have to be made.

Agree, a spoiled ballot is preferable (although obviously not ideal, but if it for can't be helped...).

Spoilt ballots are counted - not voting simply makes you invisible which is exactly what the TRA's want so

Yabu

Rat I have already said our local tory council does a pretty good job but I have never voted Tory as I am a labour voter at heart. (Just not Corbyn). That is my dilemma.

I would go and spoil my ballot rather than not turn up. At least it shows that I have thought about it - and gets counted in the turnout. When I went in about 7pm it was evident that turnout was very poor - only about 10 names crossed off on the sheet with my road on it. Ha. The door just went, was a canvasser to see if I had voted - turn out is abysmal apparently hence the door knocking at 25 to 10.

Yabu you could have spoilt the ballot, then they would know.

I’m sorry but this peeves me off, people died for everyone to vote.

Spoilt ballot papers are counted and the number recorded. Run to the polling station! Write 'No to Self ID' on the bottom of your paper and put it in the box!!

Not voting is just apathy rather than a protest. Choosing to spoil your ballot paper is making a protest. Instead you'll be part of the 'lazy sods who couldn't be bothered to turn up to vote statistics!

justanotherlurker I think I can 'own' it.

graphista interesting. Do you know what happens, are they counted and analysed ? Or are they just noted as spoiled.

I'm off to spoil.

YABU. You could have spoilt your ballot paper. The major parties don't know you're pissed off with them, they just think you cba.

This isn’t a general election... I vote different for general elections than I do for local elections....
vote for the candidate that will improve your local area.
You’re not voting for Corbyn

But you're not voting for corbyn to be pM or anything. You're just voting for seats on the council. If you're labour at heart go out and vote for a labour person to get a seat on the council and do labour type things with it.

X post, I think that’s a good decision Op, spoiling is better than not turning up.
I just voted for the independent candidates

I voted on the basis of what the parties do at a local level here, rather than a national level.

So I voted Lib Dem as our (long time) Lib Dem councillors are generally pretty good. I don’t think I’ve noticed a single thing in the media about National Lib Dem policy in years though.

m.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/how-to-spoil-you-ballot-paper_uk_592eb1cbe4b0e95ac1955386

Hooray! Good decision OP!