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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To despise people who don’t vote

154 replies

Unfinishedkitchen · 27/05/2019 08:37

Found out recently that a friend who complains about the possibility of Brexit didn’t actually bother to vote in the 2016 ref. I know of a few people who couldn’t be bothered to vote in the recent EU elections although it appears they have plenty to complain about.

I actually feel like distancing myself from them. I know at least one of them has bothered to in to vote on one of those stupid ITV talent shows.

There’s some woman right now on the radio saying she didn’t vote because she’s fed up and doesn’t know who to vote for!

Why are so many people happy to be bystanders in things that affect their lives and those of their loved ones? Maybe that movie ‘Idiocracy’ was a premonition?

OP posts:

Pinkvoid · 27/05/2019 13:27

Despise is a little strong but I agree that if you don’t vote, you can’t complain.

Jux · 27/05/2019 13:28

No voting tells Government that you're uninterested and can't be bothered, so they can discount you as you don't care what they do.

Spoiling your paper tells them that you're interested enough to want to vote, but that they have failed to convince you.

Wanting to vote but having nothing worth voting for, is far more scary to politicians than a voter not bothering at all.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 27/05/2019 13:32

I think many people just love despising people for anything that they personally feel strongly about.

It's none of our business why people don't vote, OP. Have you ever wondered why the simple and effective method of offering 'none of the above' or 'no confidence' option isn't given on ballot papers? Think about it perhaps before you lash out.

I vote, I think it's utterly pointless yet I do it.

Do disengage from your 'friend', she can do better than to have a judgemental person in her life. Find some other like-minded zealots and see how you fare.

PizzaForPusheen · 27/05/2019 13:32

Despise is a bit strong tbh.

Don’t think deposing people is going to encourage them to be politically engaged and get voting.

I’d also rather someone had the wisdom to realise they were confused by the current state of play and didn’t know who to vote for and therefore didn’t vote, than someone full of themselves who falls for any old bunch of convenient lies and empty promises and votes based on that.

Agree with PP that voting should be compulsory, but that a “none of the above/new election” option is always included.

FunkyKingston · 27/05/2019 13:32

No voting tells Government that you're uninterested and can't be bothered, so they can discount you as you don't care what they do.

It doesn't, because there isn't a none of the above option or reopen nominations. Your vote gets lumped in with people who have misread the instructions or have drawn a cock and balls on the the ballot paper.

PizzaForPusheen · 27/05/2019 13:33

Despising not deposing.

Although we could do with a bit of deposing atm.

seesawteddy · 27/05/2019 13:39

That must be quite unusual, though?

Well, I’m a student. Registered to vote at home. My work hours changed unavoidably to cover a sick colleague so I couldn’t make the joirney back. One of those things. I should have been registered to vote at both locations, but life is busy and I failed to cover all eventualities. Don’t think I should be despised for it though

BertrandRussell · 27/05/2019 14:16

My student children always gave me their proxy vote. So they were covered, whether they were home or not. Worth considering.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 27/05/2019 14:40

My gran drawing a cock and balls on her ballot paper was very much a political decision to spoil her ballot. I don't see why it's not valid because it's a bit rude.

She felt she had to show up at the polls but couldn't vote for any of the options available.

Passthecherrycoke · 27/05/2019 14:44

There isn’t any point spoiling your ballot though. It doesn’t do anything

NauseousMum · 27/05/2019 14:49

Spoiling a ballot means nothing when for every fuck you or dick pic, theres another person accidentally going out box lines into the other. Or something else which accidentally spoils. A rise in spoiled ballots will easily be put down as the 'stupid down public' by certain media or something to that effect.

The only persons who sees the spoils are the counters and all the crap goes in together. My friend used to count ballots and a shit load of people really don't do what they need to to make their vote count so spoiling means nothing. There needs to be a campaign for 'all a bunch of crooks/cocks/twats' box. Then voter turn out and results would be interesting and reflective.

BertrandRussell · 27/05/2019 14:49

It indicates dissatisfaction, and can’t be ignored. Not turning up doesn’t indicate anything and can easily be ignored.

NauseousMum · 27/05/2019 14:52

No it really doesnt except to the counters who don't record it as anything different. It means nothing, just as not voting means nothing.

Person a spoils deliberately
B accidentally

The numbers of both? More accidental then deliberate.

Person a refuses to go in protest
Person b cant be arsed as it is GOT night

No difference in either message. People waste their time spoiling and not showing up. It's lose lose when there's no one you want to vote for.

Nickpan · 27/05/2019 14:58

I think it's all much of a muchness, so I choose not to vote. Whoever gets in, is as big a twat as those who didn't get in, we'll still have to pay taxes and suffer cuts to public spending. I'm not saying my vote wouldn't make a difference, I'm just saying even if I could influence things, it would end up as bollocks. One party has a go for a while, everyone gets cheesed off, so then the other party has a go for a while, everyone gets cheesed off. If one party was better than the other, as some people so passionately believe, why aren't they in power, why haven't they always been in power, and why won't they be in power for ever. Such a waste of money. And how many politicians are odious people, and are in it for all the perks? I think, if you want to be an MP, you automatically shouldn't be allowed. It's all backhander bollocks, we can never be sure who has our best interests at heart. For reference, I would never moan about any particular party, because I know I hadn't used a vote against them.

HobbyIsCodeForDogging · 27/05/2019 15:05

It indicates dissatisfaction, and can’t be ignored. Not turning up doesn’t indicate anything and can easily be ignored.
*
*
Categorically incorrect, Bertrand. Spoiling your ballot paper means no more or less than accidentally making a mistake on it and DOES get ignored. It is not currently any more or less effective than not voting at all.

Passthecherrycoke · 27/05/2019 15:07

“BertrandRussell

It indicates dissatisfaction, and can’t be ignored. Not turning up doesn’t indicate anything and can easily be ignored.”

It IS ignored isn’t it though? Counted, announced and ignored.

bridgetreilly · 27/05/2019 15:08

Abstaining is a really important principle in a democracy. In the end I decided not to abstain on Thursday, but it was a close run thing. I have done, on purpose, in the past. I don't mind the idea of compulsory voting, provided it still allows people to spoil their papers.

Nickpan · 27/05/2019 15:13

People fought for the right to vote, ie, the choice whether to vote or not.

happymummy12345 · 27/05/2019 15:19

Despise is very strong. I have never voted for anything political and never will. I'm simply not interested at all and I don't care. I've got better things to do and more important things to worry or think about.

LimeKiwi · 27/05/2019 15:23

I always vote. YABVU to "despise" people who don't do what you want them too.
If we're flinging the word "despise" about, I despise people who look down their noses or judge others with an "I'm considerably better than yow" attitude.
Yes, people should vote but the great thing about being in the country we are is THAT WE HAVE THE CHOICE TO VOTE OR NOT TO VOTE
Do you really want to live in a country where everyone has to vote or doesn't have the choice we do?

RedRiverShore · 27/05/2019 15:37

How would you know, a lot have postal votes, it’s not like you have to tell everyone.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 27/05/2019 15:43

I don't believe the government minds spoiled votes at all, they're ignored. A dissenting vote though, that's something else - and there's no way of recording that on the ballot paper that will make that point of view 'count'.

What we perhaps need to do is ignore the voting polls completely, NOBODY vote. But that won't happen.

Maybe a revision to the ballot papers should be the subject of a public vote, ie. keep them as they are OR allow a box for 'none of the above'? But who gets to decide such a move? Conflict of interest right there.

U2HasTheEdge · 27/05/2019 15:46

Means a bloody sight more than not turning up, though.

I disagree. Spoiling my vote does not mean a bloody sight more than not turning up. If it gets ignored what is the point of me turning up?

BertrandRussell · 27/05/2019 15:48

Spoiled votes get counted and the numbers are recorded alongside the result.

Cafelatte2go · 27/05/2019 15:53

I don't vote, they are all utterly crap and none of them represent me. I haven't got the time to waste to go and 'spoil' a vote either.

Get over yourself.

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