To let people know how to spoil their ballot?

[HoofWankingSpangleCunt]

Today 13:59HoofWankingSpangleCunt

This election has really brought it home to me how uncomfortable I am voting for any of the three main parties. I don't want to vote for the local Independent on a donkey sanctuary ticket* just because I feel I have to vote for someone. If I do that my concerns about the other parties goes unnoticed.
So tonight Matthew, I'll be spoiling my ballot. It has to be done a certain way to count as spoilt. If enough of us do this then voices will be heard.
advice on how to do it correctly
I'm going to pop my AIBU Vote Button cherry on this thread as it seems apt.
*Or whatever the local issue is.

Subject:
To let people know how to spoil their ballot?

Message:
This election has really brought it home to me how uncomfortable I am voting for any of the three main parties. I don't want to vote for the local Independent on a donkey sanctuary ticket* just because I feel I have to vote for someone. If I do that my concerns about the other parties goes unnoticed.
So tonight Matthew, I'll be spoiling my ballot. It has to be done a certain way to count as spoilt. If enough of us do this then voices will be heard.

I'm going to pop my AIBU Vote Button cherry on this thread as it seems apt.
*Or whatever the local issue is.

Who are you going to let know?

You haven’t said how to?

Okaaay, that's one hot mess. I just copied my thread as it was denied when I first tried to post it. Didn't realise is buggered it up that badly.
Anyhoo, this is the advice on how to do it correctly

Well you certainly spoiled your post

Yawn
We need to make people vote in this country. Too many people are apathetic and then moan!

Sorry juniper didn't expect anyone to see the thread that quickly. I had to post the link in a separate message as I wasn't able to include it in first post. Got an Access Denied message.

So in a nutshell just write NONE across the page and nothing else, at all.

Why the fuck does it need a webpage that big to explain that?

jumpyliz I'm a natural at this.

Ten yes, I agree totally! I'm still exercising my right to vote by spoiling my ballot. I won't be one of the percentage who didn't bother. That's basically the whole point, I think you might have missed it.

Okay there Andy calm yourself. No need to take that tone.
I included the webpage that big so that other MNers could find out more, if they didn't already know it. In hindsight I should have included one of those snazzy tl:dr jobbies but I forgot.

What is your overall goal here? Lets say the majority follow your lead and spoil their ballots and the whole election gets called "games a bogey" - what do you propose we do next? There isn't other political parties just waiting in the wings for this turn of events. They would simply set a new date and it would take place again. Potentially with a new leader in place for a party but the general party policies will remain the same.

So my kids will need to miss another day of school (as that is the location for our local ballots). I'll need to pay for additional childcare again. The government will need to republish the voting cards and propaganda bumph (at a cost to tax payers in some way, I'm sure). All the while, the current government continue to be in power and make a cock up of things.

Spoil your vote if you like but I don't think its wise to encourage others to do so unless you can demonstrate to me what the end game is here. All you're doing is being a bit of a nuisance, wasting time and money yet affecting very little, ultimately.

And actually Andy

Jesus christ theres some bored people hanging around MN today

what's the difference between not voting an spoiling your ballot paper though? Either way you're effectively voting for whoever the majority votes for...

Fair points raised there anti . What do you suggest that I, and the disillusioned other voters do then? Because if you can come up with a solution that's better I'm all for it.

I think the aim is that political parties will be forced to look at their policies and manifestos again. I'd rather spoil my ballot then have to be in a situation such as the one in Hong Kong. And no, I don't think there is a middle ground, actually.

CAG are you referring to me? I'm not bored, just posting something I've been thinking lots about on a wee break from doing other things. (Mainly petting the dog and watching Below Decks on Hulu. I'm having a hard day mobility wise, so not giving any fucks )

I didn't think that spoilt ballots were counted in the UK? Or at least certainly not reported on(?), which is what I think you need to make it a worthwhile protest.

Might as well not vote at all.

I don't understand people who think they are making some great poignant political stand by spoiling their ballot- it achieves nothing and you'll still end up with one of the offered parties regardless.

It's tough when they are all shit and there isn't anyone who you feel represents you but you can at least choose the least awful one.

You can spoil your ballot by doing anything other than putting a mark in one box.

Literally.

Write 'None'. Write the entire script of the Bee movie. Tick more than one box.

Its not hard to spoil a vote.

MaJoady they are counted and the total number is reported but its not very important.

eeny because if the Ballot paper is spoiled correctly it is recorded as such. So there will be a record of the ever growing percentage disillusioned with the options but not willing to stay at home and be silent.
I understand your point though but tbh, my vote counts for nowt anyway as I'm in Grant Shapps' constituency. He could father eighteen children with eighteen young women and have a hundred undeclared businesses and he'd still get voted in.

No one cares if you spoil your vote paper. Honestly, no one. If you don't want to vote then stay at home.

OP clearly you feel strongly so why don't you get involved in politics? Join the political party that most closely represents your views and fight for it to better reflect your concerns. Run as a candidate yourself. Get in touch with your MP and ask them about their voting record. Campaign for the issues close to your heart. Attend town hall meetings.

Spoiling your ballot and spending your time encouraging others to do the same achieves very little.

chicken but having to vote for the least awful one is a bit of a shit situation. And that has been my default position the last few elections. But my default party is increasingly one I'm uncomfortable voting for these days.

Loch but they don't have to record it as spoiled unless it's spoiled a particular way. That's really the point of my post.
And it's getting more important by the day, imo.

I once saw a tweet from an Australian who had just drawn a giant penis across his ballot paper. If you are going to spoil it at least give someone a laugh!

I don't u derstand your logic, do you have to vote for one of the three main ones or the Donkey? Isn't there a less main one that you like the policies of. Surely this would send a better message than a spoiled paper - which as a previous poster pointed out means you're effectively voting for the majority holder in your area. I don't believe that any notice will be taken of spoilt ballots at all because what can be done about them... Will the main parties give up? Will there be more local candidates standing for what they believe in (which you seem to dismiss anyway), I guess I just think you'll be achieving nothing, well less than nothing. I'd urge everyone to vote for the party most closely aligned to their beliefs and if there really isn't one at least vote tactically against the party you least want.

You could just write a clarification note on the paper explaining that you are spoiling your ballot paper and want it counted as a protest. That makes your intentions completely clear.

Why even bother? Surely voting for the 'least worst' party (based on your own circumstances and opinion) is better than not voting at all. A spoiled ballot paper won't be recognised as a rebellion and will have no impact on the outcome. If you have strong views on any particular points then why not campaign about those instead?

majoady that's why more of us need to do it.
Cohle thank you for taking the time to write a constructive post. In the past I have been more active politically, not to the extent as standing as a candidate though. It's something I do think about but I'm a single parent of a kid with special needs and not much of a support network. I can well imagine holding a meeting and attendees being greeted by a huge placard of Donald trump being waved by my very contrary HFA ds. And by the time I've wrestled it off him everyone will have gone home. I'm making excuses aren't I? I've certainly got the time these days. Maybe I should start my own party.