Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

General election 2024

How to spoil your ballot paper

201 replies

CandidateX · 03/07/2024 15:22

I am not telling anyone what to do. I am giving information. This is because I have seen how posters are treated on other threads giving this information, and it isn't very nice!

Do what ever you want, but here is some information about spoilt ballot papers.

If you write on your paper, whatever message, it will NOT BE READ. Except maybe by the counter that puts it into the spoilt ballot paper list. But only if they have time to read it, mostly not.

It will be held up and agreed to be spoilt, in front of a committee open to all parties. but they won't read it, and the person holding it up won't read it. No one has time. Many papers are spoilt. Everyone is tired and busy. No one will be standing close enough to read the words.

There is a lot of talk about spoilt ballot papers being scrutinised by candidates, and this is how to get a message across to them.

NOT TRUE

Ballot papers are not scrutinised if they have been written across.

I have a list of circumstances when I might ask to inspect a paper closely, and papers written on don't come into it. I would not waste my time or anyone else's time on a paper that is clearly deliberately spoilt, because the business of the night is count votes, and there are literally tens of thousands to count, and that is clearly not one of them

The ones that are scrutinised are the ones that MIGHT have a valid vote on them.

So if you want to put a message on your paper to be scrutinised, then it must have something on it that might be counted as a valid vote. That way, people in the confirmation committee will be looking closely at your paper, and only then will they see the message.

A paper that is signed is invalid if the signature can be read.

If you want to spoil your paper then you need to make it worthy of discussion, about whether it has a vote on it or not.

So I suggest a CLEAR vote, for whichever party you dislike least. And your written comment that you want to be read. And a scrawled signature, which is not your name, and not legible.

This, I think, might get your comments read by agents of different parties - because they will be discussing whether this is a valid paper or not, and does that vote count, and is that signature legible. Your vote might or might not be counted in the end, probably not, but possibly, so don't do this if you definitely don't want to be counted.

Of course, the message might still not be mentioned to the candidate, or to anyone else at all, but this is the only way I can think of to get comments on a spoilt ballot paper read, because otherwise it doesn't happen, it is just a count for the spoilt paper party, and no one knows or cares why.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
CassieMaddox · 03/07/2024 17:05

US2gether · 03/07/2024 16:46

Imagine if thousands are thinking like you and perhaps they don't vote. The incumbent gets in anyway.

There is always the best of all. No candidate is perfect, but someone will win. It will never be no one winning so why throw a vote away. Thousands of thrown away votes add up.

Edited

Is it safe Labour? As if its a traditional "safe Tory" none of them are actually safe this time apparently 😱

Bruisername · 03/07/2024 17:06

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Of course there is a government - or are you saying I would be the only person in the whole country. Because I know 5 people and their families in my constituency who are voting

TipsyNewt · 03/07/2024 17:07

We have parties and candidates from all across the political spectrum. Even if you don't actively Iike any of them surely, unless you're completely devoid of politicial opinions, you surely have to think some are less bad than others.

I have more respect for people who don't make the effort to vote than those who turn out just to spoil theirs. Feeling disengaged is more understandable than turning up to the booth just to say "all of you parties and candidates, despite the huge range of your positions, are all no better or worse than each other and equally undeserving of me" is, to my mind, rather narcissistic.

easytip · 03/07/2024 17:13

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

easytip · 03/07/2024 17:15

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Superhansrantowindsor · 03/07/2024 17:15

I will be spoiling my paper. Never have before but there is genuinely nobody who I want in parliament from my list of candidates. Women gave up so much so I could go in that booth and make my mark so I will. I aim to write none of the above. I am not going to write a political slogan. If everyone spoilt their paper it would be the first time it had ever happened in the history of free democratic elections so I am prepared to take the risk.

easytip · 03/07/2024 17:16

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Bruisername · 03/07/2024 17:21

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

The candidates campaigning for my vote

i know enough politicos to know they don’t give a shit mind you

Churchview · 03/07/2024 17:23

DrSpartacular · 03/07/2024 16:47

I don't understand why some people are so anti spoilt ballots, if it's as worthless as you all say, then why argue against it, it doesn't affect you at all.

It's not the spoilt ballots I'm anti.

It's the number of posts/threads on here that seem to be started by people with a vesting interest in persuading people not to vote by presenting it as a useful and valid option.

Why would they do that?
There can't be a positive reason for that can there?
People fought so hard for the vote to improve their lives. Who is it that wants people not to use that power?

We only have to vote in a General election once every four to five years.
After all that happens in those four to five years that a person could not have an opinion or preferred course for the next four to five years of their life is crazy.

The people who need the most from society are the least likely to vote - the poorest, the youngest, those living in deprived areas. God, I wish they would vote more to make change for themselves.

To encourage people not to vote is a dreadful and harmful thing to do.

easytip · 03/07/2024 17:23

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

anyolddinosaur · 03/07/2024 17:47

The only people trying to discourage people from voting is those that try to insist you must vote for the least worst option.

No.

No-one has to legitimise our appalling politicians by voting for them. Spoiling a ballot paper says I want to vote - but not for you. Politicians hate it because they want to claim legitimacy and when less than half of voters vote for you you dont have that, however much you want to claim otherwise.

DrSpartacular · 03/07/2024 17:47

Crikey, was easytip deleted for being a troll? Or worse?

For some, in some constituencies, there is no 'least worst'.

DrSpartacular · 03/07/2024 17:48

anyolddinosaur · 03/07/2024 17:47

The only people trying to discourage people from voting is those that try to insist you must vote for the least worst option.

No.

No-one has to legitimise our appalling politicians by voting for them. Spoiling a ballot paper says I want to vote - but not for you. Politicians hate it because they want to claim legitimacy and when less than half of voters vote for you you dont have that, however much you want to claim otherwise.

Nicely said.

SerafinasGoose · 03/07/2024 17:52

I was intending to spoil my paper, until I realised there was a women's advocate standing as an independent candidate in my constituency.

As for complaints that people are 'encouraging' others to do a certain thing with their vote, I'm sure we are all adult enough and sufficiently independent of mind to make our own decisions on that score.

taxguru · 03/07/2024 17:52

ageratum1 · 03/07/2024 15:28

I think you lack understanding, op!
The number of spoiled papers is recorded and that is the message to all candidates- none of you are worthy of my vote.
That is the reason for a spoiled ballot paper.
If you want to send a more sophisticated message then you would write to the candidate.

No it really isn't. It just sends the message that x number of people are mentally incapable of something simple like putting an X in a box. No one cares! Apparently, the most common "spoil" is drawing a picture of a cock on the form. The candidates may well flick through a pile of spoilt papers to check they are all indeed spoilt, but they're really not going to waste time reading any of them.

SerafinasGoose · 03/07/2024 17:53

DrSpartacular · 03/07/2024 17:48

Nicely said.

Ditto. It's a protest vote. They are counted and registered as such.

It's not the same thing as simply not bothering to turn out at all.

DrSpartacular · 03/07/2024 17:54

taxguru · 03/07/2024 17:52

No it really isn't. It just sends the message that x number of people are mentally incapable of something simple like putting an X in a box. No one cares! Apparently, the most common "spoil" is drawing a picture of a cock on the form. The candidates may well flick through a pile of spoilt papers to check they are all indeed spoilt, but they're really not going to waste time reading any of them.

Can you explain what you mean by "mentally incapable" please?

Wetellyourstory · 03/07/2024 18:06

I have spoilt my ballot paper once in all my voting life. Mid-fifties now and have never not voted. We are fortunate to live in a democracy and I feel it is my duty to ensure I take part in the democratic process.

I don’t agree with the various comments that it’s passing the buck to others to decide, it’s a wasted vote, it’s pointless etc. If I genuinely can’t say that I agree with most of a parties policies and/or like or trust their leader, then I’m not prepared to give them my vote.

I am still so undecided and it may be gut feeling when it comes to putting pencil to paper as none of them deserve my vote based on what I have heard over the last few weeks. If I end up spoiling then I won’t write a message as I know they aren’t looked at but want to show that I want to be involved in the process. Not voting just shows you don’t care whereas I do. For those of a certain age, “None of the above” always springs to mind!

The beauty of living in a democracy is we have that right to do so so people should not be critical of those who choose to act in this way - at least they made the effort to get down to a polling station.

BitOutOfPractice · 03/07/2024 18:10

stressedespresso · 03/07/2024 15:27

Your title should really read: How to be pointlessly immature.

I have, as a committed and long-standing member of the Labour Party, spoiled my paper when I had no Labour candidate to vote for (no candidate standing in my ward in local elections in true blue area for example). I have done so by writing “none of the above” across the paper.

the alternative was staying at home.

if you find that “pointlessly immature” well that’s your prerogative. As it was my prerogative to express my opinion of the candidates in offer.

I didn’t want it to be read or scrutinised. I simply wanted to express my democratic opinion.

Superhansrantowindsor · 03/07/2024 18:18

Mentally incapable? I have watched all debates, I have read every pamphlet shoved through my door, I’ve watched local hustings on line, I’ve done countless online tests to see who I should vote for, I have emailed our front running candidate, I have watched sky news, bbc news and GB news to see a range of views. I’ve discussed with family and colleagues. I have done a fair bit more than a lot of voters. I therefore feel confident in my opinion that none of them are going to do a decent job of representing me in Parliament. Sadly there are three key issues that concern me most. Not one party can help with all three and each one does the exact opposite to what I want on at least one point each.

zaxxon · 03/07/2024 18:31

SerafinasGoose · 03/07/2024 17:53

Ditto. It's a protest vote. They are counted and registered as such.

It's not the same thing as simply not bothering to turn out at all.

But since the actual words used to spoil are not recorded, it's meaningless. Your reasonable and well-thought-out message of protest has exactly the same weight as the ballot of the person who drew a pair of boobs on theirs.

You may as well put a sign in your window saying "Down with this sort of thing!"

rwalker · 03/07/2024 18:41

I’ve done election counts the spoilt papers are rechecked to see if there are infact spoilt and not valid
i believe the candidates can look at them if they want I didn’t see anyone go near them

nobody appeared to care seem completely pointless to me

boys3 · 03/07/2024 18:42

Churchview · 03/07/2024 17:23

It's not the spoilt ballots I'm anti.

It's the number of posts/threads on here that seem to be started by people with a vesting interest in persuading people not to vote by presenting it as a useful and valid option.

Why would they do that?
There can't be a positive reason for that can there?
People fought so hard for the vote to improve their lives. Who is it that wants people not to use that power?

We only have to vote in a General election once every four to five years.
After all that happens in those four to five years that a person could not have an opinion or preferred course for the next four to five years of their life is crazy.

The people who need the most from society are the least likely to vote - the poorest, the youngest, those living in deprived areas. God, I wish they would vote more to make change for themselves.

To encourage people not to vote is a dreadful and harmful thing to do.

Edited

People who need the most from society are least likely to be registered to vote in the first place. You / we need to address that fundamental issue @Churchview before worrying about the frankly non issue - in volume terms - of spoilt ballots. Have you see the gap between the percentage of 18-24s registered to vote as compared with older groups.

as I recollect between 2015 and 2019 we had three General Elections - but I agree with your point that they are more often only every 4 or 5 years. Not sure the last ten years or so has done that much for improving democratic engagement.

TheBizzies · 03/07/2024 18:49

Seems like a waste of time then! I wouldn't bother anyway - I'd just not vote. But then I love moaning about politics and in all fairness couldn't after I'd not even put a vote in.

Bruisername · 03/07/2024 18:53

If I spoil I’m not going to write anything. I’ll just put a big cross or something to make it easy for the counter

its not about giving a specific message - I have discussed with canvassers the issues I have already.

it’s as anyolddinosaur said above