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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:
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pikkumyy77 · 03/07/2024 21:47

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.

Why would you choose to send the least sophisticated message?If i want to send a message zi generally try to choose the most effective and most sophisticated means of conveying my thoughts. Not a howl of inchoate rage, for example. I hate everyone leaves none of the candidates any the wiser. Therefore none of them, or their parties, will change their policies.

LuluBlakey1 · 03/07/2024 21:49

Wetellyourstory · 03/07/2024 20:51

For me, it isn’t pointless and it’s insulting to those who are struggling to call them pathetic. If anything, it shows a great deal of thought and consideration on deciding how to vote rather than voting purely to remove the Tories and not considering the possible implications. Yes, we need a change of government but that doesn’t mean I can put my support towards the choices I have available to me.

On many occasions I have opted for the best fit and am probably classed as the typical floating voter. However, this time round each party has a red line policy that I am not prepared to cross and vote for. I also believe you should vote for who you want in power, not to remove someone you don’t (although that’s an entirely different debate that is on another thread).

That’s why I’m struggling and can understand other posters who have said they feel the same.

Don't vote then. There is no requirement for parties to meet the needs of every constituent nor for constituents to vote. If we all took your position, there would be no government. You vote for best fit.

SlothOnARope · 03/07/2024 21:54

boys3 · 03/07/2024 21:22

@MoggyP I doubt @SlothOnARope deliberately misquoted that link (an odd link in the first place) - however its pie chart breaking down votes references 0.3% (correct) not 1% (threefold exaggeration) as spoilt papers and then further down says "across the UK, they represented less than 1% of votes"

This data is from the House of Commons Library UK General Election stats

Votenone has (or perhaps had is more correct) a narrative to pedal.

No I'm just tired and really cba finding the 2019 link.

The point being that according to votenone or whatever their name is, collectively, if there are many spoilt ballots then the electoral commission or whoever, cannot ignore them and something will have to be done about it.

I personally think that is a weak argument, and that the true power of the electorate lies in its ability to vote tactically to further break an already broken system, create a hung parliament, tell all the parties what an absolute load of shite they are, and force change that way.

Anyway signing off now, have a fun election night everyone.

Wetellyourstory · 03/07/2024 22:04

LuluBlakey1 · 03/07/2024 21:49

Don't vote then. There is no requirement for parties to meet the needs of every constituent nor for constituents to vote. If we all took your position, there would be no government. You vote for best fit.

I don’t expect candidates to meet the needs of all constituents, we will all have differing opinions or priorities. Not turning up at the polling station would be showing that I can’t be bothered, when it’s the opposite. I feel you should turn up and vote and find it interesting that there are many other posters, and those women on the Guardian article, in the same position as me.

As I have said earlier, my decision may end up being that gut feeling when it’s time to put pencil to paper and choosing between whether I can cross one of my red lines or spoiling my paper.

Clingfilm · 03/07/2024 22:29

My aunt has been opening postal votes to send for counting tomorrow, she was complaining about people writing all over the ballot papers as nobody reads them, they're there to do one job, which us chuck out the papers that don't adhere to the rules.

The people in the polling stations and doing the count are just council employees and retired people, many are completely apolitical and just there as it's a nice earner for a few hours work.

NoWordForFluffy · 03/07/2024 22:34

Clingfilm · 03/07/2024 22:29

My aunt has been opening postal votes to send for counting tomorrow, she was complaining about people writing all over the ballot papers as nobody reads them, they're there to do one job, which us chuck out the papers that don't adhere to the rules.

The people in the polling stations and doing the count are just council employees and retired people, many are completely apolitical and just there as it's a nice earner for a few hours work.

If your aunt has been looking at the papers she could be fined / imprisoned!

How to spoil your ballot paper
Bruisername · 03/07/2024 22:38

They shouldn’t be chucking anything out and the number of spoilt ballots should be recorded and they should be available for inspection

DrSpartacular · 03/07/2024 22:53

Aunty Clingfilm needs re-training then.

pikkumyy77 · 04/07/2024 00:39

Jesus has there ever been a whinier and more entitled bunch of people than these ballot spoilers? You are spoiling your fucking ballot. That isn’t an opinion that needs to be registered by anyone and no one but parties whose ultimate goal is to end the franchise care. Those parties love people giving up on electoral politics. Don’t flatter yourself that anyone cares about Disappointed Doreen from Devon who writes in JK Rowling or Lizard People. If you don’t fight for a viable candidate you literally don’t matter. Nor should you since you don’t know what politics is.

crowgift · 04/07/2024 00:52

As you are going to the effort to vote, rather than spoiling the paper with a message that will never be read or bring any kind of change, how about voting tactically so that there is finally some change :
https://tactical.vote/

Look up the tactical vote in your constituency

tactical.vote | General Election 2024

https://tactical.vote

blackcherryconserve · 04/07/2024 01:26

DrSpartacular · 03/07/2024 16:06

Voting for "none of the above" is a legitimate ballot option in many states around the world. As we do not have that option, a spoilt ballot is the only way to still show up and be counted if we don't want to opt for any of the available options. I would welcome a "none of the above" box to tick.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/None_of_the_above

Same here. Will have to just write it.

pikkumyy77 · 04/07/2024 04:07

Tantrums and holding your breath till you are blue in the face are as great a political strategy as when used by a toddler striking for endless cupcakes. Do let us sll know when spoiling your ballot and showing ‘em your displeasure brings on the new eden. I’m sure its coming right up.

NoWordForFluffy · 04/07/2024 05:43

I'm sure if everyone saying they were spoiling their votes announced that due to the lecturing they were going to vote Tory so they actually voted, using their vote in that way would be deemed the wrong thing to do.

Because what the vote scolders (autocorrect changed that to evildoers! 🤣) mean is YOU MUST VOTE, AND THAT VOTE MUST BE ANYTHING BUT TORY.

US2gether · 04/07/2024 08:01

SiobhanSharpe · 03/07/2024 17:04

My DH was closely involved in local politics for a good few years and stood for election several times.
As such, he always went to the count and tells me the spoilt ballot papers were put aside then scrutinised closely, even argued over, if there was any chance that a scrawl or mark of some kind close to a box could be interpreted as a vote for that candidate. Even if someone had X-ed all the boxes -- was one X larger than another?

At the last general election there was a small movement to try to urge people to spoil their ballots in the hope that if enough voters did so it would be newsworthy and thr numbers, or at least percentages , would be reported in the national press or TV news. It didn't come to much, I think.
But it's not doing nothing -- not voting at all would be doing nothing.

If this is the case then would putting your vote in least wanted candidate then scrolling on paper various comments actually be counted as a vote?

There was a suggestion uptrend that people do this, most likely giving the tory a vote then. Is that another tory sleeze or lie to gain votes. 🤔

CassieMaddox · 04/07/2024 08:05

NoWordForFluffy · 04/07/2024 05:43

I'm sure if everyone saying they were spoiling their votes announced that due to the lecturing they were going to vote Tory so they actually voted, using their vote in that way would be deemed the wrong thing to do.

Because what the vote scolders (autocorrect changed that to evildoers! 🤣) mean is YOU MUST VOTE, AND THAT VOTE MUST BE ANYTHING BUT TORY.

If you want to vote Tory, vote Tory 🙄

CassieMaddox · 04/07/2024 08:07

US2gether · 04/07/2024 08:01

If this is the case then would putting your vote in least wanted candidate then scrolling on paper various comments actually be counted as a vote?

There was a suggestion uptrend that people do this, most likely giving the tory a vote then. Is that another tory sleeze or lie to gain votes. 🤔

I'm pretty sure there is some benefit to some party in this "vote spoiling" tactic as its being encouraged so much.

I find it weird. If you are so focussed on any particular issue surely tactical voting is better than spoiling? At least then you send something of a signal of what your opinions are.

NoWordForFluffy · 04/07/2024 08:11

CassieMaddox · 04/07/2024 08:05

If you want to vote Tory, vote Tory 🙄

Noted. Thanks for your permission, oh gracious one.

US2gether · 04/07/2024 08:11

CassieMaddox · 04/07/2024 08:07

I'm pretty sure there is some benefit to some party in this "vote spoiling" tactic as its being encouraged so much.

I find it weird. If you are so focussed on any particular issue surely tactical voting is better than spoiling? At least then you send something of a signal of what your opinions are.

This is what I was thinking. It benefits a party with disaffected voters and prevents them giving their vote to another party.

NoWordForFluffy · 04/07/2024 08:15

You do know that the issue of spoiling votes isn't just on MN? I linked to the Guardian article which said that about 20% of women who responded to their poll were considering spoiling.

You should be more concerned at the state of the political parties that has led to people feeling they've nobody to vote for, not mad at the people who want to vote but have nobody they can give their mandate to.

CassieMaddox · 04/07/2024 08:21

NoWordForFluffy · 04/07/2024 08:15

You do know that the issue of spoiling votes isn't just on MN? I linked to the Guardian article which said that about 20% of women who responded to their poll were considering spoiling.

You should be more concerned at the state of the political parties that has led to people feeling they've nobody to vote for, not mad at the people who want to vote but have nobody they can give their mandate to.

Yes, exactly why I think its some sort of organised thing. If it is, then whoever benefits from it is very unlikely to be pro women.

The best thing anyone can do is turn out and vote.

MoggyP · 04/07/2024 08:22

NoWordForFluffy · 04/07/2024 08:15

You do know that the issue of spoiling votes isn't just on MN? I linked to the Guardian article which said that about 20% of women who responded to their poll were considering spoiling.

You should be more concerned at the state of the political parties that has led to people feeling they've nobody to vote for, not mad at the people who want to vote but have nobody they can give their mandate to.

Of course it's not.

Bots and trolls are found in many places, and definitely want to cause mischief, sow discord etc. It's what keeps the myth that this "sends a message" alive. Buttressed by people not liking to think they've been duped (either directly or because a genuine friend has been duped and then spreads the disinformation)

I can easily agree that there are people who are dissatisfied with all parties at present, but making sure your vote doesn't count doesn't strike me as a way to solve that.

NoWordForFluffy · 04/07/2024 08:23

CassieMaddox · 04/07/2024 08:21

Yes, exactly why I think its some sort of organised thing. If it is, then whoever benefits from it is very unlikely to be pro women.

The best thing anyone can do is turn out and vote.

Or maybe the population at large is right royally fucked off with the whole lot of them? 🤷‍♀️

Loads of people I know were considering spoiling. None of whom are on MN.

NoWordForFluffy · 04/07/2024 08:25

MoggyP · 04/07/2024 08:22

Of course it's not.

Bots and trolls are found in many places, and definitely want to cause mischief, sow discord etc. It's what keeps the myth that this "sends a message" alive. Buttressed by people not liking to think they've been duped (either directly or because a genuine friend has been duped and then spreads the disinformation)

I can easily agree that there are people who are dissatisfied with all parties at present, but making sure your vote doesn't count doesn't strike me as a way to solve that.

So you think we've all been duped rather than have come to the conclusion ourselves?

Could say the same about any prevalent message on MSM really then, couldn't you? Maybe none of us actually do anything we've actually decided to do without influence!

NoWordForFluffy · 04/07/2024 08:26

I find the YOU MUST VOTE message to be worse than telling people they can spoil if they really have nobody to vote for, actually.

PortiasBiscuit · 04/07/2024 08:26

Don’t spoil your ballot paper, vote against Reform ffs.
This is how these fuckers will get power.