Spoil My Vote

[Monkeyhoney]

Is the legitimate way to register my considered disgust and despair with the system itself.

Foul effluent in our rivers , mass die-offs of insects and birds, and native mammals, rising poverty, elderly freezing to death , falling literary, no youth clubs, amenities closing, whole generation of renters , families eating poor diets as can't afford a decent one.

Surely it's better to put committees of experts in their fields, making transparent decisions, in charge of running the country. Not politicians who have shares or positions in companies that are necessary for survival.

There's no other way to record this conscious decision that our country and our kids deserve so much better, and that its time we collectively spoke to calmy start a new sensible, non political solution. With local decisions voted on locally in school halls.

Hence, I spoil my paper.

Family tradition is we draw a cock and balls on it. Lol. RIP Dad. Seriously though, the current system is an insult to humanity. Then you get called apathetic if you 'don't bother' to choose between the greasy politicians.

Spoilt votes are counted and announced by the returning officer on the night.

Please don't.

Possibly vote for a smaller party who you disagree with less, possibly vote to reduce the size of the win for the elected MP.

Quite, @LlynTegid . There have been many threads encouraging or promoting spoiling the ballot paper. I would think it's better to use your vote, really. Have a look at the list of candidates.

And what does that achieve?

If the purpose of my vote is to record my lack of confidence in the current system, then it's the correct choice. Rather than join in the utter farce.

Do what you want. No one of any influence will take any notice.

Thanks Kate. I know the candidates, and the policies. Nothing personal against Jeff Smith if the alternatives, but I genuinely believe HAVE to grow out of this frankly embarrassing system of governance.

It doesn't work.

I agree with you OP. I cannot bring myself to choose a 'less' anti-women or 'less' racist party, so I will be spoiling.

I'm just questioning how effective a strategy it is.. also, if it's the system of government which irks, you could vote Lib Dems because they support Proportional Representation.

Did you mean falling literacy ?

Ha! Fair point. They would have to take note if we all made the same protest vote. And we'd be doing it to tell each other.

You could argue the people who 'cba' already won.

They've come first in terms of overall numbers for elections for decades.

I agree with you. If none of the candidates offer what you want to vote for them spoil the paper. At leat you’ll be included in the turnout figure then. I see no sense in voting for a minor party if you don’t agree, just because you think they won’t win. There’s no sense in that, and no one will realise that’s what you’ve done anyway.

Spelling literacy wrong has to be the best typo ever 😂

Yes, but it may reduce the proportion of the victor's majority, and indicates support for certain issues. I genuinely couldn't think who to vote for in the last local election, but found there was an independent candidate with some good ideas. I knew she wouldn't win, but I gave her a bit of support.

It did make me smile 😂

I rather like the term literary though!

No OP, please don't spoil your vote. The X you put in the box WILL make a difference.

I posted on another thread yesterday about experts in fields. Great minds think alike obviously .

I do believe that positive argument and constant pushing for things and engagement by more people, especially women who are the only ones that get shit done will effect change.

It will take time, the important thing is to focus on what you want, not what you don't want. It is tiring

Follow up on whoever you vote for. Look at what they are doing. Keep the pressure on. A two-line social media post with a clear request in it gets likes and results.

I've seen even from a few sarcastic absolutely factual fb posts I have fired off at my council, individual councillors and the local police over the past few months, that things have been done. People have heard messages. Cogs have started turning. Very slowly, but they have. If 100 or 1000 or 10,000 people did the same, they would turn faster.

It's the system of men/women in differing coloured ties who are not qualified, and have financial gain in energy companies, arms companies, supermarkets, etc. deciding crucial decisions that affects the whole of society and nature that irks me. If said politicians were proportionally represented, it would make no odds.

And on what planet are the Lib Dems getting in ? 😂

Planet Ed Davey's Fun Park, I think. That's all got very bizarre.

😂

I don’t see how reducing the majority of the eventual winner is more or less worthy than spoiling a vote. If anything it’s giving false hope to the minor candidates who, following your approach, will think they have actual support!! I’d rather not give anyone my vote than do that. Spoiling your vote means that you’re included in the turnout number, but not in any candidates total. I think that makes more of a point than giving someone false hope. But it’s just my opinion. There’s no right or wrong answer :)

Hi. I am living proof it doesn't make a difference! I've campaigned for 3 different minority parties over my lifetime. The SLP (I even was on their party political broadcast!) , the Greens and The Reality Party.

So much effort, so many hours, meeting so many like-minded folk who despair of the status quo - going right back to the 90's.

It's insulting our collective intelligence to think that a minority party could win, without the huge donations yo national parties , and I any case - I am rejecting the very idea of Party Politics!

It's rubbish!

It sounds like you've always spoilt your ballot?

How has that improved any of your examples of a failing system so far?

The Tories and their dodgy backers thank you for your thread, your payment will be in your account tomorrow morning. There will be a memorial brick placed in your honour for spoiling your vote and getting other vulnerable readers to believe it would make the foggiest bit of difference other than to ensure you don't get a say.

What a load of nonsense. Women died for our vote, so get off your arses and do some critical thinking of your own, and then vote! Read manifestos. Consider the past 10, 20 + years. Vote with your gut or tactically. But do vote.

They won't even care though... the new prime minster won't be bothered that you've drawn that on your vote. You've just wasted it... well done 😂

I don't think spoiling votes makes any point and it could essentially be an uncountered vote for a party you really disagree with. I agree with what you say about having subject matter experts in fields not just career politicians doing the rounds. However, what about a choosing a smaller, narrow focus party, or the best of a bad bunch and engage more with your MP/ focus groups to make change?

I just think at least it's doing something positive. Anyway. Personal choice.