scottish elections- vote honestly or vote tactically?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I am torn. The party that almost completely aligns with my ideals has no chance of a constituency win but might scrape a few regional seats (though not enough for any real power)

Or should I vote for the party which broadly matches some of my main ideals and has possibility of both a constituency win, and some real power?

I voted SNP. I never vote tactically. I vote with my conscience.

If you vote tactically, be prepared for the one you vote for to get into power.... Ask the ones that voted LibDem tactically last May.

Seems simple to me. You can vote for your '2nd choice' party on the constituency ballot paper and the party you really support on the regional list paper. Job done!

Well, personally I think you should always vote honestly. It's easier with our voting system because it's not all or nothing so you can put your second choice in second place.

Having said that, I'll be voting SNP but Labour will get in in our constituency as always with SNP a respectable second and everyone else will trail sharing about 20% of the vote.

I might feel differently if it was a Labour/Tory marginal (is there such a thing in Scotland any more?)

expat - you have always been one of my favourite posters and you have just put the icing on the cake by voting for MY Party!

granny23: that's what I was thinking - it just feels wrong somehow and that I should vote for my 1st choice in both, but then it would be a wasted vote...and if power doesn't go to at least my 2nd choice would be deeply unhappy.

Am talking about greens and snp btw

Well the Greens aren't standing in any constituencies, so that makes it easier. Vote SNP in the constituency and green on the list.

IAGTBF - Are you sure there is a Green standing in your constituency? In my constituency they are only on the Regional list so you could not vote for them twice anyway.

My constituency MSP is Nicola Sturgeon who, due to boundary changes, would, if people voted the way they did last time, lose to Labour by 27 votes :( (she'd still get in as she is top of the regional list).

However, the Labout candidate is apparaently going around with a face that is tripping him..... (I shouldn't :))

Nicola has worked a hard in the seat and has been going around personally to doorstep people - they haven't taken the support for granted.

OP: give your 2nd vote to the Greens (I think in fact, that's the only option you have) and the forst to whoever next best matches your conscience but I hope it is SNP

Why thank you, Granny :). This is the way forward for us here, IMO. There is no reason to be afraid or lack confidence. This is the platform that has really shown itself here in this area. We are rural, we are mostly Glaswegian or from Inverclyde and we who are not retirees are mostly working poor.

This is the first Scottish election in which I have ever voted.

In other places online, I get told in not so many words I have no clue, I am deluded, I can't know, having been born American, a naturalised citizen who swore no allegiance to any monarch. I am somehow less than anyone else who is from somewhere else and who is a naturalised citizen, but only online. Never here. Here, I am accepted.

My passport is as maroon as my husband's, who was also born here and never swore any allegiance to any king or queen.

My children are Scots. This is their place, this is their future, this is their hope. We only get one shot in life.

I live to show them there is hope in this beautiful place. There is a future, and it is theirs.

Don't blow it off, people. Weigh things up, square your vote away with your mind and heart and live with it but whatever you, if you have the right, VOTE.

Very wise words Expat.

I've voted already (postal vote) and I've voted with my heart for the SNP - not purely because of their policy of independance but because i've seen what they've done whilst in power and I've seen what other parties have done - and I know who worked the hardest and most honestly for the good of the Scottish people