EU elections, Thursday 23 May: are you voting?

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

As lots of you will know, eligible electors in the UK can head to the polls on Thursday 23 May to vote in the EU parliamentary elections.

We've put together a page with a few facts about this election in the UK (apologies for not covering other EU countries in any detail but you can find more info here).

Let us know on this thread when you've voted (you don't have to tell us how) and we will reward you with an emoticon of your choice*

Polls are open 7am to 10pm on Thursday and remember you DON'T need your polling card to vote.

*From the existing emoticons - we're not magic

As I said, DeRigueur, I understand why people think there is a significance to spoiling the ballot; equally, Tavannach, I understand that the voter feels they have used their voice by this. . I just don't understand what they think they achieve over and above that by writing great thoughts on the paper when no-one will remember or pay any attention to them.

The tactical voting website told me to vote Change to ensure bad things happened to Labour and Conservatives?

More likely to try and get a seat away from Brexit.

Okay, so Yougov predictions for London on 22 May as a percentage share of the vote.

Brexit. 26
Lib Dems. 24
Labour. 20
Green. 14
Conservative. 7 (wow)
Change UK 4
Other. 3

So by my reckoning 2 Brexit, 2 Lib Dems, 2 Labour, 1 Green and 1 which will go either to the Greens or the Conservatives.
I voted for Change UK, wish I'd voted for the Greens now. Still, spilt milk and all that.
I have had a couple of glasses of wine so my reckonings could well be wrong.

Hasthissoddingnamegonetoo - as Tavannach says the tactical vote sites were trying to get as many votes as possible away from the Brexit Party rather than get at Labour or the Conservatives. Depending on where you are Green was a recommendation. It was here in the South West.

itscallednickingbentcoppers

Thanks. Interesting, we (in north west England here) had 3 choices in our local elections a couple of weeks ago too, but just one choice yesterday.

I'm surprised so many in London voted for the Brexit party. I'd have thought the remain majority would be much higher. That doesn't bode well for a possible second referendum if the most remain-y area in the country returns a majority for the Brexit party!

@noodlenosefraggle

It's just the Yougov prediction for London, not the result.
26% isn't a majority in any way.
Brexit will have a higher share of the vote in the rest of England.
I've lost my piece of paper with the figures but (in London) 26 (Brexit) + 7 (Conservative) + share of 3 from the others is not a majority.
The big, enormous, massive, gigantic problem is Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party. Leave or Remain?? Who knows? Not even Jezza-the-walker-on-water I suspect.

@noodlenosefraggle

I live in London and have yet to actually meet or know a Remoaner in person.

I live in London and have yet to actually meet or know a Remoaner in person.

Do you never go out?

@Tavannach

Yes, but I have good taste in friends.

Yes, but I have good taste in friends.

Or possibly Remainers have better taste in friends

I'm in the SW so Green was our best option. I voted in the afternoon and when I asked if it had been busy, was told that it had been in the morning. That suggests to me retired people (majority Leave supporters) keen to get their vote in. Hopefully the evening shift redressed the balance.