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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Spoilt votes - post them here so that the parties/papers can see them

814 replies

MrsFogi · 09/12/2019 22:51

I know there is a split of opinion about spoiling ballots vs voting for the least bad option.

If you do decide to spoil your ballot it feel free to post a photo of it here (be careful not to include any information that identifies you and in particular not to include the ballot's unique identification number) in case any of our loitering journalists wish to pick up the story or in the hope of giving the parties/candidates some pause for thought.

In case it is of interest (and you want a place to post your views for/against spoiling ballots), there have been a number of threads about spoiling ballots, a few links below:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3751902-Spoiling-my-ballot?pg=2 www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3749890-Can-we-talk-spoiling-ballots-again-sorry
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3743237-advice-on-spoiling-ballot
Advice on Spoiling your vote

Spoilt votes -  post them here so that the parties/papers can see them
OP posts:
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20
tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 10/12/2019 12:58

Also spoilt mine. Really don't give a shit if others disagree with me or want to judge me. It's my vote to use as I please .... and thanks for the suffragette picture upthread OP, I think it's an important one.

GCAcademic · 10/12/2019 13:05

It's immature and a waste of your privelige

You do realise that in other countries, there is a "none of the above" option? Who is immature and wasting their privilege in those countries? The government who issues the forms, or the people who tick that box?

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 10/12/2019 13:39

I thought it was illegal to take photos in the polling station.

PJsatMidday · 10/12/2019 13:40

This is why I am in favour of compulsory voting. In those situations, there has to be a "none of the above" option, and they have to count and record those votes.

Spoiling ballots is an entirely honourable and legitimate action, it is no different to marching with a protest banner. Spoiled ballots are counted, so it is much better than simply not bothering to turn up in situations where you do not want to vote for any candidate.

I have written to my LibDem candidate telling him why I will not vote for him, despite being an ardent remainer. I am in a very safe Tory seat, so he's got an uphill struggle anyway. Perhaps I would have held my nose and voted LibDem if it made tactical sense re Brexit, but frankly, I would have struggled to stomach such a decision. I'll probably spoil or vote for the People's Vote candidate, as, even though they have no chance whatsoever, I can sleep with a clear conscience.

bingoitsadingo · 10/12/2019 13:46

It doesn't count for nothing. It counts towards voter turnout figures. I won't let it be said that I don't care or am apathetic.

Maybe noone in the political parties cares about spoilt ballots. More fool them.

Ringdonna · 10/12/2019 13:52

Won't make any difference at all.

stealthsquirrelnutkin · 10/12/2019 14:41

Mine has already been posted. I contacted all the candidates and not one of them would define the meaning of the word woman, or agree that sex and gender identity are two completely separate concepts.

It's the first time in my 62 years that I haven't been able to hold my nose and vote for the least worse candidate. I refuse to be lumped in with the people who are too apathetic to bother voting, I want to vote but there is nobody to represent me.

I put a thick black line straight through all the square boxes and wrote NONE at the top, then wrote Repeal the GRA/Sex not Gender/no to self ID/Lesbians don't have penises across the rest of the page with a thick, very black pen. I think I made my point.

If enough people spoil their ballots in protest it might just raise enough of a stink for discussions of proportional representation to start up again. The current adversarial system of government where two parties bray at each other in the house of commons and once the ruling party gets kicked out the incoming government change everything is a national disgrace. We need a parliament where representatives work together to reach consensus, like grown ups. Not stupid, shouty, public school swagger and one upmanship.

Why, when they revamp parliament, can't they set up a circular discussion chamber, with properly comfortable ergonomic chairs for each member, with armrests so that new mothers can breastfeed, and sockets for phones and laptops? A redesign of the chamber to encourage co-operation and listening, instead of the bullish bellowing and point scoring that the current set up encourages. Bear baiting and cock fighting have gone out of fashion, can't our politics move with the times?

Justhadathought · 10/12/2019 15:03

Won't make any difference at all

Spoiling is the act of someone for whom the system is no longer functioning and/or the candidates simply unacceptable/unpalatable.
It is not an attempt to make a difference to the result

Horehound · 10/12/2019 15:05

Yeh, so pointless.

Floisme · 10/12/2019 15:15

It has been most instructive these last few weeks to see how riled some people get when women don't do as they're told.

Bluntness100 · 10/12/2019 15:17

Really what's the point of spoiling your ballot. Who the fuck do you think actually gives a shit? Other than you and others doing it? Seriously all that matters is the people that vote.

You have a voice, it's called a vote, use it. Spoiling it is no different to not voting and no one of import actually cares.

SomeVelvetMorning · 10/12/2019 15:22

Clangus00
My DH counts votes
From what's been written on that spoiled vote, they would "award" it to any female candidates on that card
Counters are told to see if there's any type of pretences, if not they get shredded

Wrong, wrong, wrong on every point.

It is impossible to tell from the ballot paper posted here what the voter's intention is.

How you or your husband came to the bizarre conclusion it would be "awarded" to a female candidate is beyond me, but it is complete nonsense.

Ballot papers, including the spoilt ones, are not shredded. Under the Representation of the People Act 1983, ballot papers and marked copies of the electoral register have to be safely deposited with the Government.

GCAcademic · 10/12/2019 15:23

You have a voice, it's called a vote, use it. Spoiling it is no different to not voting and no one of import actually cares.

Giving my vote to any party would imply assent to policies which I am very strongly opposed to in each case. I won't do that.

Spoilt votes are counted and feature in turnout %. So not quite the same as not turning up.

I don't care if anyone cares. It's a matter of personal conscience for me.

SomeVelvetMorning · 10/12/2019 15:27

Floisme
It has been most instructive these last few weeks to see how riled some people get when women don't do as they're told

It has nothing to do with telling women what to do. That is the stock response on here if there is disagreement with the consensus. It's almost as if you (general you) want to shut up anyone with a different view.

There has been considerable misinformation about spoiled ballot papers, what the effect is, what happens to them and importantly who cares about them.

FlyingOink · 10/12/2019 15:42

There has been considerable misinformation about spoiled ballot papers, what the effect is, what happens to them and importantly who cares about them.
Even if they make them into paper aeroplanes, it's still our right to pick none of the above. Doing something "pointless" and "childish" hurts me less than voting for something I fundamentally disagree with.

The number of holier-than-thou posts on ballot spoiling is amazing. Just makes me more determined to do it, and now I've had a few ideas from others about how to word it.

Floisme · 10/12/2019 15:43

It has nothing to do with telling women what to do
There have been a number of threads on this topic recently with some posters seemingly very invested indeed in telling us what to do. Do have a look.

As for what happens to spoilt ballots, thank you for your advice - the point that parties are not obliged to take note of them has been made many times. I think the issue is more that any candidate or agent worth their salt would surely want to see them, if only to make sure they can't be counted. And if they're really not interested in why people might go to the trouble of travelling to a polling station without casting a vote, then more fool them - they don't deserve to win.

SomeVelvetMorning · 10/12/2019 15:46

The number of holier-than-thou posts on ballot spoiling is amazing

There's certainly been plenty "holier than thou" posts on this subject. Do whatever you want but try to avoid getting thrown out of the polling station when taking a picture of the spoilt paper.

OnlyTheTitOfTheIceberg · 10/12/2019 16:00

My friend is a Returning Officer. Spoiled ballots are carefully checked to see if a clear indication to vote for a particular candidate can be identified. This check often involves the candidates being asked to look at the ballot paper to agree with the Returning Officer's decision. Spoiled ballot papers are more closely scrutinised than any other. They are counted as part of the turnout percentage and the number of them is included (as 'rejected' votes) when the result is announced, and if there is a significant proportion/change to the usual proportion of spoiled ballots, either in a particular constituency or overall, it may be picked up and reported on by the media.

It is fundamentally untrue to say that spoiling a ballot paper makes no difference whatsoever. It makes no difference to the final result, but the candidates will often/usually get to see many of the spoiled papers and they will be counted as part of the turnout.

SomeVelvetMorning · 10/12/2019 16:02

I think the issue is more that any candidate or agent worth their salt would surely want to see them, if only to make sure they can't be counted. And if they're really not interested in why people might go to the trouble of travelling to a polling station without casting a vote, then more fool them - they don't deserve to win

Here are some actual statistics about spoiled ballot papers.

The proportion of ballots rejected at counts [in 2017] was 0.2%. This compares with 0.3% in 2015

The link gives more information on parts of the UK and the reasons for rejection.

www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/elections-and-referendums/past-elections-and-referendums/uk-general-elections/results-and-turnout-2017-uk-general-election

There is no reason whatsoever why candidates and agents will trawl through rejected ballots. Almost a quarter (24.9%) were rejected due to voting for more than one candidate so analysing those for example tells them nothing beyond the voters didn't understand what they were doing.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 10/12/2019 16:06

Home2018 "Literally no one apart from you is going to give a flying fuck."

You gave enough of a fuck to take time to scold the uppity women though...

LangCleg · 10/12/2019 16:07

Literally no one apart from you is going to give a flying fuck.

Except you, who cares enough to turn up here and have a moan up. Why bother, if it's so insignificant?

LangCleg · 10/12/2019 16:08

Spoiling it is no different to not voting and no one of import actually cares.

You don't have a very sophisticated understanding of democracy and protest, do you?

LangCleg · 10/12/2019 16:09

BuzzShitbagBobbly - LOL, crosspost!

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 10/12/2019 16:10

the point that parties are not obliged to take note of them has been made many times

The parties will be watching sites like MN though, so its actually quite likely they will see comments like this thread. They value it enough to specifically come and do webchats (even if they give dogshit answers). They know we're angry. They know why.

Labour, for example, know Dawn Butler is a liability so they fudged their manifesto to try and pull the wool over both sides' eyes, then put her in a cupboard after she gobbed off and rumbled them.

Floisme · 10/12/2019 16:14

There is no reason whatsoever why candidates and agents will trawl through rejected ballots.
Thank you for going to all the trouble of posting statistics and links - you seem to care a great deal about this.
I'm not going to repeat my post and I know they are not obliged to go through them but, if the count is tight or if have any curiosity at all about their constituents, then I would expect them to take a look.