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

[MrsFogi]

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

Because they will take my vote as an endorsement of all their policies. They always do - all parties do. They will take MY vote as an endorsement of their appalling, anti-women's rights policies.

They can fuck right off.

This. And this is exactly why I'm spoiling my ballot. And I don't give a fuck if people disapprove or scold.

Will there be representatives of the different parties outside each polling station? I haven’t got an answer from my local SNP candidate about whether they’ve signed the Women’s pledge and where they stand on Self ID so I’m hoping I can ask someone tomorrow before I vote. There is an independent MP standing in my area on the issue of Women’s Pensions. Rather than spoil my vote she might get my vote instead. Or I still might spoil it but don’t know what succinct wording to write on it. Any ideas?

There will be no information on the number of deliberately spoiled ballots, let alone reason for spoiling. They will be all lumped together in one headline figure, together with the incompetent, the blank etc.

Rather like one cannot be sure about why people didn't vote (deliberate abstention, adverse logistics, sudden illness/crisis, CBAness etc

I haven't read the whole thread so forgive me if this has been discussed, but if the parties are all equally bad on this issue, why not just base your voting decision on some other criteria?

When the country is on a knife edge and staring at four more years of xenophobia and austerity, this seems a bit futile.

My sister counts ballots on election night; it's not like anyone reads the spoiled ones, they just go in a spoiled pile.

I've debated with myself whether or not to spoil my ballot but ultimately I've decided to vote. The spoilt ballots may - if it's a slow news day and a sympathetic journalist wants an unique angle on the election - get some coverage but I don't think they'll affect parties' positions. It's the age-old dilemma of voting on principle or pragmatically. atm I'm coming down on the side of pragmatism because I'm extremely concerned about the future of the NHS. However, I admire all of you making your protest at the ballot box. I know how difficult a decision it is

Wishes -because they will take that as a sign of my support for all their policies. Same way tories took being voted in as a sign everyone supported a referendum on leaving the EU, hence the stupid fucking position we are in now. There’s no box on the ballot form for ‘x for candidate’ then another for ‘list all the policies you agree with, those you don’t, and those you are so so on’. It’s x here if you choose us, and they take that to mean all policies on their manifesto, not just policy 1 3 & 6.

I understand that. But in an election where it's racist right wing Brexit or not, I think withholding a vote that could make lives better for the least in society is a privileged position I could not bring myself to take.

I will not endorse this bullshit.

As pp said, would you rather I voted Tory or spoiled my ballot?

I think withholding a vote that could make lives better for the least in society is a privileged position I could not bring myself to take.

Well aren't you just so much better than the rest of us then, well done

Let me ask you this though - how will you personally campaign for the poorest women in society to get support when the data shows a whole bunch of women doing very nicely thank you, so no need for extra funding or specific initiatives or the like. The fact they are male women will be irrelevant, of course.

Vote in your mate Jeremy or Jo and that's what you'll get along with your never ending fountain of free unicorns for all.

They will only make lives better for men and boys, while wiping out rights for all women and girls.

I have zero interest in an nhs that women can’t access because male hcp are now ‘women’ and the women’s mh wards are filled by men. I have zero interest in well funded education when girls can no longer access it because they can’t change their pads in unisex toilets or wash blood off their hands in front of boys or have to change and shower with them or play contact sports against them. I couldn’t careless about money put into homeless provision when women won’t be safe there, or money allocated to dv charities that open their doors to any man who says he’s a women. I don’t give a damn about democracy that’s only for men- because that’s what this is, erasing women’s rights erases women’s vote on women’s issues, as all ‘women’s votes’ will now contain men, just like all political parties will now have 50% women (only the kind with penises who self ID) so women loose all ability to wield any political pressure as group on issues that effect us because of our shared experience. So I don’t gaf about anyone trying to manipulate women by appealing to our socialisation that’s supposed to get us to care about everyone else before ourselves. That’s what got us in this fricken mess in the first place, men knowing fine well that they can say oh but what about these poor marginalised people and women will jump right over to give them all our rights.

As pp said, would you rather I voted Tory or spoiled my ballot?

What a strange question- plenty of people will be voting Tory- plenty of women will be voting Tory. I would except my constituency is Lib Dem /SNP contest so Lib Dem gets my vote.

I haven't read the whole thread so forgive me if this has been discussed, but if the parties are all equally bad on this issue, why not just base your voting decision on some other criteria?

Yes- that's the bit I don't really get. Especially posters who have said they are in marginal seats (can't remember if it was this or another thread) - that they really can't stand [insert one of the mainstream parties] but would prefer that that party might win than vote for any other party.

From the second part of your post I'm assuming you are not a Tory voter- obviously fair enough. Personally I think Corbyn's wild spending plans and nationalisation are utterly unrealistic. If you voting Lib Dem keeps a Tory out in your constituency and me voting Lib Dem keeps the SNP out in mine - why not do it?

Not for Tory , whatever.

That’s it exactly Buzz, whichever party passes self ID will give themselves a massive pat on the back for having solved all problems faced by women in the space of a few years. They’ll get to say ‘look at how great we are. All those centuries of women’s oppression and we solved it. Look how great we are’. Of course all women’s issues will have evaporated, because all the penis owners will tell everyone how great life is as a woman.

VMisamarshmallow
If I could, I would like your post a million times. You have captured how I feel exactly. I started one of the threads on spoiling my ballot and earlier today had resigned myself to voting Labour, thinking JC won’t be leader forever but then I read his answer to the GRA question and I’m back to spoiling it. I live in a very safe Tory seat so my vote never counts anyway.

What a strange question- plenty of people will be voting Tory- plenty of women will be voting Tory. I would except my constituency is Lib Dem /SNP contest so Lib Dem gets my vote.

It's not a "strange question", the poster made it perfectly clear that they expected others to vote to get the Tories out. Do keep up.

Because they will take my vote as an endorsement of all their policies. They always do - all parties do. They will take MY vote as an endorsement of their appalling, anti-women's rights policies.

They can fuck right off.

This. And this is exactly why I'm spoiling my ballot. And I don't give a fuck if people disapprove or scold.

Here again, for people who can't be arsed to read, is my position.

Having thought about this a bit and read most of the posts, have thought of another option. (All of this because there is no party supporting women's sex based rights).

If there is a party whose main politcies you agree with maybe vote for them, and should the candidate get in email or even write and say you voted but absolutely do not support their position on the GRA and that they should be aware you do not endorse them and will be monitoring their participation in the GRA discussions, changes.

We could set up a GRA monitoring group. List all the new MPs who got a vote despite their parties lack of support for women's rights, and then list whether they even bother to participate or vote on the issue in the next Parliament.

This keeps it a live issue as I am sure the next few months / years will be Brexit grandstanding.

My potential MP has stated she is personally committed to ensure women's rights as under the EA are maintained but as her Party (Labour) isn't, not sure what to do. But may contact her after election as I am assuming she will get in as it is a safe seat.

Stum has that ever worked in the history of politics as of yet? Once they are in they are in, they won’t care again until the next election and the candidates who don’t get in are more likely to care than those who did (hence why I’m emailing them all to explain they will get my spoiled vote next time if they will stand against their party on self ID votes).

I get voting for a candidate who is willing to be opening critical of self ID bill and confirms they will stand against their party on this. But voting for them then telling them you don’t support their stance on self ID is rather like bolting the stable door once the horse has bolted. Which is apt as trans stallions are called geldings not mares ; )

I haven't read the whole thread so forgive me if this has been discussed

It has. RTFT. It's frankly just rude to ask people questions that they have repeatedly answered and then take the moral high ground on them.

Some excellent posts on this thread.

Written out a number of sticky labels with the short comments I wish to make as I spoil my ballot tomorrow; have folded them neatly and put them in the back pocket of my jeans.

My sticky labels include "Woman = adult human female" and "Women don't have penises".

When I get to the polling booth tomorrow, I just peel them off the backing and stick them on the ballot paper. Won't have to stand there scribbling furiously with the stubby pencil for five minutes.

Whatever happens...I hope Boris loses his seat......I suspect there will be a fair few surprises: Michael Portillo and Nick Clegg moments......

My sticky label says:

Transwomen are men: women require single sex services, spaces and sports for their own dignity, comfort and safety

I do, also, have other reasons for spoiling my ballot, though.

Good idea Kate.

I was taking a Sharpie, but pre-preparing my objections in purple and green will be easier.

I don't 'expect' anyone to vote any party to do anything. Don't make shit up.

What I'm saying is, this issue is very important, but so are many many others, and I find it pretty selfish that you're willing to shelve things like the NHS, so that you can write 'lesbians don't have penises' on a piece of paper that nobody will ever read.