Have you/will you spoil your ballot?

[CervixSampler]

Today I have for the first time ever. I know I'll be flamed by some but the available choices don't know what a woman is. I had fun with my pencil but it sits uneasy with me.

I spoilt mine for the first time ever. Woman = adult human female.

[quote llm24]@thinkningaboutit

my daughter is very educated about woman’s rights and a keen modern studies pupil and she is hoping to study this at University
you never know we
might she her one day representing one of political parties[/quote]
That's great; I hope she does well in her studies.

I'm in Scotland, she could have my vote one day if she stands and protects women's sex based rights.

Yes, for the first time ever, having never missed a vote I was eligible for, and with a very heavy heart. The choice was between carte blanche for atmospheric pollution and TWAW. So no choice at all because while I am done with waiting for politicians to get round to even listening to women, I'm tired of worsening asthma attacks too.

Woman means adult human female.

@ReginaaPhalange

What a complete waste. Your ballot will not be read or passed on, it's simply a waste of time. You may as well not have turned up!

Untrue

I toyed with it but didn't in the end.

I did ask the volunteers there what happens to spoilt ballot papers and they put them out for the candidates to see.

I had Andy Wightman, the guy who left the Greens over what he described as intolerance within the party around the transgender debate, on my regional list, so that was an easy vote. My constituency vote was much tougher and I nearly did spoil it, but there's a local councillor who's done an excellent job for the area attempting to step up to MSP, so I went for him in the end - it was a vote for the person, not the party, as he's Conservative.

I really couldn't have handled the guilt if I voted for any party that is for the GRA reform and the Hate Crime Bill in Scotland.

The only party I could have voted for that has voted against these things are the Tories and it would have to be a cold day in hell before I voted for them.

I spoke to a close female friend today who asked me who I was voting for and I told her I was spoiling my constituency vote and voting Alba on the list and explained the reasons why. She had no idea about any of the issues with women's rights.

Twitter is choc full of women voting SNP1&2. I wince every time I see it.

And yet someone I know, someone who has counted ballot papers for years, says that every spoiled ballot paper is looked through with the candidates or their representatives to see if any of them can actually be counted as a vote for someone. It's done quickly, but they are seen — and if they all mention sex-not-gender then they will send a message.

Yes this is absolutely true. I've been an agent many times.

However - it is nothing more than a cursory glance. Sometimes their might be an opportunity for a giggle at a good joke or some creative artwork. But that's it I'm afraid. Unless there were 1,000s of spoiled votes saying the same thing then candidates and agents really wont give it a seconds thought.

And there wont be thousands, there might be dozens.

Its just a waste of paper.

That being said I think a spoiled ballot paper is fractionally better than not bothering to vote.

I emailed my local labour counsellor and said I wouldn't vote for them because of this issue. Then I voted for them because like fuck I would do ANYTHING to let the Tory bastards think that they are gaining in our area. As a feminist I see beyond this one issue and the Tories are th biggest pile of misogynists with the king of misogyny at the top

I wrote '#Adult human female' - shorter than I'd intended but there were people waiting. I have no illusions about it being read but if anyone does wonder why I would walk to the polling station in the rain, wait in line, and not vote, well at least it's there. Up to them.

I don't feel good about it. In fact I'm thoroughly depressed. I've been politically engaged all my adult life and I'd really hoped for an independent candidate. But there wasn't one and I will not vote again for any party that wants to remove my rights. Those posters who've been dropping by all day to scold and even explain how politics works - they helped my resolve. To those saying it would have been more effective to vote Conservative - yes you do have a point.

I wrote what felt like a chapter,
Woman, noun. adult human female
Women wont wheest
#labourlosing women.
Respect my sex to get my X

I was ages in the booth.
Still I feel better for making the effort.

And for all you saying they wont be read or seen or acted on, I dont care I bloody tried to get the message across. If they wont respond to my emails they might respond to lost votes next time. And if not I still did my bit.

a friend of mine has another friend who stood as a candidate in the last election. He was shocked and outraged that three papers they were asked to inspect and agree were spoiled had penises drawn on them. One had sperm with little smiles on it. I was very pleased my drawing left an impression 🤣

@CaptainPigeon

I spoiled my ballot because I have a hard-won right to vote and I will never, ever not use my ballot.

And I will not vote for parties who take women's votes for granted while not giving a shit about them.

So it was the only option.

Agreed CaptainPigeon I’d like the candidates to see what I wrote but if no one sees it I’m no worse off

@nothingcomestonothing

I will never disrespect the women of the past who fought for the right to vote, or those women all over the world who still aren't able to freely vote, by not turning out. But I will also not disrespect the women of today by voting for any candidate or party which doesn't know (or pretends not to know) what a woman is, and why that matters. Therefore the only option I see is to spoil my ballot and write why on it. Whether anyone reads it or cares, that's the only choice I see open to me today.

Posts like this make me wish mumsnet had a like button. This is exactly how I feel but put much more eloquently than I could have done.

Congressdingo I wrote pretty much the same although wheest is a new word to me and after a google I shall use it often as I love it. I felt like I was ages in the booth too but it was quiet and no queue.
As pos have said, if just one person reads my comments then my stance has been communicated. If that person then is intrigued to go home and find out more then even better. If it's a GC woman she might experience some feelings of solidarity. If the person reading then goes on to speak to friends and family about the issue and then they, or even just one person, talks to others then the word is spread and more people might wake up and realise what madness is taking over the world.

I’d rather use my vote to good use instead of at pointlessly wasting it.

So would I, obviously, and I always vote. But I will never vote for a candidate or a party that’s committed to reducing women’s rights. When that only leaves the Tories, who are doing so much damage in other ways, what’s the alternative to spoiling my vote?

I swithered but couldn’t bring myself to spoil. Have never felt so conflicted and hope i don’t regret my decision.

I spoiled. I wasn’t going to vote at all but couldn’t bring myself to not turn out. So I wrote woman = adult human female and drew a great big Venus symbol.

For the first time I didn’t vote, now I wish I had gone and spoiled my ballot

I spoiled my constituency vote (I wrote the 'No self respecting woman' quote by Susan B Anthony) purely because I couldn't bring myself to vote for any of them (and I did investigate manifestos and write to candidate to make sure I was informed).

A pp has mentioned that it would only be noticed if there was a significant number and there would only be dozens. I'm not so sure - I know quite a few people who had indicated they intended to spoil their ballot. I think the numbers might be interesting.

@SaorsaAlba

I spoiled my constituency vote and voted on the list.

I didn't spoil it for recognition or a pat on the back.

I spoiled it because it is my right to vote and not one of the candidates represents my views. This is the first time in my life I have spoiled a vote.

This. Me too!

I spoiled my constituency vote by writing "If you don't respect my sex-based rights, don't expect my vote". I voted Alba on the regional vote. I could not vote for any party who believe TWAW. Hopefully someone will notice the increased number of spoiled votes.

These nay-sayers with “ok, so a few people (candidates/agents) might quickly look at the spoiled ballots, but no one actually cares what they say” - erm, isn’t that kind of an issue? Whoever is elected, they are elected to represent the entire constituency, not just the people who voted for them (in most cases the minority of their constituents). And their first chance to get any feedback from constituents that didn’t support them, and they’re not interested to take more than a quick glance at the ballot papers to see if they can claim them as a vote or not. Not interested in the direct messages constituents have written to them. Well doesn’t that just sum up what is wrong with the political establishment in this country.

I spoiled by ballot for first time ever in nearly 40 years of voting and civic participation.

So scold me.