Coordinating spoilt ballots

[Binglebong]

I know there is a thread about have you spoilt your ballot but this is slightly different.

I'm trying to hold my nose and vote for someone but there is not a single potential MP in my constituency who does not disgust me. I don't want to vote Reform or someone as a protest as it might be seen that they have more support than they do. So the liklihood is that I will spoil my vote.

I know spoilt votes only really get looked at if there is a huge number or if the vote is close. But just in case I was wondering if it is worth having the same thing written on all of them to show that it is a massive issue that is losing them votes. What would you suggest (if you think it is a good idea).
Respect my sex if you want my X is a good one but is it the best?

When it does, make sure it's for the General Election and has Sunak and Starmer on it! 😂

https://x.com/doraexploring/status/1807055365810295179

Any Bill will have to be debated before it's enacted. That's when targeted, structured and sustained campaigning and lobbying on sex and gender issues must be raised.

I think all parties underestimate the extent to which it is not a black and white issue for most of the population, and and it's probably the issue that most progressives will be gritting their teeth on as they place a box against a candidate. Labour and the LibDems need to realise that they're gaining quite a bit of support despite their policy on this rather then because of it.

Unfortunately I don't think it will arrive in time now! Even if it arrives on Monday and I stick it straight in the post it'll probably be too late.

I used to think it was awful not to vote given how hard women fought to gain the right. That was before I was in a position where I couldn't in good conscience vote for any of the candidates on offer.

I also live in a constituency where a donkey with the right colour rosette would get elected so my vote is worthless anyway. A spoiled ballot has no less utility than picking a candidate when the seat is ultra-safe.

Probably going to write woman = adult human female, and/or write in Party of Women beneath the listed candidates and tick that. If nobody even reads it, I've lost nothing and at least I've had my name ticked off as someone who cares enough to show up. Because my alternative is not voting at all.

While reading your post Sister Suffragette came up on Spotify. It's fate!

I think you've seen up my feelings pretty well. I used to think if you don't vote then you can't moan. But now... I just can't in good conscious.

@MissScarletInTheBallroom If it ever arrives you can actually take it to a polling station on the day and put in the box or some council buildings may be able to take them. It's also possible for someone other than a candidate to do so for you. I took my own vote and one other when we had a postal vote that didnt arrive in time, there is a limit of 5 votes plus your own and an annoying form must be completed saving why - postal vote arrived too late seemed quite acceptable.

I'm an overseas voter so unfortunately I can't!

I was thinking of something along these lines:

Respect my seX
Or you don't get my X

And what is the crime with being 'middle class'?

I actually live in a 'Labour city'; brought up in a working class household - with a father who was toolmaker, just Like Kier Starmer's father; was a single parent at 19 years of age; have been poor and homeless.

But yes, I went on to be educated to quite a high level; and have developed my critical thinking skills; have actually been a teacher of those skills..... is this what you mean by 'middle class'?

And you?

You've mirrored my thoughts accurately and eloquently. I've voted in every election in my 63 years. I can't vote for any of them with a clear conscience. This will be my first spoilt ballot. What an utterly depressing situation 😞

Thanks for the tip, @AnCùDubh 👍

I mean go for it if you want, but spoilt ballets are really only looked at by the counters, who are often drafted in for the night from local council workers. They don’t care what’s on the ballot other than whether it’s clear for one candidate or another, or invalid for one reason or another. Some party volunteers, likely no one senior, will also be watching each table or a cluster of tables and might see it, but probably not. It’s really not going to be something that anyone really registers, other than as invalid. But you do you.

It is about integrity, not nobility.

The total number of invalid papers is counted, recorded and reported though.

Spoiling is a valid protest. But creativity in doing so is wasted.

Maybe for you. I refuse simply to endorse " whatever" just so that I can say I've put my 'X' in someone's box. The vote very much matters to me. It says you endorse something, or that you are happy to compromise on the things that you don't support. For me, it very much depends on what those things are. Some things are fundamental, and cannot be compromised on.

I thought they meant not to bother crafting a message that won't be passed on.

Ineffectual is ineffectual, no matter how you try to polish it. Whoever wins will pay nothing more than lip service to spoiled ballot papers.

Good for you!

I'll do my thing; you can gloat about your 'better' thing.

Are you middle class too?

What do you think people should do if there is no candidate they feel they can vote for?

Spoilt ballots are a mark of vanity. Pure and simple. "I want to show them how I feel" is not taking action.

Voting is showing how you feel. So is spoiling your ballot paper. I don't see why there's anything 'vain' about saying 'None of the above, and this is why'.

I am not middle class. I am not better or special. I grew up in poverty, free school meals, low achievement schools and few opportunities like many others.

I am middle class. I am not better or special. I had a lot of opportunities. I'm still furious.

Haven't read the whole thread, but I have a question.
DH and DS both want to spoil their ballot papers for this reason.
I'm going to use the Respect my sex one, but any suggestions as to what my lovely men can put?

Oh really?
Believe me, I am agonising over this election as never before.

Tory: actually a solid constituency MP, replies to emails etc. But I can't vote Tory: they have fucked up big time (Truss: say no more)
Labour: replied to my email; does, as an individual, seem to know what a woman is; is however rather wedded to the manifesto and seems unlikely to rock the boat. Is certainly toeing the party line on an issue of local concern.
LibDem: has not replied to my email; would be my party of choice, but their position on women is disgraceful, and I left the party over it some time ago.
Reform: fuck no.
Greens: awful on women. Never mind the actual Green candidate we have been given.

Spoiling my ballot will be a mark of rage and dismay at the utter fuckery of our political class. I want to vote LibDem but I doubt I'll be able to persuade myself to do so.

But yeah, vanity.
If you say so.

It’s pretty vain to imagine no one but yourself understands what spoiling their ballot means.