My poling card just came in the post....

[BrowneIssue]

All voting forms should have a "none of the above" option.

I agree. And Parliament knows that so many of us now agree that they made that illegal in the last lot of electoral 'reforms'.

That shows they all know how tulipe they are.

[EternalOptimist]

We've had ours for our last address (but not for our current address).

Should I sell them on eBay?

Definately not. Thats just plain wrong. What you should do is vote twice, for different people. Then in the future, you can designate one as your 'Secondary polititian' and make claims on the first 'Main Politician', then when he turns out to be rubbish, you can 'flip' and change the main politician into the secondary one.

[The Lone Gunman]

Why are my pet peaves appearing at the moment?

I understand you not wanting to vote.

BUT....................

A protest vote is far better than a not bothered. If the MRLP get a seat or two the serious parties might take notice.
If there is a low turn out then the fanatics may get in. There is a real likelyhood that the BNP will get a candidate through as an MEP because their supporters will turn out.

Also consider all those in the world who do not have the right to vote. How can they point to a proper democracy if their opponents say there is little interest?
What about all those who faught and died for your right to vote? They would probably accept you choosing not to do so but it is an insult to them.

I agree with the "none of the above" point too. The problem is what to do if that wins? We had a "re-open nominations" or RON for our Uni exec. RON won a number of times. This ended up with re run after re run with less and less turn out and less and less candidates (you couldnt go forward again if yu were RONed). We eventualy had empty seats on the exec.

[BrowneIssue]

I agree. And Parliament knows that so many of us now agree that they made that illegal in the last lot of electoral 'reforms'.

That shows they all know how tulipe they are.

Found it. I think.

I think that was the Electoral Administration Act 2006:

"Among its main provisions, the Act:

* Allows people to register anonymously on electoral registers
* Allows for alterations to ballot paper designs, including the of photographs on ballot papers
* Bars candidates from using in their name or description expressions such as "Don't vote for them" or "None of the above""

I think it is sections 48 and 49.

[BrowneIssue]

We eventualy had empty seats on the exec.

... which, if it got little done except what needed to be done, was probably a good thing.

I quite like the idea of an empty Commons that does nothing for a few months. They don't actually 'run' the country They just bugger about, start illegal wars, line their pockets with our tax money and spend more time talking about themselves than ever doing any work.

[Platypus]

Should I sell them on eBay?

Offer your vote to Gordo for a quid?

[Pogle]

....and in the shredder it goes.

Don't you recycle it?

[HairyArsedBloke]

"Among its main provisions, the Act:

* Allows people to register anonymously on electoral registers
* Allows for alterations to ballot paper designs, including the of photographs on ballot papers
* Bars candidates from using in their name or description expressions such as "Don't vote for them" or "None of the above""

WTF

[TykeMerc]

WTF

It means that you don't appear on the commercially available Register of Electors. There's a tick box on the form to keep you off the copy that's sold to all of the marketing scumbags.

[oraclesmith]

As a Presiding Officer at many local elections, I can tell you that your poll card has next to no value in terms of the election process.

- It is advisory only, telling you where and when you can vote.
- It does not entitle you to vote.
- The polling clerk/presiding officer should ask you your identity when you get your voting papers, regardless of whether you have a poll card.
- You don't need your poll card to vote, you just have to declare your name and address.

Pretty much the only people who value them are the political party tellers on the door, who may ask for them as you leave so that they know who has voted (but not what they voted for). They do this to cross ref against a list of their own supporters so they can rustle up any latecomers.