vote for election of the police and crime commissioner

[Night Train]

Which side of the Pennines, East or West. Sounds familiar, that last bit.

West.

 

[classic33]

In that case its not the same lot.

 

[Longshot]

They need to make voting compulsory. At the same time though, they need to add a "None of the above" box.

 

[simon.r]

...I would rather vote for the 'least bad' candidate and work with it then not vote at all. Hopefully one day there will be other voting options but I guess candidates are too afraid of 'none of the above' votes or 'Don't change anything as I am happier with the existing arrangement'.

Is spoiling your paper an option? I've done this more than once, in the hope that someone somehwere will realise I'm not casting a valid vote for reasons other than apathy.

 

[Night Train]

Is spoiling your paper an option? I've done this more than once, in the hope that someone somewhere will realise I'm not casting a valid vote for reasons other than apathy.

I think this is the problem. You know why you are doing it, we know why you are doing it. The vote counter doesn't have a box for it and so no one else bothers to consider why you are doing it. It doesn't get accounted for other then as a random spoiled paper.

An extra tick box that is accounted for would be better. Then someone has to make a note of how many voters purposefully ticked that box.

 

[Arch]

Is spoiling your paper an option? I've done this more than once, in the hope that someone somehwere will realise I'm not casting a valid vote for reasons other than apathy.

I was just thinking about this - do they count the spoiled papers, when they say what the turnout was, or do they only count the 'proper' votes.

I still prefer to vote, than not vote, even if it's a poor choice.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I still prefer to vote, than not vote, even if it's a poor choice.

Yep - it is better to have the system than have the alternative and have to go through an "Arab Spring"

 

[Longshot]

Yes - spoiled papers are counted and given as part of the Electoral Officers' returns.

But there is no distinction between deliberate spoils and accidental ones.

 

[Longshot]

That's because there is no difference. Spoilt is spoilt.

There is a difference. A spoilt paper is an accident or mistake. A deliberate spoil is a vote for none of the options.

 

[Leaway2]

Have you noticed that they write the number on your voting slip, next to your name in the register when you vote?
They can look up how you voted later.

 

[mattobrien]

Someone help me choose between this motley crew please

 

[Leaway2]

Someone help me choose between this motley crew please

Darts, blindfold and a dartboard?

 

[Baggy]

Have you noticed that they write the number on your voting slip, next to your name in the register when you vote?
They can look up how you voted later.

In theory, whoever "they" is, they could, if they got several court orders to do it. The register is kept separately from the ballot box, so no need to worry about that.

 

[Leaway2]

In theory, whoever "they" is, they could, if they got several court orders to do it. The register is kept separately from the ballot box, so no need to worry about that.

Oh that's all right then, because nobody involved in politics is dishonest.
Nobody has been able to give me a good reason why they do it.

 

[Baggy]

Oh that's all right then, because nobody involved in politics is dishonest.

Which is why there are processes in place that involve legal proceedings.

Nobody has been able to give me a good reason why they do it.

According to the Electoral Commission, from the Handbook for Polling Station Staff (online) the reason is:

Q. Why do you need to write my elector number beside my ballot paper number? Does this mean my vote is not secret?

A. The requirement that the elector number is recorded on this list against the number of the ballot paper issued to you is included in the election rules. This system is essentially an updated version of a system that dates from the Ballot Act 1872, which was introduced to avoid the possibility of counterfeit ballot papers being used and to assist with the detection of alleged fraud.

Clearly, if the ballot papers are numbered, it is far more difficult for an unscrupulous person to introduce copies of official ballot papers into the ballot box. If a fraudulent act has occurred, it would be possible to detect the offence by reference to the corresponding number list.

There is a safeguard to prevent the ballot paper numbers on the corresponding number list being linked with the marked ballot papers. At the close of poll, the corresponding number list is placed in a sealed envelope by the Presiding Officer at the polling station. The sealed envelope is then taken to the (Acting) Returning Officer. After the count has taken place, the used ballot papers are also sealed. The only occasion when the sealed packets can be opened is on the order of a judge as a result of an election petition or in furtherance of an investigation into an alleged election offence.

Even then, it is very rare for the documents to be examined except in cases where fraud or personation (i.e. someone voting illegally on someone else’s behalf) are being investigated.

Because of the above safeguards, it is virtually impossible for any person to be in a position to marry up the voter to a particular ballot paper. For that reason, voters can be confident that the ballot remains secret. Voters have no grounds to fear that the way in which they voted could be detected, except under the very special circumstances outlined above.