vote for election of the police and crime commissioner

[Night Train]

If the turnout is as low as is being given here, why can that not be accepted as a vote of No Confidence or taken as a NO vote. They'd have another four years before they could put someone forward again!

And no, I haven't voted. When those standing are too bl**dy lazy to get off their backsides & let those they are expecting to vote for them know why they feel they are better suited than the others for the posistion, why should I waste my time. Yes someone will get in. However if the inactivity before the election is anything to go by, what are they going to be like if they get the posistion?

I don't think there should be an election at all, so I didn't want to contribute to its legitimacy.

We were discussing this last night, briefly, and perhaps there should be something like a minimum 75% turn out or the poll is null and void. If that were to happen then maybe the existing situation stands for the next four years.

That may energise people to either turn out, or not turn, out to make their view known.
It would have an interesting effect on the general elections....

 

[Longshot]

It's not in the interests of politicians to alter the system as it may put their career at risk. It's a laughable concept but without a "None of the above" box, it is impossible to register your feeling that none of the candidates represent your views.

I appreciate that you are always faced with an imperfect choice and can't always have a candidate or party that exactly aligns with your views but, there appear to be a lot of people who hold little but contempt for all of the current offerings and, as such, have no way to voice this with any credibility.

 

[ASC1951]

We were discussing this last night, briefly, and perhaps there should be something like a minimum 75% turn out or the poll is null and void. If that were to happen then maybe the existing situation stands for the next four years.
......
It would have an interesting effect on the general elections....

18% turnout in Manchester Central yesterday, so your Modest Proposal would have an interesting effect when the Middlesbrough and Croydon North bye elections are held. I mean, going through the Commons lobby on a gurney is one thing...

 

[Drago]

The count started in most areas at 1030, and at 1031 one polling station had already reported that it had no voters at all turn up.

For what it's worth I didn't vote - every candidate had a manifesto full of promises that they won't have either the legal power or authority to deliver, so seeing as none have even the remotest clue I couldn't really split one from another.

 

[Archie_tect]

I didn't vote because I fundamentally disagree with a party political alignment for the post. It should be a balanced group of elected councillors given the task of overseeing the Police not a party-led individual.

I wish, on reflection, that I had voted by deliberately spoiling my ballot paper as that would have been recorded.

The whole fiasco should be cancelled as 4 out of 5 people by inference don't agree with it.

 

[Drago]

And the new PCCs are still accountable to an unelected panel of local interested parties, made up from councillor a etc. a bit like the old Police Authorities. Duh.

 

[simon.r]

Interesting that many commentators are noting the relatively high proportion of spoilt papers - the first time I can remember this being discussed in the media.

 

[Gromit]

We had two, I put on my slip none of these please.

 

[psmiffy]

We had 5 - The Lab guy won - however I am awaiting the outcome with interest - It would seem he has a criminal conviction (albeit minor and 22years ago) that would prevent him taking up the post

 

[ohnovino]

Went into the (deserted) polling station unsure whether I'd be voting for the independent (because I don't think it should be a party-political job) or spoiling my ballot. I chose the former, because there was an English Democrat on the ballot and I wanted to dilute their vote.

It now looks like the utterly useless party hack Jane Kennedy will get the Merseyside job, on a turnout of 15%. If she had any decency she'd recognise she has no mandate and turn down the post.

edit: I was being optimistic, the turnout is now reported as 12.9% (including spolit ballots). What a farce.

 

[on the road]

Went into the (deserted) polling station unsure whether I'd be voting for the independent (because I don't think it should be a party-political job) or spoiling my ballot. I chose the former, because there was an English Democrat on the ballot and I wanted to dilute their vote.

It now looks like the utterly useless party hack Jane Kennedy will get the Merseyside job, on a turnout of 15%. If she had any decency she'd recognise she has no mandate and turn down the post.

Same here, I voted for the independant, not that it made any difference.

 

[mangaman]

It now looks like the utterly useless party hack Jane Kennedy will get the Merseyside job, on a turnout of 15%. If she had any decency she'd recognise she has no mandate and turn down the post.

It does rather beg the question what constitutes a mandate.

If we accept 15% would we accept 5% / 1% a single vote?

If we wouldn't accept a single vote, we have to draw an artificial line somewhere and 15% seems to me too low.

 

[addictfreak]

What I'm finding quite strange is length of time being taken to declare some of the winners. Surely with such a low turn out, all the results should be known very quickly.

 

[Maz]

BBC are reporting that "millions have been voting in the first police and crime commissioner elections in England and Wales."

Well done, Mr and Mrs.Millions!
That's 2 voters at least...

 

[Archie_tect]

What I'm finding quite strange is length of time being taken to declare some of the winners. Surely with such a low turn out, all the results should be known very quickly.

That'll be a consequence of not making sure Police Cadets passed the Numeracy Test...