Forum Topic

anyone up for spoiling their local election ballots?

Can't vote for any Labour counsellors after the pigs ear they have made of the streets around Chiswick and their absolute refusal to listen to any feedback from the locals - the could not give a monkeys for Chiswick and consider us/ uber & delivery drivers a cash cow.  And though our local Tory counsellors do seem to do a great job on the whole (i often see them on here helping people out),there is NO WAY on this earth i can vote for anyone in any way connected to Boris "Lair" Johnson and his corrupt bunch of cronies so i am left with spoiling my ballot as a protest (unless anyone wants to run Brewster style as "none of the above"??)https://votingcounts.org.uk/spoilt-ballot

Ceinwen Mailvaganam ● 1625d48 Comments

There is certainly a case for adding a "none of the above" option to all ballot papers, and if it won a majority the election could be re-run. Perhaps you could ask the candidates in your ward if any would agree to campaign for such an option, and if any did so, vote for them ?

Richard Greenhough ● 1625d

Best way to spoil you paper Is to vote Labour.

James Dow ● 1625d

I couldn’t bring myself to vote Labour locally after the mess they have made of things what about Lib Dems? Harmless maybe??? Who knows local vote is very different to national it’s about where we live and who will serve their community best, good luck

Jayne Thorburn ● 1625d

We intend to spoil our ballot papers - in all conscience we cannot vote Labour after a lifetime of support, dislike Tories with a passion, what is the point of the Lib-Dems/Greens?

Vanessa Smith ● 1625d

Lib Dem’s want to have more LTNs, traffic chaos and pollution. They are despised in Richmond Borough.  Can’t vote for any mainstream party and the Greens are from planet cuckoo with no idea of where all the money comes from.

Steve Taylor ● 1625d

Vanessa - exactly how i feel. Voting Libs in Chiswick is wasted vote. Voting Tory will be taken by central command as a sign everything is fine. Only option: spoiling your ballot to register disgust

Ceinwen Mailvaganam ● 1625d

"Only option: spoiling your ballot to register disgust"What a truly naive and silly statement. That means Labour will get in to Chiswick and we will have another 4 years of of what we've put up with - more LTN's and cycle lanes.

Loraine Pemberton ● 1625d

Central command? Is that Boris. Do you really think he cares what is happening in Chiswick? Or have I misunderstood.? Our main aim surely is to get Labour out and hopefully get some control back. That means voting Conservative, at least they care what locals think

Maggie Dodge ● 1625d

MD: "That means voting Conservative, at least they care what locals think."Really?(From Feb.2020)Prime Minister Boris Johnson Pledges £5 Billion In New Cash For Buses And Bicycle Infrastructure£1 billion is expected to be spent on building 250 miles of new, high-quality separated cycle routes and safe junctions in towns and cities across England.The DfT also announced that dozens of new ‘Mini-Holland’ schemes will be created. These pilots of low-traffic neighborhoods are modeled on Dutch schemes and make local streets safer to walk, cycle and play in while maintaining some motor vehicle access.More here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2020/02/10/prime-minister-boris-johnson-pledges-5-billion-in-new-cash-for-buses-and-bicycle-infrastructure/#553628bb6df6

Richard Cathcart ● 1625d

Southfields ward returned three LibDem councillors at the last elections  The Southfields Ward in W4. Chiswick.

Stewart Jones ● 1625d

I've been at a few counts and for the Brexit vote there was somebody who put a cross in both the Yes and No boxes and at a local election somebody saw fit to draw a rather large (I won't say impressive) male appendage on the paper. While the latter provided mild amusement, it seemed rather odd for somebody to make the effort to get themselves to the polling station with that intent.

Anne England ● 1625d

Perhaps the Conservative candidates could stand as independents in disgust at their party and see how they get on.

Vivienne Cox ● 1625d

No, local elections are about voting for people who defend local interests- party politics shouldn’t count much. It’s local individuals who make an effort to help us, often against a tirade of personal abuse and vilification for doing so.Vote for whoever best defends local interests and democracy.

Russell Pearson ● 1625d

AnneAt one election that I was involved in a voter wrote a different four-letter expletive beside the names of every candidate except one, which was left blank.The candidate in question (I genuinely can't remember who it was or which party he represented) tried to claim the vote as his own because he was the only one who hadn't been abused.

Phil Andrews ● 1625d

I am in exactly the same position.  Will probably vote for the Animal  Welfare Party if they have a candidate.

Claire Moran ● 1624d

I feel the same. I have voted in every election since 1974, national and local, except the 1983 general election when I was away on polling day. I shall probably not vote next month.How has out democracy come to this?

Susan Kelly ● 1624d

'it seemed rather odd for somebody to make the effort to get themselves to the polling station with that intent.'If you don't go at all then you are dismissed as apathetic. Spoiling your ballet proves that it's not apathy but disgust.

Susan Kelly ● 1624d

True about apathy but it seemed a strange form of 'protest'.

Anne England ● 1624d

'That means voting Conservative, at least they care what locals think'You think? They're the same party who DON'T care what the general public think over partygate/non doms etc. They all 'care' before they get elected - but afterwards it's a completely different ball game. Big majorities - for whichever party is never good news - arrogance reigns.

Vanessa Smith ● 1624d

I agree - I can't remember how many times over the years when I've been canvassing I've  had conversations with people who make a point of saying 'I never vote'. Our votes, hard won and fought for by very brave people are precious, but I fear there is no local democracy while this 'cabinet' system is allowed to fester. I have always voted and rather than not make an effort I will go to the Polling Station and spoil my ballot paper, because I do care, but I cannot vote for people I don't trust and who, in a lot of cases, I believe are standing for election for the wrong reasons.

Vanessa Smith ● 1624d

"I cannot vote for people I don't trust and who, in a lot of cases, I believe are standing for election for the wrong reasons."Which brings us back to the idea of an Independent Community Group of candidates who could stand for election for the right reasons. But if no-one puts themselves forward, then they are leaving the field open for the main political parties. As I have said before, although we disagree on many issues, I would be inclined to vote for Vanessa if she stood again as I would expect her to shake things up at Hounslow House. But if she no longer wants to be a candidate, then I can't vote for her.

Richard Greenhough ● 1624d

Richard - there are a couple of Independent candidates standing - and good for them - especially Theo Dennison, who has stuck his head over the parapet in an attempt to shine a light into some very dark corners. It's really nice of you to have such faith in me - but, I'm too old and I am involved in local things - where I have to say I find myself battling against this council regularly, but honestly I think they are of the view that those of us who are prepared to stand up and be counted and take issue with them, and not be browbeaten are just bolshie irritants. Never mind that we  are local residents giving of our time and efforts - like so many in the borough - to try and improve things, they just don't want to know - we get met with arrogance, untruths, discourtesy and totally ignored a lot of the time, we are treated like pariahs. It won't stop us of course - and it is all very wearing and frustrating, but if you think something is right then you have to stand your ground.

Vanessa Smith ● 1624d

I think you’re on to something, Richard. There are models for what you suggest. I think LB Merton has independent local councillors for the Merton Park ward.

Stewart Jones ● 1624d

let's face it, the Tory counsellors will walk Chiswick wards as they always do. But given the tory counsellors are such a minority in the Hounslow council they have very, very little power/sway so i feel spoiling my ballot is much more direct way of expressing my disgust with the 2 main parties - labour on a local level and Tories on a national one.

Ceinwen Mailvaganam ● 1624d

We did have an Independent Community Group in LB Hounslow. They went into coalition with the Conservatives to control the council. Unfortunately, as the LibDems discovered at a national level, the result of so doing seems to be rejection by the voters at the next election. The good the ICG did in Hounslow, and the LibDems at Westminster, as junior members of a coalition, seemed to be forgotten - not helped by Labour tainting them as Tories by another name, which in fact they weren't.

Richard Greenhough ● 1624d

Ah! But Richard let's not overlook the fact that both were treated as collateral damage by the Tories they threw their lot in with, the fact is they were used and abused.

Vanessa Smith ● 1624d

I really think spoiling yuor ballot pape is a bad idea. Labour will get in and as much as Boris is a twat these elections are at local level and don't concern him. Do remember that we are lucky to have Conservative councillors Ron Mushiso, Ranjit Gill and Jo Biddolph who really do care about Chiswick.

Chris Blackwell ● 1624d

N/m

Loraine Pemberton ● 1624d

Southfield Ward (Ealing Borough) has returned 3 LibDems every election since at least 1998 except for 1 Conservative in 2006. People need to vote for individuals who listen, not spoil the ballot paper or not vote.

Dilys Jones ● 1624d

If you are in Ealing Common or Greenford Broadway ward you have to option to vote UKIP.

Julie Carter ● 1623d

Julie shouldn't you declare that you are standing for UKIP if you are suggesting people vote for that party?

Matthew Swain ● 1623d

Tend to agree Ceinwen - Vanessa, is Theo Dennison labour ?Can’t bring myself to vote for a party that doesn’t know what a woman is - but if he’s independent …. That would be better than a spoiler I guess

Madeleine Hazard ● 1623d

'If you are in Ealing Common or Greenford Broadway ward you have to option to vote UKIP.'Sweet Jesus - I'd rather stick pins in my eyes.

Vanessa Smith ● 1623d

Is Dick Brain still party leader?

Phil Andrews ● 1623d

No, I think it’s PJ Gammons.

Alastair Banton ● 1623d

It would Make sense those spoiling ballot papers are banned from voting in futur.

Janice Evans ● 1623d

I have had the chance to work with and, in later life, volunteer with charities in West London which work alongside Ealing Council to provide care and help to those who need it.  My experience of this council is very positive for the work they do especially given the significant cuts from central Government from 2010 onwards.

I think genuine Labour voters need to take a long hard look at themselves before they undermine the support to some of the most vulnerable in our society because of a few minutes extra on a local car journey.

I say this as someone who has to travel to  and from Charing Cross hospital on a regular basis.  I was worried about the removal of the bus lane but I would say that the journey times are now back to what they were before the cycle lane was implemented. 

Julie Canterbury ● 1623d

Vote ukip in Ealing Common and Greenford Broadway to do away with LTNs

Julie Carter ● 1623d

In the assunption that you are the same "Julie Carter" who is standing for UKIP in Ealing Common, it would be good manners if you were to reveal that before blithely coming on here and asking people to vote UKIP.Though your reticence might be explained by the fact that when you came on here this time last year, as part of your campaign for the London Assembly, to ask: "What do we need to do to get you to vote for me?", not one single respondent wanted anything to do with UKIP?http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=community&link=http://appasp.ChiswickW4.com/server/app/forum/default.asp?site=1Or maybe it's embarrassment at UKIP's eventually receiving less than 1% of the vote in Ealing & Hillingdon? Or an equally pitiful 1% in the London-wide vote, thereby losing both your seats from the previous election?P.S. I'm proud to say I voted Count Binface in preference to UKIP.

Richard Cathcart ● 1623d

Janice, why would it make sense for those who spoil their papers to be banned and how would the authorities know who did so as it's a secret ballot?

Keith Iddon ● 1623d

Isnt it about time we had a 'None of the above' box, and that vote read out along with the other votes. it would be great to hear ' Elected is.. None of the above'

Stephen Gould ● 1623d

Do you believe it's a secret ballot.?

Janice Evans ● 1623d

Janice, just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they are not after you...

Keith Iddon ● 1623d

They are able to find out who cast each ballot if they need to.

Susan Kelly ● 1623d

How?

Keith Iddon ● 1623d

Why would it make sense?

Stewart Jones ● 1623d

From a couple of posts on this thread, I'm beginning to think maybe there should be some sort of electoral qualification required to vote - "Idiots need not apply"

Richard Cathcart ● 1623d

Keith, so you did believe it, no I'm not paranoid.

Janice Evans ● 1623d