And for all the idiots out there, a guide on how to......

[mattx]

vote:

 

BBC News - On the day

 

That's right folks, a step by step guide on how to put a 'X' in a box. Next week, a step by step guide on how to wipe my bottom.

[TwoZeroAlpha]

It's sad that the BBC feel there is a need to publish this, and sadder still that they are probably spot on.

[tmcd35]

That's quiet comical! Remind me of the fantastic Harry Enfield sketches - 'Public Information Broadcasts'.

[danrhodes]

There are no words for this...

[broc]

I was talking to a prospective candidate for our local council recently, he said there were a surprising number of people who said they didn't vote because they didn't know how to - their parents had never shown them because they didn't know how to vote either.......

 

Sad to think women died fighting to secure the vote for women, & many more people died during WWII fighting for the freedom to vote.....

[sidewinder]

............................................________

....................................,.-'"...................``~.,

.............................,.-"..................................."-.,

.........................,/...............................................":,

.....................,?......................................................\,

.................../...........................................................,}

................./......................................................,:`^`..}

.............../...................................................,:"........./

..............?.....__.........................................:`.........../

............./__.(....."~-,_..............................,:`........../

.........../(_...."~,_........"~,_....................,:`........_/

..........{.._$;_......"=,_......."-,_.......,.-~-,},.~";/....}

...........((.....*~_......."=-._......";,,./`..../"............../

...,,,___.\`~,......"~.,....................`.....}............../

............(....`=-,,.......`........................(......;_,,-"

............/.`~,......`-...............................\....../\

.............\`~.*-,.....................................|,./.....\,__

,,_..........}.>-._\...................................|..............`=~-,

.....`=~-,_\_......`\,.................................\

...................`=~-,,.\,...............................\

................................`:,,...........................`\..............__

.....................................`=-,...................,%`>--==``

........................................_\..........._,-%.......`\

...................................,<`.._|_,-&``................`

[tech_guy]

I don't see what the problem is - for the majority in some areas it's just like going to sign on - they should be familiar with putting an 'x' on a piece of paper by now?! ;-)

[creese]

Sad to think women died fighting to secure the vote for women, & many more people died during WWII fighting for the freedom to vote.....

 

They also died for us to choose not to vote.

 

Some people believe that not voting or spoiling your slip is demonstrating a complaint about the current electoral system.

[witch]

They also died for us to choose not to vote.

 

Some people believe that not voting or spoiling your slip is demonstrating a complaint about the current electoral system.

 

But how would the powers-that-be know that was the intention? After all, it could just be that the person was too stupid to understand how to put a cross in a box.

 

Having said that - I was talking to some teenagers the other day who did not understand that the voting was secret - they just presumed that with the 'big brother' attitude of the government, that your vote would be known!! I think what is missing is the basic education for this - after all, if they don't know now and are perhaps not savvy enough to find out, you can see why they wouldn't vote

[creese]

But how would the powers-that-be know that was the intention? After all, it could just be that the person was too stupid to understand how to put a cross in a box.

 

Having said that - I was talking to some teenagers the other day who did not understand that the voting was secret - they just presumed that with the 'big brother' attitude of the government, that your vote would be known!! I think what is missing is the basic education for this - after all, if they don't know now and are perhaps not savvy enough to find out, you can see why they wouldn't vote

 

I can't answer the first bit, I'm not of that opinion but I do know a significant number of people believe it.

 

Point 2. I've not checked recently but aren't there things that could identify you? Are we absolutely sure we can't be traced?

[witch]

I don't think so - but my point was that the teenagers had no idea that the vote is even SUPPOSED to be secret. AFAIC that is what lessons like PCSFE or whatever your school calls it these days - or general studies for the A level lot. The children need to be taught the basics of life - tax, pay, savings, the electoral system etc etc.

But they are not as far as I can see

[tech_guy]

Well, I always vote by post, but this year I have deliberately spoilt my ballot paper by writing in big black felt-tip, "NONE. I AM NOT VOTING AS NONE OF THE CURRENT POLITICAL PARTIES DESERVE OUR VOTE, RE: THE IRAQ / AFGHANISTAN WARS AND THE MP'S EXPENSES SCANDAL"...

[danrhodes]

I don't see what the problem is - for the majority in some areas it's just like going to sign on - they should be familiar with putting an 'x' on a piece of paper by now?! ;-)

 

True, which party is it that said they would give everybody a job, and if then don't do the job then its bye-bye benefits? (with exceptions obviously, for old people, disabled and people who are actively looking for work like Axe)

 

D

[tech_guy]

Yes, instead of benefits paid in cash for the long-term unemployed, they should receive vouchers that can only be spent on food and utility bills. Not fags and booze, etc.

[danrhodes]

Well, I always vote by post, but this year I have deliberately spoilt my ballot paper by writing in big black felt-tip, "NONE. I AM NOT VOTING AS NONE OF THE CURRENT POLITICAL PARTIES DESERVE OUR VOTE, RE: THE IRAQ / AFGHANISTAN WARS AND THE MP'S EXPENSES SCANDAL"...

 

You have to choose the best of a really bad bunch!

Edited May 6, 2010 by danrhodes

[creese]

AFAIC that is what lessons like PCSFE or whatever your school calls it these days - or general studies for the A level lot. The children need to be taught the basics of life - tax, pay, savings, the electoral system etc etc.

But they are not as far as I can see

 

Too busy practicing for SATs etc.

 

I don't recall ever being taught about the electoral system, I left school in '72. It was only when I saw the massive queues in South Africa's first 'real' election that I decided I should vote. I was asked last night by an African friend over there if I would vote, no way could I tell him no.

[witch]

Well, I always vote by post, but this year I have deliberately spoilt my ballot paper by writing in big black felt-tip, "NONE. I AM NOT VOTING AS NONE OF THE CURRENT POLITICAL PARTIES DESERVE OUR VOTE, RE: THE IRAQ / AFGHANISTAN WARS AND THE MP'S EXPENSES SCANDAL"...

 

WHY? No one who gives a rat's bottom what you think will read it and your opinion will not get passed on to anyone who matters. Your vote will be thrown away and that'll be that.

 

The advice I was given was that if you are disenchanted with the main parties, then vote for one of the minor ones because the main lot do take notice of the number of people who do this - I know that the Monster Raving Loony party have no chance of getting in, but politicians know that we know that, and so they take note of the numbers of people who chose to use their vote in this way to express their displeasure.

Short of a 'no confidence' box, it seems like the best way to me

[creese]

WHY? Short of a 'no confidence' box, it seems like the best way to me

 

I believe in the past a 'non of the above' box has been suggested.

[tmcd35]

Too busy practicing for SATs etc.

 

IMHO, it's whats wrong with the Labour education system - too much working for exams and league tables and not enough actual teaching and learning. I heard on the news this morning that around 100 local primaries are boycotting the SAT's this year. Good for them! Their priority as always should be to provide a solid education not chicken feed the students to make worthless exam results.

 

(I'll get back off my high horse soon - I promise .

[featured_spectre]

If King George V hadnt have removed the none of the above from the voting papers, we would be in a much better position to show them on a whole that we are displeased on a large scale! But such is life!

[ICT_GUY]

I didn't vote in the last general election because all of the parties seemed to be as bad as each other. I voted this morning because I am embarrassed by the current buffoon running the country.

[sparkeh]

So I see the current trend towards intellectual superiority is not waning. Brilliant, aren't we clever.

 

Yeah there are people out there who don't know how to vote and are intimidated by the whole process and some of that comes from people like the ones here deriding people.

We live in a country with severe voter apathy and anything that helps people get involved with the process can only be a good thing.

[broc]

Apathy is the only winner when people cannot be bothered to vote. It's a major reason why our first past the post electoral system allows the Tories or Labour to form a Government having received a minority of votes cast. Bad weather on polling day can can have a bigger influence on turnout than anything a politician might have to say.... that's why they never call elections during the winter Edited May 6, 2010 by broc

[creese]

So I see the current trend towards intellectual superiority is not waning. Brilliant, aren't we clever.

 

Yeah there are people out there who don't know how to vote and are intimidated by the whole process and some of that comes from people like the ones here deriding people.

We live in a country with severe voter apathy and anything that helps people get involved with the process can only be a good thing.

 

I think the 'idiots' out there really believe that the voting system wouldn't help them whether they put an X, Y or Z in the box.

 

I also believe those people who stand or sit outside asking to see your slip are intimidating for some.

[tech_guy]

WHY? No one who gives a rat's bottom what you think will read it and your opinion will not get passed on to anyone who matters. Your vote will be thrown away and that'll be that.

 

The advice I was given was that if you are disenchanted with the main parties, then vote for one of the minor ones because the main lot do take notice of the number of people who do this - I know that the Monster Raving Loony party have no chance of getting in, but politicians know that we know that, and so they take note of the numbers of people who chose to use their vote in this way to express their displeasure.

Short of a 'no confidence' box, it seems like the best way to me

 

Notice is taken of spoilt ballot papers - I used to be Ward Secretary for one of the parties in the early 90s and used to officiate at ballot paper counts. Spoilt papers are put to one side and details taken if there are comments on them.

Edited May 6, 2010 by tech_guy