The Next General Election – None Of The Above?

[naomi24]

With the threat (or promise) of a General Election looming, should the option “None of the above” be included on the ballot form? If so, would you elect for that – and if not, which of the current political parties would you support?

At the moment I feel that the option to put my kiss next to ‘None of the above’ would be the only thing that would tempt me into polling booth.

[anotheoldgit]

naomi24

Do you really think that there is any chance whatsoever, that they would include the choice 'NON OF THE ABOVE' on the voting paper?

Who we should vote for is any candidate that doesn't belong to either of the two main parties, then that would clearly give the message over.

[retrocop]

Seems the Tory's do a deal these days. Cross one and you get two more free. They chuck in the DUP and now the Trots. :-(

[jim360]

Well, like I say, OG, I was only playing DA.

[youngmafbog]

I'd like to see something along the lines of "None of the above".

Also being partyless at the moment I would like to say more than just a spoilt paper.

I can only Hope Nige's Party takes off, I could not vote for the current UKIP. We need a Trump type character to drain the swamp.

[ludwig]

I think there should be a 'none of the above option' if voting were made compulsory. As things stand you can just register a 'none of the above' response by not voting.

[andy-hughes]

The difficulty with a low turnout because of apathy, and low turnout as a protest, is that neither can be accurately quantified as reasons for not voting, so no conclusion can be reached, or definitive message delivered.

[youngmafbog]

"As things stand you can just register a 'none of the above' response by not voting."

Not good enough, especially for women who feel they must vote (My own 90 year old mother for one)

I've just signed up with the Brexit Party. Lets Hope Nige gets some candidates ready. We need to drain Westminster of the quislings.

[ludwig]

I don't think it makes much difference Andy. Apathy is almost a form of protest in itself.

[Kromovaracun]

It really isn't

[Ellipsis]

Yes, I believe in a "none of the above" option and have spoilt my ballot paper several times as my only recourse in the current system.

I also believe in compulsory voting.

Australia has it about right:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electoral_system_of_Australia

Key points:
* Enrollment on the federal electoral roll of eligible voters has been compulsory since 1911.
* Voting is compulsory at federal elections, by-elections and referendums for those on the electoral roll, as well as for State and Territory elections. Australia enforces compulsory voting. People in this situation are asked to explain their failure to vote. If no satisfactory reason is provided, a fine of up to $170 is imposed.

This is a good summary of the pros and cons of compulsory voting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting

I think the pros outweigh the cons.

[spathiphyllum]

" should the option “None of the above” be included on the ballot form?"

No.

[spathiphyllum]

I feel that is such a time waste situation. Because then where does it leave us?

What if the majority vote for someone, but then the non majority decides well we'd rather no one that that person.. ?

[youngmafbog]

The person who gets voted wins, the other votes are registered as a protest. If nothing else it sends a message to the one who wins he was not actually that popular with the punters. Should knock the ego down to size.

[jim360]

What incentive is there to pay attention to votes which, by design, don't even count, though?

[Togo]

//The person who gets voted wins, the other votes are registered as a protest. If nothing else it sends a message to the one who wins he was not actually that popular with the punters. Should knock the ego down to size. //

Do you think that say Corbyn or McDonnell or Abacus or May or Gove or any of the shy talks would care as long as it was them who "got in"?

[ichkeria]

Nigel has branded Westminster “enemy territory” which in my eyes puts him in the same bracket as Jeremy Corbyn.
If you put a “sod ‘em all” option on a ballot paper you are encouraging people to take a negative attitude to the other candidates. If people are genuinely irked at the choice on front of them then they are free to say so: the number of spoiled ballot papers is recorded.
But basically what “none of the above” is saying is “I don’t actually think our parliament is worth voting for”. Our parliament is far from perfect but the alternative is the politics of the street, and that takes us back to Nigel and Jeremy.

[New Judge]

"But basically what “none of the above” is saying is “I don’t actually think our parliament is worth voting for”."

No it doesn't. In fact it's the exact opposite. It means none of the candidates standing is worthy of my vote - a different thing entirely. Too many MPs see their position as a God-given right - especially if they stand for one of the two main parties. Being an MP is a privilege and if they are none of the candidates deserve that privilege voters should have a mechanism to say so. But the mechanism needs to be worthwhile and spoiling one's paper is not.

[jno]

and what happens if everyone does that, NJ? If you end up with a Commons consisting of 23 Communists, you'll deserve all you get.

Though in fact I think this is all hot air. Everyone will vote for pretty much the party they voted for last time, as has happened for centuries.

[ludwig]

If 'none of the above' gets the highest number of votes, does that actually mean that the no-one is elected? - Serious question.
If so, then it's worth having on there, and I'd consider voting for it.

If it's just a box for people to register their protest, I can't see the point.

[ichkeria]

And in the unlikely event that this leading question had caused “none of the above” to win in enough seats?
What would you do then?
If you’re answer is still “get a load of new candidates”
then I’m afraid you are effectively indeed saying parliament is useless.
You are encouraging negativity. It’s very very easy to say “Sod the lot of them”. Lazy indeed I might say.