Single Transferable Voting System Query

[shivvy]

Under the Single Transferable Vote system is there any merit in placing a vote beside candidates that you dislike on the ballot paper?
It makes sense to me to choose my first preference and then rate any other candidate/party that I am ok with voting for. But if I have a particular dislike for one then should I leave it blank?
I was recently told that by scoring it last it sends a message to the party that they are not liked, but is there not more likelihood that those last place votes could be transferred and ultimately help them?

[jim360]

I'd say that it would be better for the voter to leave blank the box for any parties they don't want. I can't think of any situation in which it *would* be better to vote specifically for a party you dislike in STV, unless (very possibly) you regard one party as a lesser of two evils.

[ichkeria]

No: because of the way STV works (and indeed most voting systems) a vote for any candidate works in their favour.
BTW I’m sure you know this, but were thinking of the Euro elections in the UK, Great Britain uses the party list PR system. Only NI Ireland uses STV.

[Old_Geezer]

You must be lucky to find a suitable candidate that deserves your vote. Finding more than one is near miracle.

[shivvy]

Yes, although the persons logic seemed reasonable at the time (!), on reflection I couldn't see any purpose in giving any allocation to a party/candidate that I did not want to support.

PS - ichkeria - I am in NI!