Lucys Interesting Idea

[olddutch]

“ What we need on every ballot paper in this country is a 'None of the above' box. If 'None of the above' gets the most votes then the election must be re-run with different candidates.” says LucyThomas7 in a recent AB post.

An interesting idea.

Would it work ?
Could it be improved ?
Would our political masters ever allow it ?
Anyone got a better idea ?

[jake-the-peg]

You shouln't just not vote because that is seen as voter apathy. Get out there and I'f you can't bring yourself to vote for any of them spoil your paper.

Each spoilt paper has to be inspected by the returning officer.

I had a friend once who used to write "Hello Mr. Returning Officer" on his.

Large numbers of spoilt papers sends a very different message to a low turn out.

It says I do wn't to vote but not for anyone on here.

The "none of the above" option formalises this, it gives people the option to positively protest rather than just stay at home - so I'd like to see it here.

I don't think you could use the results of it to actually bar candidates from standing but you could force a rerun if too much of the vote were none of the above and in practice few parties would field the same candidate in such cirmumstances

[coccinelle]

I've never voted in UK but if you don't put a cross anywhere what happens to your 'vote'?

[olddutch]

Kak

In the wake of MPs expenses scandal, I certainly believe that anything that helps the voter to more effectively elect candidates with integrity and fair policies is very important. The ability to formally express with a “None of Above” box disapproval of those candidates who lack integrity and whose policies would produce the most or obvious unfairness would be a definite significant step forward in the interests of the voter. It would make the individual candidates and their parties, I believe, far more responsive to what voters really want - before and after the actual vote.

I also believe a meaningful voter sensitive form of PR is essential.

Compulsory voting, “None of Above” reruns, neutral emergency team to run constituency until outcome of rerun, “Minus Votes” Facebook campaign or other campaigns are some of the ideas that may well have merit. I wont pretend I’m sure about these but they are ideas that could be explored, developed, and maybe tried. Perhaps, if you are certain of your ground on these ideas you can provide us with your own analysis of each ?

[Kakuro1]

Oh yes, I am completely certain a 'none of the above' idea would not work - you only have to look at the miniscule number of voters who spoil their papers now to see that it cannot work.

I asked bigfoot how they saw a facebook campaign working and there was no response. I ask you the same questions now, especially this one - in any one constituency, who do you think would campaign for 'none of the above' (and why would anybody listen to them)?

[Kakuro1]

Oh and perhaps I should say that I am for PR - but it will not come in whilst Labour or the Conservatives are in power (catch 22!).

[Zeuhl]

Compulsory voting???

Do you really want your elections decided by a large proportion of people who have no interest, no idea and no basis for choosing a candidate other than 'eeny meeny miney mo - i was threatened with a fine if i didn't come here'???

I don't think so.

[Zeuhl]

If you want radical change, how about a People's Parliament. Keep the Civil Servants (who actually are the ones who shape and enact policy) and use E.R.N.I.E to select and invite a parliament that is demographically representative of the nation to vote on the direction and implementation of measures. Pay everyone £100k a year plus a pad in London for 4 years service.

It might be slow and clunky but it would be 'our' slow and clunky.

Of course the existing political classes will have lots of arguments for why it's a bad idea, but then they would wouldn't they?

Perhaps acquainting a few of them with the nearest lamp post and a length of rope would change their minds.

[olddutch]

Kak,

Why precisely are you sure that a 'none of the above' idea would not work ? Also here we now are looking at 2 different 'none of the above' ideas - one with reruns and one without reruns - how precisely would each of these not work ?

And what about your own analysis on each of the ideas - i.e. compulsory voting, “None of Above” reruns, neutral emergency team to run constituency until outcome of rerun, “Minus Votes”, Facebook campaign or other campaigns ?

Re Facebook campaigns I am open minded as to what sort of impact it would make - but anything that got Simon Cowells X Factor Winner off the number 1 Xmas spot might start an effective ball rolling.

I wouldnt campaign for "none of the above"

Zeuhl
your idea might be the best one yet !

[rov1200]

That's the idea Modeller you are going back to choosing the party. That's been the whole trouble with politics in just following the party line without using their own brains to come to a conclusion. How interesting it would be to have 635 independent MPs.

[jake-the-peg]

Interesting rov - but probably not very poductive - how on earth would you get a legislative program agreed - how would you fill the government jobs and who would be responsible for government?

Sounds like a recipe for chaos