I Do Not Vote

It's always a day out to the voting booth to draw something rude and offensive on the ballots. :biggrin:

Reply 5

LoverOfBooks

9

Original post by House of Vane

Does anyone else not vote either? A curious question.

If you don't want to vote for political reasons, it may be better to go to the polling stations and spoil your ballot instead of not voting entirely, because at least then politicians can see that you cared enough to show that you're not happy with them, instead of not voting entirely because then it may look like apathy.
However, with the current situation in the UK, no party seems great, so I understand the desire to abstain from voting for any of them.

Reply 6

Original post by Meheraj

Neither do I because it doesn't matter in my country since the current govt. has been occupying its place for a very long time via corruption.

When it rains, it rains one drop at a time. Each raindrop is inconsequential, but when put together wish all the raindrops it has the potential to flood. By all means choose not to vote, but equally don't think for a second that your vote is meaningless, because when no one votes, you end up opening the gates of hell.

Reply 7

Meheraj

Original post by hotpud

When it rains, it rains one drop at a time. Each raindrop is inconsequential, but when put together wish all the raindrops it has the potential to flood. By all means choose not to vote, but equally don't think for a second that your vote is meaningless, because when no one votes, you end up opening the gates of hell.

You're on the spot but the situation in my country is completely different. People go to the voting centre to vote for the party they think would do good for the country but they return to being beaten and victimised by the opposition. If you go through these articles or video clips (https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/article/bangladesh-journalists-attacked-during-dhaka-city-elections, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEuk0-HntLU&t=336s), you'll figure out what happens during an election in my country. Hence, it's better to keep oneself away from harm rather than vote.

Sorry by the way for the delay to get back.

Reply 8

Original post by Meheraj

You're on the spot but the situation in my country is completely different. People go to the voting centre to vote for the party they think would do good for the country but they return to being beaten and victimised by the opposition. If you go through these articles or video clips (https://www.ifj.org/media-centre/news/detail/article/bangladesh-journalists-attacked-during-dhaka-city-elections, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEuk0-HntLU&t=336s), you'll figure out what happens during an election in my country. Hence, it's better to keep oneself away from harm rather than vote.

Sorry by the way for the delay to get back.

Thankfully in the UK we have free and fair elections. There are small instances of voter fraud, but these are far and few between and generally speaking our electoral process is anonymous and voters do not get harassed. Some polling stations might see voters being asked for their voter card numbers so that parties can try to work out how the vote is going but it is perfectly acceptable to decline the offer to share this information.

Reply 9

Original post by hotpud

Thankfully in the UK we have free and fair elections.

We don't and the devolved nations are worse.

Reply 10

Original post by TheStupidMoon

We don't and the devolved nations are worse.

Source / evidence?

(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 11

Original post by hotpud

Source / evidence?

You go first for your statement. :cyber:

Reply 12

Original post by TheStupidMoon

You go first for your statement. :cyber:

Ok -
The fact that the right to vote is enshrined in law.
The fact that there are never reports of people who are denied that right.
The fact that counting is done in public places with scrutiny from all sides.
The fact that the voting system is never severely contested by any of the major or minor political parties or third parties who might have an interest in voting in the UK.
The fact that on the rare occasions where voter fraud does happen, these instances are made public and the outcome of the election is adjusted accordingly.

I will concede that the general population are susceptible to manipulation of false information through social media and those who pedal such lies such as Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage, but it is down to the individual to vote based on their conscience and what they believe to be right, even if what they know is incorrect. It certainly isn't the case that people get shot or assaulted in this country because of who they vote for, nor is it the case that people en-mass are intimidated against voting or voting for a particular candidate. Nor are there any cases that I am aware where the vote has been significantly rigged or doctored.

I am not saying our system isn't perfect, but it isn't Russia or Zimbabwe either.

Please educate me.

(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 13

Meheraj

Original post by hotpud

Thankfully in the UK we have free and fair elections. There are small instances of voter fraud, but these are far and few between and generally speaking our electoral process is anonymous and voters do not get harassed. Some polling stations might see voters being asked for their voter card numbers so that parties can try to work out how the vote is going but it is perfectly acceptable to decline the offer to share this information.

Yeah, I'm cognizant of it, and that's one of the factors I love about the UK. Anarchy exists in little doses everywhere, but when things are out of reach, it becomes intolerable.

Reply 14

Original post by hotpud

Ok -
The fact that the right to vote is enshrined in law.
The fact that there are never reports of people who are denied that right.
The fact that counting is done in public places with scrutiny from all sides.
The fact that the voting system is never severely contested by any of the major or minor political parties or third parties who might have an interest in voting in the UK.
The fact that on the rare occasions where voter fraud does happen, these instances are made public and the outcome of the election is adjusted accordingly.

That still doesn't prove much as Russia or some other less reputable country could make the same claims.

Postal ballots have had calls for reforms over fraud and vote harvesting.
Where is the real security for ballots and the vote count.Are there independent cameras over every single vote being counted to make sure?
The votes aren't even anonymous and secure.
Scotland and Wales are letting a mix of immigrants,refugees and 16 year olds vote.
The electoral commission interferes with parties or blocks them.
Last but not least are the many indirect actions behind the scenes the likes of what we saw with Mr Farage recently.

:woo:

I almost forgot that this come up before.
"Conservative Sir Henry Bellingham said there was "clear evidence" of students saying they voted at their home and university addresses."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40509178

Reply 15

Original post by TheStupidMoon

"Conservative Sir Henry Bellingham said there was "clear evidence" of students saying they voted at their home and university addresses."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40509178

If there indeed is clear evidence, I hope he has reported it to the necessary authorities.

Or maybe it is just a case of "saying" there is clear evidence when in fact there is none or little. You know - bit like Joe McCarthy who famous held a list of communists working in government which never came to light, or the Q-Anon conspiracy which says there is a cabal of satanic podophiles at the heard of the US government.

Like Henry Bellingham all are stories which say there is clear evidence, yet that evidence never seems to come to light.

You haven't convinced me. Someone saying there is fraud is very different from there actually being fraud and there are enough vested interests opposed to each other to out any wrong doing in my opinion.

Reply 16

Original post by hotpud

Like Henry Bellingham all are stories which say there is clear evidence, yet that evidence never seems to come to light.

My last post had a list of the ways elections could be tampered with.Those are facts.

You haven't convinced me. Someone saying there is fraud is very different from there actually being fraud and there are enough vested interests opposed to each other to out any wrong doing in my opinion.

What happens if they share interests instead and increase the wrong doing instead of opposing it?

Reply 17

Original post by TheStupidMoon

My last post had a list of the ways elections could be tampered with.Those are facts.

Could or have? There are a million ways you "could" wreak havoc on our society. They generally don't happen and when they do, those responsible are brought to justice. I fully agree that you could rig and election but I don't believe you could get away with it which is probably why it never really happens.

Original post by TheStupidMoon

What happens if they share interests instead and increase the wrong doing instead of opposing it?

I don't understand the question.

Reply 18

Original post by hotpud

Could or have? There are a million ways you "could" wreak havoc on our society.

Pah!

Aren't there any examples of how election meddling is prevented or detected?

Reply 19