Local election results

Supersonic

Yes, was just trying to keep things humorous.

Councillors don't actually run the councils. They're just politicians, no more. Just like MPs don't really run the country, it's the civil service that does that (did you ever watch Yes Prime Minister - painfully accurate).

Changing the politicos does cause change, but doesn't necessarily remove any of the people with expertise at 'running things'.

Goooner

Saw a post on Twitter earlier around 40,000 spoiled ballots. No idea how that compares to previous elections, but it seems quite a lot of people taking the time and effort to get to the polling station and spoil the paper, rather than just not bothering at all.

chopples

I do think there is value in a polling card having "non of the above" as an option. Unfortunately politicians do not want to face the realisation that most of them are dick heads regardless of which party they represent.

cheers

Rasczak

In the 2015 General Election there were 97,870 spoilt ballot papers so a figure of less than half that would seem about right IMHO for the local elections.  Ultimately there was much talk about 'disillusionment with politics' but actually people did come out and vote in fairly normal numbers.

Personally I have little time for people who spoil their ballot papers.  It is non-committal and not constructive.  If someone is like that at work they just get side-lined and ignored.  Should be the same at the ballot box IMHO.

Sonic67

Last local elections it was 1 in 150 that were spoiled.

And spoiled down to people either writing "none of the above" or just not voting in a correct manner.

This time it seems to be more about people writing "Brexit" or similar.

Goooner

Just re-read the tweet, it was analysis of just 72 of the 248 local councils, so it’s going to be a lot higher than 40,000 if they count the other 176.

The figure comes from Daily Mail analysis, so make of that what you will.

Bl4ckGryph0n

Whilst I get your point, I do have some sympathy for people. If there is no candidate that is deserved or representative, and they make the effort to go out, whilst there is no option of none of the above, then saying so is in my opinion commitment and constructive. More so than not turning up which may indicate one doesn’t care.

Over by there

Everyone should be able to vote how they wish, I have spoilt my papers in the past. Big problem with this is they do not really get through the elected person that you are not happy with them.

The elections in this country need "none of the above" and a legal requirement to vote correctly, no spoiled papers. Then the press can go to town on the "none of the above" when Joe Bloggs says he has a mandate from the people on a 27% turnout.

Edit. Rethink that. If there is compulsory voting then perhaps the elected will look at the 27% turnout, the 51% of that that got them elected and the press can hammer them on the 73% none of the above.

Goooner

In one of the councils I’ve seen results for, Malton, I think it was, spoilt ballots got 39% of the votes, next closest was Labour on 18%.

Rasczak

Do you have a link to the report/news article?  Googling Malton spoilt votes doesn't reveal anything.