That explains it then

[ailbhe]

Apparently, Linnea, Emer and I all had some sort of low-level virus, because we all slept like logs, sweated like pigs, and woke feeling and acting better today.

Rob and Emer have gone to London for the trike's annual service. Linnea and I played a camel version of Buckaroo (very startling!) and I've done a bit of laundry, but it started raining.

Since my political views are fairly easy to figure out I see no reason to open myself to the kind of comments I see others getting, so I shan't. I voted, there was a turnout of 27.3% in our ward in spite of a broad range of candidates, I have no idea why people don't vote even when there are lots of choices or the option to spoil a ballot - spoiled ballots are counted around here.

I need to get cash and go buy coffee. And tomorrow Rob's parents are coming over so we need to desqualid and cook properly. I've already done a fair bit of deweekending the kitchen, but it's uphill all the way.

Comments

[aquaeri.livejournal.com]

I'm more and more pleased with compulsory voting like we have here. It doesn't seem to get us any worse politicians than anywhere else, for sure.

[(Anonymous)]

We had a 45% turnout here - and we think that's good? I think it's a disgrace! More than half the people entitled to vote didn't bother >>:-(

And amongst that 45% were two members of my family (not me, I have to say) who deliberately spoiled ballot papers. However, we do wish there was some was of distinguishing between deliberately spoiled papers and those people who just, for example, put a number instead of an X, or some other mistake!

Elaine xx

[naath.livejournal.com]

My Dad did ballot counting and if you put a Tick or some other clear mark then generally your vote is counted as a vote; the candidates get to decide which potentially spoiled ballots to accept (I believe that all candidates have a veto on accepting each ballot) and mostly any clear intention of a vote is counted. Whereas of course "you are all cunts" is clearly not a vote... (not very nice though).

However I too would like an official "none of the above" option that was actually counted. Maybe it would encourage other people to stand?

[thealmondtree.livejournal.com]

Whilst it doesn't show up in the figures whether it's deliberately spoilt or a mistake, deliberately spoiling your paper does have point. During the count the returning officer (or his deputy) have to show all spoilt ballot papers to the candidates and/or their agents and explain why the paper is disallowed. So if you want to write "a plague on all your houses" as one of my friends does, the candidates will all get to see that.