Boris Johnson: a genuine concern...

[Keef]

LOL either that is genius, or my mind has read that so wrong!

[*Bob*]

Marmora Man Wrote:

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> Voting is as you point out a thoroughly good

> thing. However, as I understand the complicated

> and ridiculous 2nd preference vote scheme any 2nd

> vote for any candidate that is not in the run off

> (which practically means either Ken or Boris) just

> won't be physically counted - and therefore

> becomes just waste paper. Personally as I'm voting

> for one of the big two, i'll ignore the 2nd

> preference slot.

I agree it may not count, but it will still be counted.

Unimportant (in the major scheme of things) as such stuff is, it will be recorded, examined and interpreted by someone, somewhere - and will mean something someday. Maybe. Or not. Who knows?

I think I just talked myself out of it.

[Marmora Man]

Ant Wrote:

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> Are you allowed to vote for the same candidate as

> both your first and second preference?

This would be a spoiled vote and neither would be counted.

The explanation of this system has been poor and it would be interesting to know how many spoilt ballot papers there are as a result of general confusion.

[Ant]

I'm always interested to know how many are spoilt in protest. Does that ever get reported? Not sure I've seen it anywhere in past elections.

[Brendan]

Yes they are counted. It's just not encouraged.

I've been tempted to spoil mine in the past.

[david_carnell]

Marmora Man Wrote:

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> The explanation of this system has been poor and

> it would be interesting to know how many spoilt

> ballot papers there are as a result of general

> confusion.

Explanation? Read the ballot paper, then put an X in the box(es). It really isn't that hard. It certainly doesn't require some sort of nationwide educational campaign that would no doubt be accused of treating voters like idiots and wasting tax payers money.

[*Bob*]

Brendan Wrote:

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> I've been tempted to spoil mine in the past.

I've been tempted to soil mine.

[Ant]

Brendan, they may be counted but I'm still not sure that they're ever reported.

I can't see a mention of them in the results of the last general election, for instance:

http://www.electoralcommission.gov.uk/templates/search/document.cfm/13893

(Link is to an excel spreadsheet from the electoral commission.)

[Moos]

Afraid you were right, Keef, that is what I meant. Shame on me for using the word of shame.

:-$

[Brendan]

*Bob* Wrote:

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> Brendan Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I've been tempted to spoil mine in the past.

>

> I've been tempted to soil mine.

What you choose to do in the privacy of the polling booth is your business *Bob*

[*Bob*]

I wish I could - but the curtain only comes down to just above the waist.

I don't know if I could get a decent wipe in without being spotted.

[lozzyloz]

I think you can get cream for the spots from Macy's.

[Keef]

david_carnell Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Marmora Man Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > The explanation of this system has been poor

> and

> > it would be interesting to know how many spoilt

> > ballot papers there are as a result of general

> > confusion.

>

> Explanation? Read the ballot paper, then put an X

> in the box(es). It really isn't that hard. It

> certainly doesn't require some sort of nationwide

> educational campaign that would no doubt be

> accused of treating voters like idiots and wasting

> tax payers money.

I think he meant an explanation of how the 2 chosen votes are counted, not how to cast the actual votes.

[dc]

Ant Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Brendan, they may be counted but I'm still not

> sure that they're ever reported.

>

> I can't see a mention of them in the results of

> the last general election, for instance:

> http://www.electoralcommission.gov.uk/templates/search/document.cfm/13893

>

> (Link is to an excel spreadsheet from the

> electoral commission.)

Erm, you don't get a second choice vote in a General Election, which is why you won't find them in those results.

Everything you could ever need to know about the London election including how to vote and results from last time (with second choice vote tallies and spoiled ballots) is on this site: London Elects

Basically you get a first and second choice vote for Mayor. Then one constituency vote for a candidate (first past the post) and then one London-wide vote to select candidates from party lists to make it all more proportional.

There are three, colour coded, ballot papers - one for each section. If you're not sure on the day, staff at the polling stations will help.

[Brendan]

The London Mayoral Elections 2008 where Londoners are asked, ?Which candidate would be second up against the wall, come the revolution??

[Ant]

Erm, you don't get a second choice vote in a General Election

Yes, I do realise. I was talking about spoilt ballots. But it's probably best to drop the issue - for now at least - as it's a bit off topic.

[Jah Lush]

Anyone voting for this upper class twit has got to be two stops short of Dagenham.

Boris Exposed

[Brendan]

You know I?ve always wondered about that. Surely it?s, two stops short of Becontree.

[Ant]

Doesn't sound as good though, does it?

[Brendan]

No you're right it doesn't but you could just say 3 stops instead.

And what's wrong with Plaistow? Or are we working on the assumption that people are further from sanity in the afternoon on their way out of London than in the mornings?

[Brendan]

Sorry I just realised I went and did that seffrikan thing of starting a positive answer with the word, no.

Anyway back on topic. Borris has little sympathy for any but his own upper class ilk and Ken is labour leader so therefore knows not how to do anything other than, spend, spend, spend and pass the cost on to the tax payers.

Some of the others have better intentions but do they have the backup in place to run the city?

[SeanMacGabhann]

If that were stricly true then why are business leaders so keen for Ken to be re-elected (this is according to Andy Gilligan, Ken's prosecutor in chief at the Standard)

When Labour were actually tax-and-spending in the 70s, they weren't too popular with business then

[Brendan]

PFI/PPP Sean

[Moos]

???/??? Brendan?

[SeanMacGabhann]

well, he is opposed to PFI/PPP - hence his decision to fight the tube going down that route. Heavily criticised at the time, his fight was described as a waste of taxpayers money - but he was right and it was a drop in the ocean compared to the cost of the PPP deal