The No Vote Option
As indicated in recent news articles, less people are interested in voting.
I find that understandable, given the behaviour of politicians and political parties.
Likewise the older generation cling to our roots, with various versions of …
“If you didn’t vote you don’t have the right to complain.”
Your right to complain is only that you can protest?
Would it be sensible to have a no vote option?
Meaning … none of you deserve my vote, it is worth more than what you are proposing.
The protest vote, the people’s voice, the right to tell them … to shape up or leave the building.
Some media reports actually suggest a higher voter turn out this time and early voting is apparently higher than for previous elections. Historically the governing party gets knocked out after a couple of terms as the ‘time for a change’ mindset takes over so the outcome of this election could surprise everyone. Unfortunately our electoral system makes only a few electorates capable of changing the government so perhaps it’s time to review, overhaul and/or change the system.
Comment by JONO — Wed 20th September 2017 @ 10:12 am
Let’s not forget that confusion arises between eligible to enroll and enrolled to vote.
Voter turnout may be higher even though less people are enrolled.
I’m not posting this from the perspective of the electoral system, but from the lack of political acknowledgement of the male of the species.
Comment by Downunder — Wed 20th September 2017 @ 10:18 am
I think “no” voters fit into 4 main groups.
1) People who have an illness / disability / condition / circumstance that prevents voting.
2) People who simply don’t care about Politics and voting is something they can’t be bothered with. They also wouldn’t be able to explain or justify thier voting choice so thier non voting is probably a good thing.
3) People who who have no real voting option as all the viable parties support a policy that is offensive to that person, or have done so in the past, or have a candidate they don’t like etc.
4) People who don’t see that thier vote would count. Either due to it otherwise going to a minor party that has no chance, or not seeing how thier 1 vote could help a bigger party as 10s of thousands are required for a party seat.
Generally I’m in group 3 so having a no vote option on the ballot paper could almost tempt me to vote.
A small Why? Box would be good too were you can put in a reason number. IE no vote for reason “125″.
Reason 125 listed on the internet might be “don’t support parties that allow lawyers to be MPs”.
No 65 might be “no men’s policies”. Etc etc
Comment by DJ Ward — Wed 20th September 2017 @ 9:41 pm
Prisoners don’t vote, and I wonder how many stay enrolled after a prison experience.
I see recently the electoral commission was involved in some issue with enrolling gang members –
putting the criminal element aside for a moment I would think privacy might cause another major group of non-voters – like prisoners, mostly male?
Comment by Downunder — Thu 21st September 2017 @ 5:58 am
The big news of this Election is how a century ago women raced each other to the polls, and today’s new age suffragees fight for equal pay.
Possibly in a deeper analysis the untold story is men and children racing each other away from the polls.
Comment by Evan Myers — Thu 21st September 2017 @ 8:40 am
I refuse to vote because I don’t like any of the options: That’s my first choice (reason.)My second reason is in respect to the lone protester who on the 20th September 2017 on new zealand parliament grounds set himself on fire and died the following day. And I will protest this peacefully on behalf of all government victims, for life reject all future elections!
This man died not in vain and his name will never perish. Till A new party should arise and puts others first I will not VOTE.
Comment by Patrick — Sat 23rd September 2017 @ 10:23 am