[Closed] How are you voting today?

SNP both votes.

So, the winner was voted for by 7% of registered voters. Hurrah for democracy!

Got a choice of labour, tory, lib dem or snp on the first ballot, so i'm spoiling that one.

Will vote Green on the List.

No Green constituent for me but they'll get my regional vote. Constituency vote will be decided later but won't be SNP or Tory.

Actually, might go Green regional and Lib local, though feel the local is a wasted vote as they never bother campaigning. Meh.

Thanks to the Lib Dems. NOT the SNP. It's amazing how they continually peddle this lie, all they did was scrap the so-called graduate endownment.

can you explain how they did that when they have never been in power? (genuine question not argument)

Because they were in power from the first parliament up until SNP formed a minority government as a lib-lab coalition. That was pretty much the first deal they negotiated.

Live in the SE of England - real choice is between the local independent campaign group and tories. Although we do have the Monster Raving Loony Party standing.

Will be at the count tonight, always wanted to go to one and in this case I am actually working for one of the candidates!

SNP / SNP

Leaving aside the whole indy debate for a second the choices breakdown like this:

1. SNP -Current government - doing a pretty good job
2. SLAB - Deflating faster than a burst balloon, and being blown around like one too
3. Cons - Or the Vote Ruth Davidson for Opposition (No Second Referendum Party) - they are so embarrassed by their own brand that you have to actually look pretty hard to find "Conservative" on the flyers
4. Lib Dems - Who? Willie Rennie? HAHAHAHAHA
5. Greens - Good luck to them, but they won't get my vote this time - I think the regional list maths just makes a vote for the Greens more likely to get us an extra Labour or Tory

The current polling seems to reflect this reality

I won't vote for the SNP. Anything else is pointless. I'm not going to bother my arse.

Only election for Police and Crime Commissioner in both my "home" constituency/ward and where I was last registered to vote.

I'm more interested in whether they can stretch as far as double figure turnouts, than the candidates elected to a position that I have no clue why it even exists.

PCC only, and we're on our third chief constable this month. Cock and balls time.

Plaid,not sure why anyone here would vote for the anti-Welsh party that is UKIP.

These people all have the vote:

[edit] ahem a bit too sweary on second reading. have a look at @mrs_coyle timeline on twitter.

Torn at the moment. Labour and Green are my final too, but how I put them down on the ballot paper will be the hard choice.

PCC thing seems like a joke...

Oh dear I've just been moderated for allegedly trying to bypass the swear filter on this thread 🙄

Basically I called the SNP a bunch * for totally ** up the local democratic planning process in my area, the *. And my local MSP, the SNP's Keith Brown can't comment on ScotGov call in of a money grabbing development in my area which was voted down by the local authority planning committee as it is on greenbelt, because he is a Govt Minister, **. The ** are in the thrall of celebrity * like Judy Murray and don't like to listen to stuff at a grassroots level as they think it is not worth their while.

2 x Green for me as they are the only ones whose people have shown any credibility.

*** ***** * *** * so there.

SNP/Green.

SNP generally doing a pretty good job and showing up the Scottish branch of the Labour Party and the "Line in the Sand" Tories as being incompetent fools. However, I reckon they've become a bit scared of losing any voters and are simply playing things too safe. The Greens offer more radical solutions to the likes of land ownership and a council tax replacement so I'd like to see them in some sort of coalition.

[i]However, I reckon they've become a bit scared of losing any voters and are simply playing things too safe. The Robert Mugabe party offer more radical solutions to the likes of land ownership and a council tax replacement so I'd like to see them in some sort of coalition.[/i]

FTFY

BoardinBob - Member
I won't vote for the SNP. Anything else is pointless. I'm not going to bother my arse.

On behalf of all Scots wanting to live in a country not ruled from elsewhere, thank you. 🙂

SNP/SNP here. I'm not enthusiastic about some of their policies and sometimes the way they go about things, but they're still much better than the secondrate losers in the BritNat parties who take their orders from London.

My choices this evening will be from the following list:
Northern Ireland Labour Representation Committee
Green Party
Alliance Party
Cross-Community Labour Alternative
South Belfast Unionists
SDLP
TUV
Workers Party
DUP
Conservative
UUP
SDLP
Alliance Party
Sinn Féin
Independent
PUP
DUP
UKIP

Voting??

Holyrood, Westminster? What's the difference they're still a bunch of self serving twunts. Wouldn't piss on our SNP candidate if he was on fire.

And going beyond soundbites and such, best manifesto of the lot is Libs. Shame nobody actually has an energy policy beyond some vague commitment several years after we need new generation online.

And from where I'm standing SNP aren't dojng anything better than the last lot did, in fact remind me what happened to re regulation of public transport? Was that bawbag Soutar not involved? No council tax rises in years and you can't drive or ride ten feet in any direction without falling down a ****ing pothole, thanks guys, damn those cads in Westminster for forcing you not to use the tax raising powers you great and whined for then chose not to because Westminster are being bad and cutting your budget (not that they ever really have unless you want to get into the selfish pay more than we get back bollocks).

The difference now is that they can sit on their laurels thanks to idiots who vote for sentimental pish rather than results rather than try to keep themselves in like they bloody well should be doing.

PAB in the locals, they only stand in a few wards here.

No idea about the PCC.

Yep Andy - that's the canidates standing in South Belfast

squirrelking - Member

No council tax rises in years and you can't drive or ride ten feet in any direction without falling down a **** pothole, thanks guys,

At the risk of dragging it further OT,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-34326185
The Scottish Government funding intended to balance the council tax freeze, has ended up actually exceeding it- so councils have ended up better off than they would have been had they increased rates by RPI.

I was really surrpised by this, tbh, considering that the freeze has been blamed for all ills.

Similar views to Scotroutes

Both Green for me.
SNP will get in, nae danger.

But I'd like to see the Greens move up and be treated a bit more seriously so even though they'll not get in here, I'll give 'em a couple of extra numbers

[quote=yourguitarhero ]Similar views to Scotroutes
Both Green for me.
[b]SNP will get in, nae danger.[/b]
I've a suspicion that the Holyrood voting system will see a return to minority or coalition govt this time around (it was always planned thus - the SNP "broke the system" last time).

PCC here, i won't vote for something i don't believe in, i can't even be bothered to make the trip to the polling station to draw a cock and balls.

Also West Mercia PCC

Very similar to Stoner about it. UKIP and Independent no chance, not particulalrly happy with either Labour or Tory.
Shame there is not a 'none of the above' box to tick. Felt I should vote and as it was a very pleasant stroll in the sunshine to the polling station at the Wyche, eventually decided on a candidate whilst I was waiting in the queue ( yes really, all three of us).

Voted green as it as the closest I could think of to the NOA box I would have liked to tick

[Jeff Golblum Holsten Pils]I drew an "X" in various voting card boxes for people I wanted to win the election.[/Jeff Goldblum Holsten Pils] 😆

Northwind - I am surprised by that considering the state of near enough the entire country. Wonder what the excuse is then?

Spoiled constituency, no way am I voting for the least worst bawbag.

My wife got me to draw something like this on her PCC vote
[img] [/img]
Very long term MS

I voted last week (postal votes FTW), local elections only here. Probably wasted as I live in a safe Tory ward.

Why can't we have a proper electoral system for local elections, where FPTP arguably makes even less sense than it does for Parliament?

I dont know what a police and crime comissioner is but I have voted for one!

Why can't we have a proper electoral system for local elections, where FPTP arguably makes even less sense than it does for Parliament?

I think the opposite FPTP makes more sense the smaller the constituency, a council ward is just a few thousand.

I think the opposite FPTP makes more sense the smaller the constituency, a council ward is just a few thousand.

Why have wards at all? Why not say 'you need to elect x councillors for the whole council' then do it by e.g. STV?

Current system leads to ridiculous results e.g. a local council which has all but one councillor from the same party on 60% of the vote, and the exception is an independent who was booted out of said party for bad behaviour...

Local: Labour.
Police: Labour.

Normally vote Labour or Conservative.

Tories are doing a rubbish job e.g. NHS and Education.

To me, local politics is about local issues and the best people to represent them are people who live in their communities. Many local Councillors are just people who want to represent their community and not particularly political. I think that is a pretty good thing and would be lost if a list system was used.

Why have wards at all? Why not say 'you need to elect x councillors for the whole council' then do it by e.g. STV?

Current system leads to ridiculous results e.g. a local council which has all but one councillor from the same party on 60% of the vote

Because a ward councillor's role is to represent their ward and the people who live in it. It allows for a better connection between voters and the people they elect to represent them

And if a party gets an average 60% of the vote in a local council election then it makes sense that the people are represented by a councillor from the party which the majority has voted for.

As mefty points out FPTP makes more sense the smaller the constituency - it makes less sense in larger constituencies.

Got 10 minutes left to vote. Still not going to happen.

Blah, blah, I have no right to moan then if I don't express my vote. Whatever. All on the list are corrupt or useless anyway.

Whatever. All on the list are corrupt or useless anyway.

You didn't fancy standing? Or are all your neighbours only interested in voting for corrupt or useless candidates?

Voted Green in the end.. Mainly because I know the candidate and how good she would be if elected.

Local: Green Party

Welsh Assembly : Plaid

Couldn't double green in my constituency sadly. Can't stand the snp so in tribute to the late great chazza went lib dem for local

Voted nealry a week ago by post. Parish Council was the best 13 candidates and you can vote for 12 - I voted for the 10 independents - skipped the 3 Lib Dems

Changed my vote last minute, went Spoiled/RISE.

They're a new party, who won't win a seat, but I reckoned it worthwhile to contribute towards a wee morale boost.

So who voted UKIP in Wales ? ITV predicting they will win 8 seats in the Welsh Assembly

I voted against the majority in the North East ... 😈

We went and voted for our PCC; I disagree with the position, but as it's not going away I'd rather the slimy tory didn't get it.

It was just the PCC vote here; it was eye opening to see how few crossed out names there were, my wife and I may have totally swung the whole thing with twenty minutes to go!

Ronnie the Crofter for me!

(Couldn't vote SNP as the local candidate is a Creationist. We need people who listen to scientists in power, not airheads).

As mefty points out FPTP makes more sense the smaller the constituency - it makes less sense in larger constituencies.

The counter-argument to that is that it's easier to merge smaller constituencies into the larger ones needed for a more proportional system.

Do the Irish, the Kiwis or the Germans worry about the 'constituency link'?

And if a party gets an average 60% of the vote in a local council election then it makes sense that the people are represented by a councillor from the party which the majority has voted for.

While I agree 60% of the vote should give a majority (and under FTPT would rightly result in a constituency candidate being elected), across a whole city it's not right that the view of the 40% who didn't vote for the party in power aren't represented at all, nor is it right that there's no opposition on the council.

Ukip got 13% of vote in Wales, similar to general election but with proportional representation they'll end up with 5 - 8 ? seats.

Glad Corbyn survives but media still got there claws out.

it's not right that the view of the 40% who didn't vote for the party in power aren't represented at all

They are represented, but not necessarily by someone who they voted for.

Looks like I'm going to get the result I wanted and predicted. Minority SNP government with a Green tinge.

Great - I live in a ward that is apparently in the top 7% in terms of deprivation and the winner is.... Conservative!

Facepalm.

[quote=pondo said]Great - I live in a ward that is apparently in the top 7% in terms of deprivation and the winner is.... Conservative!
Facepalm.

Sounds like the previous incumbents haven't done such a great job then.

Glad Corbyn survives but [s]media[/s] Labour MPs still got there claws out.

Great - I live in a ward that is apparently in the top 7% in terms of deprivation and the winner is.... Conservative!

Sounds like the previous incumbents haven't done such a great job then.

Funnily enough, a friend of a friend was out leafleting with the Conservative nominee on Wednesday - she had a puncture and couldn't get the trim off to change the wheel, so he drove off and left her to it. Nice.

Pretty impressive results (so far) for Labour considering just about every single media outlet was foretelling their downfall in a jamba-esque frenzy pre-election.

Our local ward had a 40% swing to Labour...

Well a quite interesting result in our constituency. A massive swing away from labour, who are normally nailed on, in a ward with an enormous Jewish community. Nobody has the remotest idea why....

[img] http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2016-04-28T123807Z_1_LYNXNPEC3R0W3_RTROPTP_2_BRITAIN-POLITICS-LABOUR.JPG.cf.jp g" target="_blank">http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/Reuters/2016-04-28T123807Z_1_LYNXNPEC3R0W3_RTROPTP_2_BRITAIN-POLITICS-LABOUR.JPG.cf.jp g"/> [/img]

in a ward with an enormous Jewish community

Me too...-still waiting on results here.

I'm relieved we've gotten rid of Boris as mayor....Unfortunately I fear he may be back as PM very soon.

Forgot to vote, first time ever! Too busy quaffing vino in the garden. The right people won anyway in our district so I don't feel to guilty.

@pomdo that would be interesting to understand why ? Poorer people not voting at all, better off habe perception that prior representatives have not done enough to tackle the issue ?

The crooked D'Hondt system gives us this result in the Highlands:
Tories: 3 Seats Votes 44,693 21.8%
Labour: 2 Seats Votes 22,894 11.2%
SNP: 1 Seat Votes 81,600 39.7%

That's right.

With 39.7% of the vote the SNP got 1 seat, but with half that (21.8%) the Tories got 3 seats. and with a quarter of that (11.2) Labour got 2 seats.

In effect 1 Tory vote cancels out 6 SNP votes, or 1 Labour vote cancels out 4 SNP votes

If that isn't a crooked system I don't know what is.

That sort of corrupt system has triggered revolutions elsewhere.

You do not have a democracy when one person's vote does not have the same value as another's.

(Westminster specified at devolution that the Scottish voting system prevent there ever being an SNP majority in Scotland)

The SNP won 7 out of 8 of the constituencies so have 8 MSPs for the region more than twice the number the Tories got, yet their vote was less than twice. That is how D'Hondt works and seems pretty reasonable to me.

EDIT: Actually 6 out of 8, so 7 in total - conclusion still stands.

All PR voting systems are crap. This one is just less crap than some of the others - and it's still far better than FPTP

With labour now gubbed in Scotland ,all the secret Tories came out the closet. 😉

Turnout in Bristol Mayoral election up to 45ish% from 28ish% previously. A fairly big old hike. Counting doesn't start till tomorrow but locally Labour are sounding confident for Marvin.

epicyclo - Member
BoardinBob - Member
I won't vote for the SNP. Anything else is pointless. I'm not going to bother my arse.
On behalf of all Scots wanting to live in a country not ruled from elsewhere, thank you.

Don't worry, my vote was put to good use in the referendum 😉

That sort of corrupt system has triggered revolutions elsewhere.

How did corruption take a part in it? I'm really not sure there is actually corruption taking place in Highland local politics.

Westminster specified at devolution that the Scottish voting system prevent there ever being an SNP majority in Scotland

Errr, we've just had years of an SNP majority, and it was only two seats short this time. Where do you get your facts from?

can't believe people voted tory, do they not see the news?

turn out in my area was 45% which is pretty shocking given its a vote for who controls the country. Don't understand the people that don't vote

epicyclo - Member

The crooked D'Hondt system gives us this result in the Highlands:
Tories: 3 Seats Votes 44,693 21.8%
Labour: 2 Seats Votes 22,894 11.2%
SNP: 1 Seat Votes 81,600 39.7%

That's right.

With 39.7% of the vote the SNP got 1 seat, but with half that (21.8%) the Tories got 3 seats. and with a quarter of that (11.2) Labour got 2 seats.

That's just the regional vote though. You need to take into account the constituency seats also. Where the SNP took 59/73 seats, with 46.5% of the vote. One balances (or is intended to balance) the other.

This isn't exact numbers but from a quick look it looks like the snp got about 44% of the votes cast, and about 48% of seats. So quit yer cryin.

With labour now gubbed in Scotland ,all the secret Tories came out the closet.

Scottish politics has changed it is lining up more along the lines of Independence (SNP) Vs Unionism (Cons), it suits both parties to play it this way as they have a simple, strong message to project.

Labour conversely don't know what they want to be and have to win back a split vote. As a strategist it must be your worst nightmare, you need policies that will get people to return from the both the SNP and Con folds.

Scotland is interesting - one party talking Tory policies and the other one actually implementing them. Woe is labour in contrast!!!

Next Prime Minister anyone?

[IMG] [/IMG]

bigjim - Member
'That sort of corrupt system has triggered revolutions elsewhere.'
How did corruption take a part in it? I'm really not sure there is actually corruption taking place in Highland local politics.

It's the d'Hondt voting system which is corrupt, not the people. It a separate vote used for the regions in Scotland. (We use FPTP for the constituencies.)

Any voting method that gives more value to one person's vote than another person's vote is a corrupt system.

FPTP does this as only the votes of winners have any merit^ and the winner* almost never [ was it once??] get 50% of the votes cast.

Secondly we can see how many votes are required to get an MP for each party - its never the same number for all parties with a constituency model

All we can do is try to make the unfairness as fair as possible
I agree the scottish system was designed to create hung parliaments so it actually tried to be unfair

^ i always tactically vote, with FPTP, as anything else is a total waste of time. PR does at least allow me to vote honestly
*ie the party that forms the govt

Any voting method that gives more value to one person's vote than another person's vote is a corrupt system.

😯

[quote=epicyclo ]It's the d'Hondt voting system which is corrupt, not the people. It a separate vote used for the regions in Scotland. (We use FPTP for the constituencies.)
Any voting method that gives more value to one person's vote than another person's vote is a corrupt system.
And how would you propose to solve this conundrum?