How to vote tactically (spreadsheet)

whitewave

" Hope none would do that "

Do what?

Canvass for, tell people to vote for this, that, tuther party/candidate then go back on all they have said and say 'vote tactically' for for somebody else.

We can see that happening on GN so of course that is happening.

Yes gii that's exactly what it should be used for.

pogs I hope none would do that, but I would hope that enough people recognise that in some constituencies, this tactic will achieve exactly what you want, and how sensible!

It could be interesting in my constituency, tactical voting could work, and I am all for it. It is my vote and I will use it to try to achieve what I want. My seat is a very safe Tory seat with a complacent, lazy, arrogant Brexiteer of an MP, we have always said that you could pin a blue rosette on a goat and it would get elected where i live, but.....it was an area with a very high percentage of remain voters, so perhaps those people will vote for LibDems who generally come second anyway. To be honest I would vote for anyone to get him out of office

What about the point 'tactical voting' could in fact be AN OWN GOAL.

Why knock door to door promoting your party and say 'vote ####' then chuck your candidate under the bus and say 'No, sorry, don't vote as I said, vote for another party altogether'.

I understand the reason why 'tactical voting' is used by those whose party is doomed to fail to get a win but there are variables to 'tactictical voting' that are too easily dismissed.

I have made my opinion known as to what I think of 'tactical voting' and those who ' vote tactically ' but if personal opinions are put to one side do, those who ' vote tactically' not see any pitfalls for their chosen party?

annie Well, as I've indicated, I can live with either the Labour, Greens or Libs. Undoubtedly any one of them will have stuff in their manifesto that I wouldn't necessarily agree, but on balance - no problem. So for me any one of those parties would merit my vote, represent largely my beliefs etc.

Conversely on balance almost nothing that the Tories represents is something with which I can agree at present. Mays speech at the time of her taking up the premiership was surprising and for me hopeful, but nothing she has done to date reflects this speech, indeed the little she has done has imo merely reinforced the inequality of wealth and opportunity.

As for UKIP is my reaction!

So neither of those will get my vote.

I do try never to vote on personalities, although I do recognise that, that is how very many people do vote. For me, the manifesto is the most important thing.

We have the added complication in this election of Brexit of course. You will not be surprised to know that I voted to remain. However, I accept (with very ill grace) that we are leaving the EU. So I am now concentrating on voting for someone who will try all they can to mitigate the damage being done to our economy. I am very lucky in my MP and now candidate in as much as he answers both my priorities.
He will get my vote, and will hopefully succeed.

This is where voting tactically will help.
Look at the size of some of those majorities. Tiny.

skwawkbox.org/2017/04/24/want-to-help-labour-campaign-here-are-top-50-marginals-where-youre-needed/

If you want a soft Brexit or no Brexit at all and live in these fifty constituencies, you need to vote tactically.

But at least it stops the Tory getting in and giving May the large majority that she wants.

Whitewave, for you, for me, there is nothing principled about it . Using your tactical voting means who ever wins didn't win on their own merit, their own beliefs or capabilities or abilities

A wasted vote is one that gets in the party that you do not want: either by voting for that candidate or for one that does not stand a chance.

It is because folk cannot see this principle that change is so hard to achieve.

POGS - there is only one likely outcome in my constituency unless people vote tactically.

I have a lot of resepct for the Green party - but small parties like this hAVE THE UNFORTUNATE RESULT OF SPLITTING THE OPPOSITION AND STOPPING A PARTY THAT STANDS A CHANCE FROM GETTING IN. Sorry abut the capitals - computer had a flid! - not me!

You only vote tactically if you know that your party can't possibly win but by voting tactically you can ensure that the party you least like can't get in. Well that's as clear as mud!!!!

Luckygirl, the only wasted vote is a vote not used

The SNP proves the point if you believe in your party , vote for your candidate then Safe Seats are winnable, or am I mistaken.

If you go along with the thought 'My party can't possibly win so I will vote tactically ' how do you know how many other people in your constituency had the same view ? Perhaps your candidate could have won but he / she was denied the opportunity because their supporters did not vote for them.

That is an own goal in my book.

Lucky girl

That applies to those who vote for ' any party ' in a Safe Seat.

Safe Seats are however showing some shocks of late.

ninny I know

Annie - if you vote Labour in your constituency, do they stand a chance of getting in? If so, you are among a privileged few. If not, then voting Labour is a wasted vote and you may as well stay at home on election day.

For the rest of us who do not want Tory rule to continue, we do not have the luxury of that choice. We have to vote tactically.

whitewater obviously your voting tactics have not worked then seeing as we have a Conservative government.

I will always vote to prevent a political party taking power with whom I profoundly disagree. That may be by voting for whom I am most ideaologically in tune, or for a party with whom I can live with and stands a chance of ousting the party I most disagree with.

I think this argument is going around in circles

annie and * jalima* you are both being too sensitive, it is merely a description of how people vote particularly throughout the past say 80-90 years. You could describe it as loyalty voting, but that term does not really describe how we voted exactly. You are putting a perjoritive meaning to the term when really it doesn't contain one.

GG, have you any idea what living 'under the Jackboot' is REALLY like?! If you did, you would know that it refers to Nazi Germany, and that no government in this country in modern times has ever run the country as they did! Just thought I'd mention it!!

Rigby46 Sat 22-Apr-17 17:41:06

" I do wonder at how some of this self righteous indignation would play out if it weren't Tory seats being targeted? "

Why would it matter which party is 'being tagetted ', an apt description ?

If the 'self righteous' as you call anybody who states they would not vote tactically but will always give their vote to the candidate / the party that they believe to be their best option to perform the role of MP and governing the country is standing on his / her principal and it would not change which party they support!

anniebach I agree, tribal voting is not a very pleasant expression is it!
It assumes people do not have the intelligence to think for themselves.

annie Do you realise how contradictory your post is?

OK, take the point when it is explained nicely whitewave
it just does seem rather Machiavellian to me.
If the Lib Dems appeal this time I would vote for them; if Labour changes its leader (and I am still around) and agree with more of their policies than those of other parties then I would consider them the time after next.
But nothing, tactics or anything else, would make me vote for them with the present leader.
I would feel that I was being dishonest to myself.

I think tactical voting is unprincipled , and what rubbish to speak of tribal voting, I have always voted labour and am not part of a tribe .

Some voters voting for Corbyn are certainly showing little regard for the country,,

There was a referendum May 2011 on changing the voting system to AV , the result 69.90 no, 32.10 yes