How to vote tactically (spreadsheet)

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.

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!

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!!

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.

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

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

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.

ninny I know

Lucky girl

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

Safe Seats are however showing some shocks of late.

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.

Luckygirl, the only wasted vote is a vote not used

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!!!!

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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?

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

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!

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.

pogs sorry - I meant I hope no one will knock on doors supporting a candidate then vote for another!!

There was a discussion today on Women's Hour between various party spokeswomen. The Labour politician said something along the lines of "We're not likely to win in Kensington and Chelsea". Jane Garvey said jokingly "So you're writing off the chances of the Labour candidate there?" Everybody laughed because they all know, we all know and even the Labour candidate there must know that it's true.

The parties all recognise that there are such things as safe seats, one of the many weaknesses of FPTP. They put up "paper candidates" and do the bare minimum of campaigning because it makes more sense for them to concentrate their resources in other places.

Often these hopeless constituencies are training grounds for young candidates to have a first shot, knowing they won't win but will go on to better prospects, such as when Tim Farron and Theresa May both contested North West Durham at the 1992 general election, where of course, the sitting Labour Party MP Hilary Armstrong won.

FPTP really is a weird and very undemocratic system which I think has contributed to voters general feeling of dis-satisfaction.

varian post making good sense

Agreed - I feel very dissatisfied indeed because of first past the post - I am basically disenfranchised by it.