How did you vote and why today

I voted for the person who lives in the area they are standing for and who is well known locally for helping people with their daily problems.

julieray

Having been a poll clerk and done the count in previous years I’m afraid the spoiled ballot papers don’t get passed on to the candidates. All sorts of messages are written on them - some quite personal - I suppose it serves as a way of venting anger but they just get put in the spoiled votes pile. Better to use your vote constructively

When had to vote for a Police and Crime Commissioner I spoilt my ballot paper because I did not agree with the rôle at all; it is another layer of unnecessary bureaucracy and I said so.

I think that should have been noted.

No local elections here today. Whenever there’s an election I always vote. Have voted at every election. Worked as a presiding officer for 40yrs. Postal votes, originally, were only for those working away such as armed forces. When this was opened up to many groups, I applied for a postal vote. My mother always said that if I didn’t vote then I mustn’t complain

I am a lifelong conservative voter but i voted Reform.

I am unashamedly anti immigration, anti woke and anti net zero.

No voting taking place in my area. We have an excellent Green party MP who seems to never stop working in the local community. Great comms. with newsletter etc and although I didn't vote for her I would be very tempted to break the habit of a lifetime and vote for her next time if only it didn't mean a chance of the party succeeding nationally.

friendlygingercat

I am a lifelong conservative voter but i voted Reform.

I am unashamedly anti immigration, anti woke and anti net zero.

So you were a lifelong conservative voter.
We had no elections but looking at the damage our Reform CC has done or the lack of effort they’ve put into things like repairing potholes, I couldn’t have voted Reform.

friendlygingercat

I am a lifelong conservative voter but i voted Reform.

I am unashamedly anti immigration, anti woke and anti net zero.

I assume you think that none of the Reform policies are going to affect you or your family, then? First they came for….etc etc

Casdon

I’m with FGT2 as well. My mum would be so angry if one of her descendants didn’t exercise our right to vote - I’ve drummed the same message into my children too.

Same here.......I am appalled at anyone who says they 'can't be bothered' women fought and died for us to have the vote! Deform are almost saying they want women pregnant, bare foot and back chained to the kitchen sink.

I reminded my daughter and grandson to vote yesterday - they were already on the way to the polling station. My GS said they did a mock vote in school that morning and Plaid came first (we live in Wales), but sadly and most worrying....Deform came second these are 16 - 18 year olds!

Farage will be PM if people keep calling others Nazis.

Galaxy

Farage will be PM if people keep calling others Nazis.

What's the logic of that claim?

I don't think Farage is a Nazi, although there are parallels with Reform's and the Nazis' rises to power which are chilling.

M0nica

MayBee70

No voting in my constituency. But if I had needed to vote I would have voted Labour. I still support this government but, if they decide to overthrow the PM I shall be leaving the party. Someone, somewhere wants a Reform government. It isn’t for the good of this country or the people in it but they are going to benefit from it in some ( financial) way.

Yes, but what has all you say got to do with LOCAL elections, where the issues should be roads and schools. etc

This is why I was so angry today, because central government politcs has completely hijacked the LOCAL elections this year.

And at the last general election some people voted regarding the war in Gaza.

friendlygingercat

I am a lifelong conservative voter but i voted Reform.

I am unashamedly anti immigration, anti woke and anti net zero.

So what are you actually pro?

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Galaxy

Farage will be PM if people keep calling others Nazis.

I think you are correct.

If only people realised that the othering of Reform UK and its supporters is tantamount to handing Nigel the keys to No.10…

Galaxy

Farage will be PM if people keep calling others Nazis.

I’ll bet you he won’t even be there by the next general election - a virtual tenner.

julieray

Having been a poll clerk and done the count in previous years I’m afraid the spoiled ballot papers don’t get passed on to the candidates. All sorts of messages are written on them - some quite personal - I suppose it serves as a way of venting anger but they just get put in the spoiled votes pile. Better to use your vote constructively

There should be a way of 'constructively' indicating that you don't agree or back any of the standing candidates. Why, to have your voice heard, should anyone be forced to back 'the least worse' option?

Put an option 'none of the above' on ballot papers and record the number of votes that option gets. It might just be a wakeup call to how disenfranchised some people feel.

And I did vote tactically yesterday to keep the Green candidates out, but it really wasn't an enthusiastic endorsement of the candidates to whom I gave my X.

Oh they will keep calling everyone a nazi ( whilst ignoring where anti semitism is actually prevalent) or thick, and then wander around confused when those who they have patronised won't vote in the way they want.

I didn't vote because none of the candidates had anything to say that made me want to vote for them.

My area was not polling today - but looking at the number in England voting for Reform is quite horrifying to me. Never seen a more divisive bunch of eejits than that crew of liars. The same buffoon who brought us Brexit lined up with the buffoons who, after 14 years in power and 5 PM’s, crashed the economy are actually suggesting their foot soldiers will deliver improvement locally? Wow - Farage never even visits his own constituency and it’s far from ‘improved’.

Let's say that media are the winners.

about 60%[not sure if that is eligible voters, or 60% of population number] dont seem to vote at local elections.
So you are far from alone.

Post to Dreadwitch.

A local Reform winner not only praised the Nazis (on record) he is also on record with many anti-semitic phrases. Happily locally mostly wins have swung to the Greens, as local reputation is strongly climate activist and a similar kind of candidate to the lady who won the by election in Gorton:

So more people have chosen them as an alternative to Labour in the close run-ins. Conservatives: weren't in there locally at all anyway.

All the people saying everyone must vote - sometimes this forum seems so out of touch with what actually happens.

The anti Reform posts - them too.
No matter what names they are called. Diversion tactics used etc.

Personally, I prefer older people to live in the real world a bit more sometimes.