Get out and Vote on May 2nd. Consider the blank ballot option.

[Dexter Sinister]

Shoot, I hit the rep button on this one and don't agree with it at all. I have worked at polling stations over the years and it would be all but impossible for anyone to do anything but count the votes and mark them down. Each party is allowed to have a representative present to scrutinze the process. Ruining ballots in any fashion is childish, IMHO.

I agree completely, submitting a blank ballot or deliberately spoiling one is a silly way to register a protest and I'd never counsel anyone to do so, but if people must use the ballot box to register a protest, a spoiled ballot is better than a blank one.

 

[Omicron]

My head is too warped sometimes, but I think got an idea that would work in Quebec.

They are world-class ballot spoilers, so why not make a business out of it?

Sell things that look like bingo markers that you can dial to different kinds of offensive stamps, and sell them outside the voting hall.

Commercialized ballot spoiling.

Then with Canadian panache we'd figure out how to interpret them, and count them or not.

 

[Mowich]

I agree completely, submitting a blank ballot or deliberately spoiling one is a silly way to register a protest and I'd never counsel anyone to do so, but if people must use the ballot box to register a protest, a spoiled ballot is better than a blank one.

Dexter, there are thousands of people in non-democratic countries willing to give their lives for a chance at democracy, a chance to cast their single ballot in an open and free election. Urging people in democratic countries to make a farce of the election by spoiling, ruining, or leaving their ballots blank does nothing to further the cause of democracy here and denigrates all those around the world who are dieing right now for the chance to live in one. IMHO.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Why do you keep arguing this? Don't you understand that I agree with you? I'm just making a minor point about spoiled versus blank ballots.

 

[coldstream]

I don't know what message a 'spoiled ballot' sends (as a blank ballot will be recorded), except everyone assumes some idiot can't follow instructions well enough to place an X in white circle. If they had a option of something that would clearly show a declined vote.. such as 'present' or 'declined'.. i'd use it.

Frankly it's been a long time since i've seen a party that has any correspondence with my views.. the National Party of Canada in '93, The Canadian Action Party on a couple of occasions (both strong federalists and economically nationalistic and dirigiste).. a pro-life party on another (which are almost always Tea Party clones as well, which i hate). I've gone out and voted for somebody up till now in every election, as i consider it a civic responsibilty.. even if they have only a narrow correspondence rather than a comprehensive platform i support.

I find elections depressing things these days. I really just click off to something else when an election add or sound bite comes on.

 

[Omicron]

I find elections depressing things these days.

Yeah... well... you know...

During the Soviet era, they had elections, but it consisted of putting a check next to the name of a single candidate on a ballot.

The way it worked was, if not a quorum of checked ballots could be achieved, they'd look for a different candidate.

 

[atlanticaparty]

True, just because a country has elections does not mean the country is necessarily democratic. So don't confuse elections with democracy, there are various degrees of democracy. Yes Canada does have free and open elections but it's democracy is not that great. Remember that democracy is the degree to which citizens can influence political decision making.

 

[Mowich]

Why do you keep arguing this? Don't you understand that I agree with you? I'm just making a minor point about spoiled versus blank ballots.

Sometimes, I can be real dense. :smile:

 

[atlanticaparty]

‘It’s a big game and you ain’t in it.’ – George Carlin

Political reform is THE issue in the election. We want every Canadian to do their duty and vote but since no parties or independent candidates endorse reform the only alternative is the ‘third way’, voting a blank ballot. This is perfectly valid and Elections Canada counts and reports these ballots in the same way as ballots for candidates.

Erosion of our democarcy
They?re watching from afar as Canada?s democracy erodes - Opinion - TheChronicleHerald.ca

 

[Praxius]

A blank card is not a vote. You have to mark your card in order to vote. An X through all candidates is a vote, a blank is no vote. So, your campaign is back asswards. If you can't get that straight, you won't get any support from anybody with a higher IQ than a slug. If you want to send a message, vote with an X.

Actually it's not whether or not you mark an X on your ballot because nobody knows which ballot was yours when it goes into the pile to be counted.... it has more to do with going to the vote and Registering your name to show that you showed up.

Whether you leave your ballot blank or mark an X in all the choices, the end result is the exact same.... the ballot is void and it's the exact same thing as not going to vote at all.

Unless we all are able to enter our names on our ballots (optional of course) to identify exactly what our views are, regardless if we vote for one person, mark all of the options or leave the ballot blank, there's simply no difference in the end and you might as well just not bother to show up to vote in the first place.

Added:

As an example of this registering your name, here in Australia, it is Mandatory for all Australians to register their names at polling stations. If you don't show up, apparently you get into crap..... BUT, just because you have to show up, that doesn't mean you have to choose a candidate and thus, you can either drop in a blank ballot or screw it up.

 

[lone wolf]

It's not the same thing as not GOING to vote if your name has been stroked from the Electors List.

 

[Praxius]

Dexter, there are thousands of people in non-democratic countries willing to give their lives for a chance at democracy, a chance to cast their single ballot in an open and free election. Urging people in democratic countries to make a farce of the election by spoiling, ruining, or leaving their ballots blank does nothing to further the cause of democracy here and denigrates all those around the world who are dieing right now for the chance to live in one. IMHO.

They're willing to give their lives because they never experienced it before, other then from hearsay hype from countries like us who make it sound wonderful and perfect. They feel anything is better then what they got now and people in countries like ours feel that there's got to be something better then what we have now (or at least improve on what we have now)

Yeah... well... you know...

During the Soviet era, they had elections, but it consisted of putting a check next to the name of a single candidate on a ballot.

The way it worked was, if not a quorum of checked ballots could be achieved, they'd look for a different candidate.

What's the difference to what we have now?

No matter how many times I vote for any other party then the same old Liberals or Conservatives, it's either the Liberals or Conservatives who get into power, so it's no different then having one or two options to vote for because people in this country are so accustomed to voting for one or the other, much like in the US they will always have either Republicans or Democrats running the country..... which is no different then having a single candidate on the ballot, except every few years you might have the chance to change the colours from red to blue, or from an elephant to an ass...... but everything remains the same.

 

[Praxius]

It's not the same thing as not GOING to vote if your name has been stroked from the Electors List.

Doesn't really matter so long as your name isn't attached to your ballot. Sure you showed up and registered your name to vote, but for what anybody else knows, you could have voted Conservative, NDP, Green, Liberal, Bloc, etc..... and thus, you're still not voicing anything, because nobody knows wtf your view is when it comes to counting ballots.

It should be optional to be able to note your name on your specific ballot and perhaps have an area to make a small note as to why you voted the way you did or why you didn't vote at all and decided to leave it blank or spoiled.

I don't have an issue coming on here to voice my views and who I'd support during an election, thus I wouldn't have an issue doing the same thing when it comes to noting my ballot. Some people do have an issue and want to keep private over who they voted for, which is why it should be optional.

 

[Omicron]

‘It’s a big game and you ain’t in it.’ – George Carlin

Political reform is THE issue in the election. We want every Canadian to do their duty and vote but since no parties or independent candidates endorse reform the only alternative is the ‘third way’, voting a blank ballot. This is perfectly valid and Elections Canada counts and reports these ballots in the same way as ballots for candidates.

Erosion of our democarcy
They?re watching from afar as Canada?s democracy erodes - Opinion - TheChronicleHerald.ca

Two things:

I) What if we make it so the Commons is elected the same ol' way, but the Senate gets "reformed" upon each election, such that Senate seats get redistributed according to popular vote. (The Senate's job is to filter out and suggest changes to bad laws... laws have to be passed by the Senate before they become laws, and by the way, in case you didn't know, Senators work hard... I know a couple, and they don't sleep.)

For example, it would mean that even if the Reformacons get a majority this time round, in the Senate there would be something like:

Reformacon: 125
Lib: 98
NDP: 41
BQ: 28
GR: 12

If the Reformacons get majority with a minority of voters because of vote splitting, the Senate can compensate by forming Senate coalitions to block bad bills.

To de-stress the paranoids, I can see a compromise be to say that regardless of party association, each party's appointment to the Senate always be free to vote according to conscience.

II) You're totally wasting your protest and not doing well for business to leave a blank ballot.

If none of the candidates qualify, then an entrepreneur stands outside the election station and sells cheap, dial-able bingo-marker style stamps with things like a moon, a tongue stuck out, a finger, etc. in order for the protester to express his sentiments against each candidate with a stamp.

That way you're expressing sentiment while still helping the local economy by buying from the vendor of the dial-stamps, plus you're expressing a political statement expressing an opinion with more point than a stupid blank ballot.

i.e. Next to candidate A you stamp a moon, next to candidate B you stamp a tongue stuck out, next to candidate C you stamp a finger, etc.

Canada being Canada (until Harper monkeys it below a level so low that even Uncle Sam would require some sock-pulling to join as a state the way the EU requires nations to clean up before joining the EU) the Crown will form a committee to regularize the symbols into something like hate, fear, sadness, etc., and those will be regulated so the stamp-sellers can be taxed and so that Stats Can (if it's still alive after Harper's done because he doesn't want it to be known the effects of what he's doing) can interpret the sentiments of the population towards the policies of the parties.

Speaking business, the place to start a political stamp business like this would be Quebec... next BC.

 

[lone wolf]

Doesn't really matter so long as your name isn't attached to your ballot. Sure you showed up and registered your name to vote, but for what anybody else knows, you could have voted Conservative, NDP, Green, Liberal, Bloc, etc..... and thus, you're still not voicing anything, because nobody knows wtf your view is when it comes to counting ballots.

It should be optional to be able to note your name on your specific ballot and perhaps have an area to make a small note as to why you voted the way you did or why you didn't vote at all and decided to leave it blank or spoiled.

I don't have an issue coming on here to voice my views and who I'd support during an election, thus I wouldn't have an issue doing the same thing when it comes to noting my ballot. Some people do have an issue and want to keep private over who they voted for, which is why it should be optional.

Man do you ever read a lot between lines....

Getting your name off the list shows you gave a damn. Who you voted for or if you even voted is your own business.

 

[damngrumpy]

People do have a say they vote for the principals they want and there are enough
variations out there. Do I want endless referendums? Do I want multiple choice
ballots? or a whole lot of the nonsense brought on by Wild Rose, or the some
other silly group of regional voters. I think the system works well as is as long as
people understand the system. Atlantic Party is another fringe group going to
change the world, sure they are, don't hold your breathe. And if you don't even
know how to spoil a ballot properly how do you expect to run the country?
Inspires a lot of confidence in me alright, not

 

[Omicron]

Man do you ever read a lot between lines....

Getting your name off the list shows you gave a damn. Who you voted for or if you even voted is your own business.

No it doesn't.

Read Information Theory.

People do have a say they vote for the principals they want and there are enough
variations out there. Do I want endless referendums? Do I want multiple choice
ballots? or a whole lot of the nonsense brought on by Wild Rose, or the some
other silly group of regional voters. I think the system works well as is as long as
people understand the system. Atlantic Party is another fringe group going to
change the world, sure they are, don't hold your breathe. And if you don't even
know how to spoil a ballot properly how do you expect to run the country?
Inspires a lot of confidence in me alright, not

http://tunes.digitalock.com/greenhornet.mp3 <-- click here to hear the music I am listening to while typing.

Pretend you're a single cell devoid of photosynthesis.

If you had photosynthesis you would be able to grow and glow under the sun, but you're not photosynthetic.

You're a fungus. You eat wood, and when it's gone you're dead.

Now pretend you're Lucifer in the pit dictating orders to the demons to be the last one eaten. Imagine the form of discipline and what viciousness would entail if that was the arrangement. Lucifer says, "The more souls brought to me the last you're eaten." Lucifer stretches his existence out a billion years by gleaning soul-food any way he can, telling the demon captains they get eaten last as their reward.

Excuse me, in terms of full transparent disclosure it is only fair to present the tune I am listening to now: http://tunes.digitalock.com/fromsmallthingsonedaybigthingscome.mp3 <-- click to play

Anyway, I gotta tell you guys how much it f-cked up eastern European when it lost Church, Christ and God.

If you want to do business with these guys show Christian spirit backed up with ordinary sawed off Colt-44rs, proper discipline, and cheques that clear. They hug up to women and love their kids.

Nobody is going to make an issue if there is profit, and internal problems are internal problems.

People do have a say they vote for the principals they want and there are enough
variations out there. Do I want endless referendums? Do I want multiple choice
ballots? or a whole lot of the nonsense brought on by Wild Rose, or the some
other silly group of regional voters. I think the system works well as is as long as
people understand the system. Atlantic Party is another fringe group going to
change the world, sure they are, don't hold your breathe. And if you don't even
know how to spoil a ballot properly how do you expect to run the country?
Inspires a lot of confidence in me alright, not

Man do you ever read a lot between lines....

Getting your name off the list shows you gave a damn. Who you voted for or if you even voted is your own business.

No it doesn't.

Read Information Theory.

People do have a say they vote for the principals they want and there are enough
variations out there. Do I want endless referendums? Do I want multiple choice
ballots? or a whole lot of the nonsense brought on by Wild Rose, or the some
other silly group of regional voters. I think the system works well as is as long as
people understand the system. Atlantic Party is another fringe group going to
change the world, sure they are, don't hold your breathe. And if you don't even
know how to spoil a ballot properly how do you expect to run the country?
Inspires a lot of confidence in me alright, not

http://tunes.digitalock.com/greenhornet.mp3 <-- click here to hear the music I am listening to while typing.

Pretend you're a single cell devoid of photosynthesis.

If you had photosynthesis you would be able to grow and glow under the sun, but you're not photosynthetic.

You're a fungus. You eat wood, and when it's gone you're dead.

Now pretend you're Lucifer in the pit dictating orders to the demons to be the last one eaten. Imagine the form of discipline and what viciousness would entail if that was the arrangement. Lucifer says, "The more souls brought to me the last you're eaten." Lucifer stretches his existence out a billion years by gleaning soul-food any way he can, telling the demon captains they get eaten last as their reward.

Excuse me, in terms of full transparent disclosure it is only fair to present the tune I am listening to now: http://tunes.digitalock.com/fromsmallthingsonedaybigthingscome.mp3 <-- click to play

Anyway, I gotta tell you guys how much it f-cked up eastern European when it lost Church, Christ and God.

If you want to do business with these guys show Christian spirit backed up with ordinary sawed off Colt-44rs, proper discipline, and cheques that clear. They hug up to women and love their kids.

Nobody is going to make an issue if there is profit, and internal problems are internal problems.

Anyway down unto is a thing you guys never notice which is why red looks like red.

My great grandfather told me to not do what I am about to do which is...


1) Play the music I am listening to: If he wants to get bitch Norweigen bout it here: http://tunes.digitalock.com/MTC-JoytotheWorld.mp3

In the mean time I bothered to learn what taught, and the key to avoid Armageddon is regulation.

You guys are in a situation where you couldn't believe you had such a blessed country.

Correct.

Ordinarily there is no way idiots like you would ever be given a chance anywhere in the old world.

Then you don't know how to respect your protectors.

 

[lone wolf]

No it doesn't.

Read Information Theory.

Okay.... You say it doesn't. Big deal. What does mathematical theory have to do with getting your name stroked off a voters list or who you voted for or if you even voted? Did you build your house with theories ... or two-by-fours?

 

[Taxx]

My personal opinion is that people should be forced to vote once they turn 18 in Canada. A blank ballot isn't a vote. That means you are very lazy and just took the ballot and put it in the box without much care. It's much better and more interesting to to spoil your ballot by drawing a nice picture or even god forbid make a check mark.

 

[Chiliagon]

Talk to all of your candidates and ask about political reform. If their parties have nothing substantive to say about reform consider voting your ballot blank on May 2 to send a clear positive message. To those considering not voting at all, voting a blank ballot is a more positive action than not voting at all.
For more information Reject the Election!

yea let's be idiots! (rolling eyes)