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Make voting compulsory
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By *adetMan
over a year ago
South of Ipswich |
"Turnout was pathetic here last Thursday at under 40%.
Voting should be compulsory, with heavy fines for those who don't use the right to vote which was fought for by their ancestors."
I wish there was less apathy but what if you don't like anyone on the ballot? |
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"I wish there was less apathy but what if you don't like anyone on the ballot?"
That is a good point, and there should really be an option for 'none of the above'. However, as that isn't likely to be added, choose the least worst option. |
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By *adetMan
over a year ago
South of Ipswich |
"I wish there was less apathy but what if you don't like anyone on the ballot?
That is a good point, and there should really be an option for 'none of the above'. However, as that isn't likely to be added, choose the least worst option."
You can spoil your ballot. Not sure if you can really force people to vote for the lesser of 2 or 3 evils either |
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with none of the above if none of the above wins and none of the candidates are allowed to stand again. Also to be elected must have over 50% of the vote if not then a run off of the 2 highest placed candidates |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I wish there was less apathy but what if you don't like anyone on the ballot?
That is a good point, and there should really be an option for 'none of the above'. However, as that isn't likely to be added, choose the least worst option."
Choose the least worst option lmao.
Never have I heard something so ridiculous.
Would you go to a restaurant you hated and eat the food that made you least ill. Lol |
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By *ackal1Couple
over a year ago
Manchester |
"Turnout was pathetic here last Thursday at under 40%.
Voting should be compulsory, with heavy fines for those who don't use the right to vote which was fought for by their ancestors."
I agree . In Australia it’s compulsory.
40% is a reflection of our apathy as a nation.
As we head toward a one party state people will have lots of time to regret their mistake. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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In my area, we were invited to vote for a new Police Commissioner without even knowing who the people standing were . There was no information available. Normally I would always vote (even though it is pointless in this Tory heartland) but on this occasion, my vote would have been akin to tossing a coin therefore a complete waste of time.
F |
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By *ackal1Couple
over a year ago
Manchester |
Maybe if local elections were more local .
ie no party politics in local councils just people who represent the area?
also no parachuted MP candidates. They must have lived locally for at least 5 years. Stops the yes men and women. |
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By *elethWoman
over a year ago
Gloucestershire |
"with none of the above if none of the above wins and none of the candidates are allowed to stand again. Also to be elected must have over 50% of the vote if not then a run off of the 2 highest placed candidates "
Or proportional representation. Get rid of this two party system which represents a minority of us. No wonder there's so much voter apathy. |
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By *renzMan
over a year ago
Between Chichester and Havant |
"In my area, we were invited to vote for a new Police Commissioner without even knowing who the people standing were . There was no information available. Normally I would always vote (even though it is pointless in this Tory heartland) but on this occasion, my vote would have been akin to tossing a coin therefore a complete waste of time.
F"
Exactly this. As I posted yesterday, no idea who the candidates were or what they stood for. Not voting on something I have no idea about and don't vote locally on party lines.
Making it compulsory wouldn't necessarily give better results. You can blame it on voter apathy or you can blame it on the parties not exciting anyone enough to vote. Two separate things in my opinion. |
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By *mmabluTV/TS
over a year ago
upton wirral |
"Turnout was pathetic here last Thursday at under 40%.
Voting should be compulsory, with heavy fines for those who don't use the right to vote which was fought for by their ancestors."
If you did this people would say it was taking freedom away a bit like people protesting against new demo rules.
i think people should be encouraged to vote but if they do not want it is there perogitive |
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By *eroy1000Man
over a year ago
milton keynes |
"Turnout was pathetic here last Thursday at under 40%.
Voting should be compulsory, with heavy fines for those who don't use the right to vote which was fought for by their ancestors."
What was fought for by ancestors was the right to vote which is different to having to vote. As others have said what happens if Mr or Mrs none of the above gets the most votes. What happens then? If it goes to the next highest then you have wasted everyone's time to end up with the same result. Spoiling your ballot paper is no better than not turning up |
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"Turnout was pathetic here last Thursday at under 40%.
Voting should be compulsory, with heavy fines for those who don't use the right to vote which was fought for by their ancestors."
Why should anyone be forced to vote for indivisuals and parties that are a mixture of the following greedy, corrupt, criminal, idiotic, manipulated, dangerous, power hungry, puppet, that shares no beliefs of the now forced voter?
People fought for our right to vote, many would fight for our right not to give any of the above our consent to mistreat the population. |
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"Turnout was pathetic here last Thursday at under 40%.
Voting should be compulsory, with heavy fines for those who don't use the right to vote which was fought for by their ancestors.
Why should anyone be forced to vote for indivisuals and parties that are a mixture of the following greedy, corrupt, criminal, idiotic, manipulated, dangerous, power hungry, puppet, that shares no beliefs of the now forced voter?
People fought for our right to vote, many would fight for our right not to give any of the above our consent to mistreat the population."
However if you don't vote you let others decide which incompetent muppet will make decisions in your area.
Unfortunately whichever way we vote we will still get the same ineffective, inefficient, incompetent and uncaring council we currently have. We did still vote though. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I would be the first to go to prison or fine, which wouldn't get paid on principle. I will not vote for any of these clone."
You could ‘spoil’ your ballot paper  |
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By *estivalMan
over a year ago
borehamwood |
"No thanks would still carry on not voting.not gona change the habit of a lifetime
How can you ‘carry on not voting’ if it’s made compulsory  "
ah hello wonderd how long it would take you to comment on one of my posts.soooooo predictable.make it compulsory still dont meen id vote.fine me dont meen id pay |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Turnout was pathetic here last Thursday at under 40%.
Voting should be compulsory, with heavy fines for those who don't use the right to vote which was fought for by their ancestors."
I'm not sure it's a good idea,. Plenty of people abstain from voting because they feel like the whole system is a sham and it doesn't matter who is in charge.
People who don't vote because of apathy should inspire the political parties to work harder to reach out to them.
Personally I always vote, but rarely for any of the main parties, as I don't like any of them, their policies, or their candidates. |
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By *atEvolutionCouple
over a year ago
atlantisEVOLUTION Swingers Club. Stoke |
"
I agree . In Australia it’s compulsory.
40% is a reflection of our apathy as a nation.
"
Just did a quick google of the penalties in Western Aus:
"The penalty for first time offenders is $20 and this increases to $50 if you have previously paid a penalty or been convicted of this offence. If you do not have a valid and sufficient reason for not voting, you can pay the penalty and that will end the matter.
Electors who do not respond to notices or do not pay the prescribed penalty may have the matter referred to the Fines Enforcement Registry and could have their driver's licence suspended.!" |
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By *eroy1000Man
over a year ago
milton keynes |
"I would be the first to go to prison or fine, which wouldn't get paid on principle. I will not vote for any of these clone.
You could ‘spoil’ your ballot paper "
whats the point of making people vote and then saying if you dont like any of those standing then spoil the ballot paper. The result is the same except wasting peoples time |
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By *ljamMan
over a year ago
Edinburgh |
"I would be the first to go to prison or fine, which wouldn't get paid on principle. I will not vote for any of these clone.
You could ‘spoil’ your ballot paper
whats the point of making people vote and then saying if you dont like any of those standing then spoil the ballot paper. The result is the same except wasting peoples time"
Not the same. A spoiled ballot paper is active. Not going to vote is passive. |
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By *amish SMan
over a year ago
Eastleigh |
"I would be the first to go to prison or fine, which wouldn't get paid on principle. I will not vote for any of these clone.
You could ‘spoil’ your ballot paper "
Yes, just as the Americans do, they consider it their right to that paper in the box even if they don't like any of them. Usually high turnouts, with a missing percentage of votes for a candidate. |
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By *eroy1000Man
over a year ago
milton keynes |
"I would be the first to go to prison or fine, which wouldn't get paid on principle. I will not vote for any of these clone.
You could ‘spoil’ your ballot paper
whats the point of making people vote and then saying if you dont like any of those standing then spoil the ballot paper. The result is the same except wasting peoples time
Not the same. A spoiled ballot paper is active. Not going to vote is passive."
It does not change the outcome. spoiling your paper has the same result as not voting so whats the point |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I would be the first to go to prison or fine, which wouldn't get paid on principle. I will not vote for any of these clone.
You could ‘spoil’ your ballot paper
whats the point of making people vote and then saying if you dont like any of those standing then spoil the ballot paper. The result is the same except wasting peoples time
Not the same. A spoiled ballot paper is active. Not going to vote is passive.
It does not change the outcome. spoiling your paper has the same result as not voting so whats the point"
I think the point is, the person is saying, I want to vote, but not for any of these options. Rather than, Can't be arsed to go to the polling station and vote. |
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"..Spoiling your ballot paper is no better than not turning up"
..but it can be satisfying.
if any scrutineers are reading this, I'm the one who writes "End the (insert name of safe seat party) gravy train now" on the ballot paper.
|
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"
I agree . In Australia it’s compulsory.
40% is a reflection of our apathy as a nation.
Just did a quick google of the penalties in Western Aus:
"The penalty for first time offenders is $20 and this increases to $50 if you have previously paid a penalty or been convicted of this offence. If you do not have a valid and sufficient reason for not voting, you can pay the penalty and that will end the matter.
Electors who do not respond to notices or do not pay the prescribed penalty may have the matter referred to the Fines Enforcement Registry and could have their driver's licence suspended.!""
If the penalties started at $200 it would have been worthwhile. |
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"Turnout was pathetic here last Thursday at under 40%.
Voting should be compulsory, with heavy fines for those who don't use the right to vote which was fought for by their ancestors."
There should be a vote on that but I'm not going to |
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"
I agree . In Australia it’s compulsory.
40% is a reflection of our apathy as a nation.
Just did a quick google of the penalties in Western Aus:
"The penalty for first time offenders is $20 and this increases to $50 if you have previously paid a penalty or been convicted of this offence. If you do not have a valid and sufficient reason for not voting, you can pay the penalty and that will end the matter.
Electors who do not respond to notices or do not pay the prescribed penalty may have the matter referred to the Fines Enforcement Registry and could have their driver's licence suspended.!"
If the penalties started at $200 it would have been worthwhile."
£200 fine is grossly unreasonable. In fact, I do not consider any fine at all to be reasonable.
I'm astonished that anywhere in Australia has such a draconian law. I thought they were a civilised society.
However, I am not conversant with the overall terms and conditions of their notices (as referred to). For instance what, if any, are considered valid reasons for not voting.
What next? You must listen to the news and take an interest in politics or be fined?
As long as not voting infers acceptance of the result, it should remain a free choice. Just like taking an interest in politics.
In a free society, people could have any number of reasons for not wishing to take part in an election.
The only situation where I could see enforcement being valid would be to prevent people from being forcibly kept away from voting by intimidation, which could be a possibility under extremist regimes. However such regimes would be unlikely to want that safeguard built in. |
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By *eroy1000Man
over a year ago
milton keynes |
"I would be the first to go to prison or fine, which wouldn't get paid on principle. I will not vote for any of these clone.
You could ‘spoil’ your ballot paper
whats the point of making people vote and then saying if you dont like any of those standing then spoil the ballot paper. The result is the same except wasting peoples time
Not the same. A spoiled ballot paper is active. Not going to vote is passive.
It does not change the outcome. spoiling your paper has the same result as not voting so whats the point
I think the point is, the person is saying, I want to vote, but not for any of these options. Rather than, Can't be arsed to go to the polling station and vote."
Kind of understand what your saying but seems a gross waste of everyone's time. For those it affects they have to make the trip, adding to the Que just to spoil the paper. The counters then have far more papers to count that turn out to be spoilt wasting their time. Anyway each to their own I guess |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"
I agree . In Australia it’s compulsory.
40% is a reflection of our apathy as a nation.
Just did a quick google of the penalties in Western Aus:
"The penalty for first time offenders is $20 and this increases to $50 if you have previously paid a penalty or been convicted of this offence. If you do not have a valid and sufficient reason for not voting, you can pay the penalty and that will end the matter.
Electors who do not respond to notices or do not pay the prescribed penalty may have the matter referred to the Fines Enforcement Registry and could have their driver's licence suspended.!"
If the penalties started at $200 it would have been worthwhile.
£200 fine is grossly unreasonable. In fact, I do not consider any fine at all to be reasonable.
I'm astonished that anywhere in Australia has such a draconian law. I thought they were a civilised society.
However, I am not conversant with the overall terms and conditions of their notices (as referred to). For instance what, if any, are considered valid reasons for not voting.
What next? You must listen to the news and take an interest in politics or be fined?
As long as not voting infers acceptance of the result, it should remain a free choice. Just like taking an interest in politics.
In a free society, people could have any number of reasons for not wishing to take part in an election.
The only situation where I could see enforcement being valid would be to prevent people from being forcibly kept away from voting by intimidation, which could be a possibility under extremist regimes. However such regimes would be unlikely to want that safeguard built in."
 |
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"Turnout was pathetic here last Thursday at under 40%.
Voting should be compulsory, with heavy fines for those who don't use the right to vote which was fought for by their ancestors."
Our ancestors fought fascism to give us the right to vote, and I propose fascism to make sure it happens
Dickhead |
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"Turnout was pathetic here last Thursday at under 40%.
Voting should be compulsory, with heavy fines for those who don't use the right to vote which was fought for by their ancestors."
I think you will find what they fought for was the right to choose to vote or not. |
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By *mmabluTV/TS
over a year ago
upton wirral |
"..Spoiling your ballot paper is no better than not turning up
..but it can be satisfying.
if any scrutineers are reading this, I'm the one who writes "End the (insert name of safe seat party) gravy train now" on the ballot paper.
"
That should be made a criminal offence as wasting the time of the hard working counters |
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"..Spoiling your ballot paper is no better than not turning up
..but it can be satisfying.
if any scrutineers are reading this, I'm the one who writes "End the (insert name of safe seat party) gravy train now" on the ballot paper.
That should be made a criminal offence as wasting the time of the hard working counters"
As voting is anonymous, how would that work? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I would be the first to go to prison or fine, which wouldn't get paid on principle. I will not vote for any of these clone.
You could ‘spoil’ your ballot paper
whats the point of making people vote and then saying if you dont like any of those standing then spoil the ballot paper. The result is the same except wasting peoples time
Not the same. A spoiled ballot paper is active. Not going to vote is passive.
It does not change the outcome. spoiling your paper has the same result as not voting so whats the point
I think the point is, the person is saying, I want to vote, but not for any of these options. Rather than, Can't be arsed to go to the polling station and vote.
Kind of understand what your saying but seems a gross waste of everyone's time. For those it affects they have to make the trip, adding to the Que just to spoil the paper. The counters then have far more papers to count that turn out to be spoilt wasting their time. Anyway each to their own I guess"
Yeah I agree, it isn't a form of civil disobedience that I would agree with. But some people do.
I am not in favour of making voting compulsory though. I don't like the idea of people being forced to vote for someone if they don't like any of the options. |
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By *ackal1Couple
over a year ago
Manchester |
I’m not claiming to know the answers but the low voting numbers and apathy resulting in the Conservatives slowly becoming leaders of a one party state should worry us all.
It’s totally unhealthy to have a weak opposition. All governments should be held to account if they are corrupt, untrustworthy or not showing good leadership for the interests of all subjects.
I’m not pointing at the Tories here I’m pointing at the very real danger we are losing democracy,
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"No thanks would still carry on not voting.not gona change the habit of a lifetime
How can you ‘carry on not voting’ if it’s made compulsory ah hello wonderd how long it would take you to comment on one of my posts.soooooo predictable.make it compulsory still dont meen id vote.fine me dont meen id pay"
PMSL |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"..Spoiling your ballot paper is no better than not turning up
..but it can be satisfying.
if any scrutineers are reading this, I'm the one who writes "End the (insert name of safe seat party) gravy train now" on the ballot paper.
That should be made a criminal offence as wasting the time of the hard working counters"
A bit harsh, |
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"Years ago the local councillors would knock on doors, urging people to vote. Sometimes even go and collect them, take them to the voting station and drop them off again."
Now they just push mountains of leaflets through the door. We really need a separate letterbox leading straight to the recycling bin.
The independent candidate leaflet was distributed on Friday. Says it all really  |
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"Turnout was pathetic here last Thursday at under 40%.
Voting should be compulsory, with heavy fines for those who don't use the right to vote which was fought for by their ancestors.
Why should anyone be forced to vote for indivisuals and parties that are a mixture of the following greedy, corrupt, criminal, idiotic, manipulated, dangerous, power hungry, puppet, that shares no beliefs of the now forced voter?
People fought for our right to vote, many would fight for our right not to give any of the above our consent to mistreat the population.
However if you don't vote you let others decide which incompetent muppet will make decisions in your area.
Unfortunately whichever way we vote we will still get the same ineffective, inefficient, incompetent and uncaring council we currently have. We did still vote though."
That is the theory, however if you are Scottish, you end up getting whatever f*ckwot England votes in hence Miss May (i wint go into why i disliked her) and now the clown prince, Bojo.
So yeah our votes dont matter, so I dont bother,. |
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"..Spoiling your ballot paper is no better than not turning up
..but it can be satisfying.
if any scrutineers are reading this, I'm the one who writes "End the (insert name of safe seat party) gravy train now" on the ballot paper.
That should be made a criminal offence as wasting the time of the hard working counters
A bit harsh, "
And if they did make it an offence, they would have to admit that your anonymity counts for nothing (which we all suspect anyway). |
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"I wish there was less apathy but what if you don't like anyone on the ballot?
That is a good point, and there should really be an option for 'none of the above'. However, as that isn't likely to be added, choose the least worst option."
You can always spoil your vote. However I would like to see an official abstention choice. |
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"Turnout was pathetic here last Thursday at under 40%.
Voting should be compulsory, with heavy fines for those who don't use the right to vote which was fought for by their ancestors."
You've blown your own argument out of the water with that statement lol
The "right" to vote and compulsory voting are 2 totally different things |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"with none of the above if none of the above wins and none of the candidates are allowed to stand again. Also to be elected must have over 50% of the vote if not then a run off of the 2 highest placed candidates
Or proportional representation. Get rid of this two party system which represents a minority of us. No wonder there's so much voter apathy."
Totally agree but the Tories and Labour will not back it as they know they will both lose voters and not be in power under that system.
I read today that the Conservatives are about to change the Mayoral elections to first past the post as it gives them a better chance of winning. |
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By *ostafunMan
over a year ago
near ipswich |
"Turnout was pathetic here last Thursday at under 40%.
Voting should be compulsory, with heavy fines for those who don't use the right to vote which was fought for by their ancestors."
i personally want the government to have less control over my life not more, our ancestors fought for the right to vote not for the right to be made to vote. |
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I don't vote for the very reason my ancestors didn't fight for a dingaling to stand for election.
Some of them are a disgrace. That's the crime. The things they get up to when they are in power would turn any ancestor in their graves. To think you wasted your time and effort to vote for them.
Why people need these people to lead their lives I'll never know.
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"..Spoiling your ballot paper is no better than not turning up
..but it can be satisfying.
if any scrutineers are reading this, I'm the one who writes "End the (insert name of safe seat party) gravy train now" on the ballot paper.
That should be made a criminal offence as wasting the time of the hard working counters
A bit harsh,
And if they did make it an offence, they would have to admit that your anonymity counts for nothing (which we all suspect anyway)."
Every ballot paper, however, contains a unique registration number linking the vote to the person who cast it.
In theory, someone with access to both the ballot papers and registration numbers for any given constituency could trace individual votes, but is this possible? |
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