I would think just writing d-e-c-l-i-n-e where you should have put one "x" would make this a spoiled ballot.
Just so I know for the next election in a year or so.
A protest action that was an act of civil disobedience not recommended as it will attract Election Canada's notice and there by their reaction can be but as the old saying goes "Go big or stay home"seen here.
The real answer to your question is you stay away from the polls in droves if you like and if you don't like just stay away from the polls. However this action or total lack of action or inaction if you like or if you don't like will be confused with total apathy.
Short of changing the law you can't. Long have Canadians died in wars so that we can vote but if it is too much trouble to like the people that offered for public service offer yourself up. Would it kill you to engage...make it so number one J.L. Picard.
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Be wary be very wary of Ostentatious Grandiose Lambaster
I thought someone had posted here on ehMac prior to the election that "declining" a ballot will send the appropriate message, a "spoiled ballot" won't - of course only if a lot of people do it.
Short of changing the law you can't. Long have Canadians died in wars so that we can vote but if it is too much trouble to like the people that offered for public service offer yourself up.
No one should ever be forced to vote or demeaned for not liking their options. I believe that reasonable compromise is hugely undervalued for many of today's 'with us or agin' us' people.
However, belittling someone for not liking their options is very much a 'join us or else' attitude. Canadians didn't die to force people to hold their nose and vote, so don't abuse a very basic act of freedom to hold down someone who disagrees with the politcal options available.
would be interesting to see if elections canada would make a change to not recognize an election in which more people didn't vote for anyone than did vote for someone
so if your local MP got 35% of the vote, but 40% didn't vote the MP would not be recognized
now THAT would certainly get the wanna be politicians and their machinery to get out the vote
that riding would then not send an MP to ottawa
there really should be an option for "none of the above"
there really should be an option for "none of the above"
We disagree on so much, but not this. I've supported this before and will again.
That option would allow people to show their desire to vote and displeasure with the options, without being lumped in with those who couldn't figure out the very basic 'X' system of Canadian voting.
Nothing like spending 30 seconds with google.
There is such a thing as a "declined ballot" - different from a "spoiled ballot" and treated differently, but only for provincial elections, not federal ones.
Here is the word from election officials:
Quote:
The option of having your ballot recorded as declined in the official poll record is only available in provincial elections.
Under the Ontario Elections Act, when a voter tells a polling station worker that he or she wants to decline a ballot, that is written on the ballot and recorded in the official poll record.
Federally, "there's no such thing as a declined ballot. The Canada Elections Act does not make any mention of that," Grenier said.
According to Grenier, ballots in federal elections are broken down into three categories: counted, spoiled or rejected. Spoiled ballots never reach the hands of voters, and include misprinted, torn or damaged ballots.
Grenier said rejected ballots are tallied as a group, so there's no way of knowing which were made in protest, and which are just honest mistakes.
"You can protest, but it's not recorded as such," he said.
No one should ever be forced to vote or demeaned for not liking their options. I believe that reasonable compromise is hugely undervalued for many of today's 'with us or agin' us' people.
However, belittling someone for not liking their options is very much a 'join us or else' attitude. Canadians didn't die to force people to hold their nose and vote, so don't abuse a very basic act of freedom to hold down someone who disagrees with the politcal options available.
If I came across as "join us or else attitude" or as a "with us or agin' us" person I am sorry if my message got lost.
My message is; DO Something constructive.
Pi$$ing and moaning I don't like my choice of people on the ballot is, IMO, pretty lame.
I offered you can change the law. That is an action that would validate the declining of the ballot. I personally do not advocate said action but I can respect someone's effort.
I have a hard time respecting those that don't vote because of the people offering.
The only action presently, in a Federal Election, that legally declines a ballot is to stay away from the polls. However that option, which I pointed out, looks like apathy.
IMO voting is too important and as I pointed out voting was sustained for us at great cost. IMO it is disrespectful to those who fought and to the memory of those who died protecting our democratic system, our rights and our freedoms.
Spoiling a ballot or declining to vote has accomplished what? Whether you're with me or "agin'" me, in reality, you ended up voting with the majority in your riding that's what!
And in this case at hand remember who the rejected ballot favoured? Could someone say "cosmic justice." hummmm
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Be wary be very wary of Ostentatious Grandiose Lambaster
IMO voting is too important and as I pointed out voting was sustained for us at great cost. IMO it is disrespectful to those who fought and to the memory of those who died protecting our democratic system, our rights and our freedoms.
Well, the sacrifice of others if used to back up too much. The right to pick an option or pick no option is, in my mind, equally valid. I don't think ignoring the need for compromise is particularly mature, but that is very different from using 'they died for us' arguments against those who don't. We differ, more power to you.
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