And another thing…

Zimbabwe, no. A problem, yes. The Electoral Commission should look at this, it should be clearly marked if it’s folded and there are more parties after the fold. I’m suprised we have rules for all sorts of things, but not this.

That said, I’m sure the Tories are quite pleased with this, they’ll probably pick-up the votes of UKIPers who can’t find them.

It means, of course, that UKIP are publicly claiming that their voters are too thick to work out how to *unfold* a ballot paper.

Oh, the Huge Manatee.

Never mind that. I’ve got a much more serious act of polling irregularity to report.

Went to the local school this morning to vote – very pleasant building – kids’ happy paintings all over the place – a credit to the teachers I’d say. But, what’s this? – there’s one painting in the corridor on the way in showing signs of being a depiction by a child – with just one word on a white backrgound, the word ‘GREEN’ in big green letters.

I’d been planning to vote Labour too but I couldn’t after a plea like that from a child could I?

I’d complain if I were in the Labour Party.

Mugabe missed a trick here.

Considering his Zanu PF party would have come at the bottom of any ballot paper thus also subject to a ‘Great Ballot Paper Folding Scandal’ that engulfs UKIP, he could have used that instead as an excuse to re-run the Zimbabwe election last year.

Much more plausible than the protracted nonsense he came out with.

“They only come out at night…or in this case, during the day”

If we’re going to have these voting systems that produce so many parties and candidates then we need a sensible approach to ballot paper design rather than just trying to fit everything into a FPTP model and having a five yearly whinge about whether individual candidates are named on the ballot paper or not.

Having already been to spoil my ballot paper I can conform that yes, they are handed out folded over and yes, UKIP appeared 15th on the list of parties, just under the Labour Party who were 11th (not a prediction of the result), and off the edge of the writing surface of the polling booth.

*tongue in cheek*
Whoever allowed such a large voting slip (or such small booths to be used) is obviously a BNP supporter as they were the first, and therefore easiest, party to vote for.

*/tongue in cheek*

“The thousands of political refugees who have claimed asylum in Britain in recent years rarely mention the murders, rapes, beatings, intimidation and land-grabs.”

… until they come Glasgow.

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.

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Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.

Anyone who can’t unfold a voting slip is either infirm (in which case they should ask for help), Poorly sighted (ditto), or stupid…

Can’t do much to help the stupid unless they want a big hand written at the side saying “UKIP here”….

It doesn’t matter.

The Commission makes the laws and we don’t vote for them.

Well, I voted early (not ‘early and often’ – but give me time) and I was surprised not to find “Labour” where I expected it. With all the bad press and 25 names or whatever I wouldn’t be surprised at some Labour voters deciding Labour mustn’t be fielding any candidates and voting for next best. Conservatives were under ‘C’, Liberals ‘L’ , UKIP ‘U’ – who decided it was a good idea to put Labour under ‘T’(“The Labour Party”)?

Tory supporters would be holding the slip upside down anyway so this may have actually scored UKIP some votes

An old fellow who came in to vote behind me wanted to make a complaint about the new road markings in the town centre. He went on for ages. The woman behind the desk seemed to take it all in her stride, and just chatted on with him. “I know, I know”.

I didn’t know that was what was meant by a protest vote.

I’m a tad confused. I saw the Guido comment and you know what ? No mention of Zimbabwe. So I just rechecked.

http://order-order.com/2009/06/04/election-day-shenanigans/

Perhaps you could make it a tad clearer that Guido didn’t say anything of the sort – that it was a commentator to YOUR blog. Plus, how about a comment on the second paragraph missed out in the quote ?

Thanks

Would like to respectfully point to the MP that noone and i mean noone makes the trip to Blighty from Zimbabwe on a lorry.Perhaps you need a world map to help?It is uncalled for to just say all political refugees come in the back of lorries.I know this is not at the heart of the issue but once youy bring something up at least make sure it makes sense and doesn’t bring falsewoods into people’s minds.

Sky News have quoted you on their news story: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Politics/UKIP-To-Complain-About-Ballot-Paper-Fold-In-European-And-Local-Elections/Article/200906115296002?lpos=Politics_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_4&lid=ARTICLE_15296002_UKIP_To_Complain_About_Ballot_Paper_Fold_In_European_And_Local_Elections

Thanks John,

Shows how such a ridiculous straw man comment can become news.

Tomorrow Tom will rubbish the idea that Gordon Brown was Jack the Ripper.

ephraim: ‘falsewoods’
Haha! Nice spelling there… It’s ‘falsehoods’.

“It is uncalled for to just say all political refugees come in the back of lorries.”

It’s a lighthearted joke. Try reading the ‘about me’ section on this website and actually finding out, contextually, what the aim of Tom’s musings are.