howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
Guest 725- Registered: 7 Oct 2011
- Posts: 1,418
#2
Yeah that was Lard Prescott's baby wasn't it? The "man" who now represents our nation in all sorts of climate change negotiations (he's an expert on these matters you see having been a steward on a cruise liner) brought this postal voting scheme in. Of course it favours labour more than any other party so we shouldn't be too surprised by the inevitable result but it's interesting to note that if you follow the chequered career of the lard it's par for the course.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#3
I think this was an attempt by Labour to try and engage more people in the voting process. No doubt there will be some anomalies in the postal vote system as highlighted by the article but I suspect this is far from the norm.
Voting turnouts are sinking ever lower. The upcoming Election in France will see a much bigger turnout than here, as many more people are engaged, just look at the huge flag waving rallies, not to mention the near 24 hour TV coverage, its extraordinary. Much more fervour about things there.
We cant seem the generate huge widespread enthusiasm. Sure, the committed will always be interested but getting more to turn up and vote is the problem. And then should it be a rainy thursday you're scuppered.
Postal voting now accounts for 15% of the actual vote it seems.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#4
I have a postal vote and as a result always vote, prior to having a postal vote it depended on the weather as to whether I bothered to turn out.
I would like to see internet voting introduced, even with it's drawbacks, as I am sure more would vote.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#5
please dont be under the impression this is a labour thing.
when i joined the political arena 25 years ago i came across the conservative candidate who was going around old peoples homes(most wouldnt even know who he was) but some homres for some reason encourged it.
thankfully i replaced him
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 703- Registered: 30 Jul 2010
- Posts: 2,096
#6
But Keith, 25 years ago you had to have a particular reason to have a postal vote - immobility, working away from home etc.
If I recall correctly, it was Labour who changed it so anyone could have a postal vote on request. Whether it's a good thing because it encourages people to vote or whether it's a bad thing because it's more open to abuse are just two of the arguments for and against.
Microchip us all and scan us at the booths is my answer!
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#7
RAY;
My point was the conservative candidate/cllr at the time was abusing the system
so not a one party thing.
but yes it was probably welll intentioned to get more people to vote but sadly always abused
not sure how you get round it
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
#8
Trotting off to a polling station is just as easily abused as postal or internet, if the voting cards come through the door of a multi occupancy building and you know most of the tenants do not bother to vote.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#9
I think you are talking about a different thing there Keefy me oul china. I think the point being made was that Labour introduced a more comprehensive postal voting system...not that Labour abused it more than the others. A difference there.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#10
i saw this in practice in ilford south when the rules the changed 12 years ago, both of the main parties leapt on it from day 1 as a way of cheating.
the article refers to india and pakistan, no so true of india but pakistan and bangla desh people view politics rather differently to us and the poorer ones would do as they were told by the better off ones.
you have to bear in mind that anyone refusing to play along would be black balled(no pun intended) and would not be popular at the mosque.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#11
The trouble with opinion polls is, they make you believe all the electorate will vote for one or other party. They don't tell you the percentage of those who wouldn't vote any party.
Turnout at the voting polls in Britain is getting lower all the time.
As we can see locally, some parties do just absolutely NOTHING!
Other parties campaign all year through, notably on Dover Forum.
Here we have Keith and Reg, for Labour, verses Barry for Conservatives.
We have Philip of the climate change party
.
Then come PaulB's fulminations at the LibDems, followed by Brian's euroland party
, and a platea of members who have openly rebelled against politics in every form and semblance.
I wish we could have a jokes page for politics local and national!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#12
we do alex, it's called the daily mail.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#13
alexander;
i certainly do not campaign for labour
and reg im sure doesn't either
theres a difference between being anti conservative and supportin another party
paulb;
no geezer im on trACK FULLY UNDERSTAND labour introduced it.probably with good intention.
but the system has been abused by all parties long before the new postal vote procedure
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#14
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
#15
Import the third world you get the third world .
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
#16
Keith S , I have sent you an E/M
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#17
that sounds rather sinister.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
#18
will have to look lol
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#19
Last year, Howard, you brought a thread up, can't remember which one, but it was about many immigrants in London living crammed together and being felt sorry for.
There and than I tried explaining on that thread that they do it for housing benefit swindle, now it seems there is also another facette to the story: they do it also in order to take over the administration through mass-voting for their ethnic minority candidate.
They know who covers them in obtaining whatever they can sponge in on the welfare cheque, so they just hand over the ballot sheet to the head of the group.
Result: 100% guaranteed vote from the whole ethnic community for the candidate .
Hope London doesn't one day become like Sarajevo 1992!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#20