Not voting or spoiling your ballot in any election is a good way to send a message?

Question

I hear this a lot from certain types of people and I agree as long as the message you are trying to send is,

don't mind me, just carry on and do whatever you want.

Agree or disagree?

Answer 1

the only one who'll get the message is the poor bugger who has to count them. and i'm sure they really care.

but

if it is a principled decision to say that you think the major political parties are corrupt and that the democratic process has been corrupted to the point where it no longer functions AND everyone else did it as well. Then it would send a message.

Answer 2

You might just as not bother.

Answer 3

No it is just ignored the same way as your vote is once the results have been declared

Answer 4

l agree - deliberately spoiling your ballot paper sends a message - whether anybody receives the message is another matter.  it is always important to use your vote - but if you feel you are unable to vote for any of the candidates  - a spoilt vote is better than not bothering at all.

Answer 5

you would best be voting for a candidate  that might just wn say the green party ,or bnp or an independant not spoil it just vote for the best one not the big parties

Answer 6

I agree.  Unless you hold a rally to make speeches about not voting/ballot spoiling, no one will know.  Voting is the primary way for citizens to interact with the government, and the silent treatment has never worked for actually resolving conflicts.  I think the act of voting is incredibly important, even if you write in a candidate, because it's recorded that you did indeed vote for "candidate X"  A subtle difference from spoiling your ballot, perhaps, but the principles and motivation are quite different.

Answer 7

No it isn't. Not voting shows you don't care. Spoiling a ballot shows you are incompetent.