Spoilt votes better than no votes
CNS writes: The problem with politics is the politicians. And deciding which one to vote for can sometimes be like choosing between a poke in the eye with a sharp stick or a knock on the head with a blunt club. Voters in some constituencies might feel as though they have no choice at all on Wednesday. But they do: “None of the above.”
Spoiling a ballot is perfectly legal. If a voter makes it clear that they are deliberately spoiling their ballot paper because no one measures up, the candidates will know about it, your vote still counts and attending the polls sends a clear message that Cayman voters are not apathetic but are engaged and watchful of those holding the reins of power.
All spoilt ballots are counted.
And while the number is generally very small because they are usually accidentally spoiled, deliberately and clearly spoiling a ballot is a legitimate democratic alternative and much better that simply not voting.
It sends a clear signal to the candidates and the country at large once the count is in. A significant number of spoilt ballots at the end of the count is not only more telling than a low turnout, it is more powerful because it tells candidates that voters are not apathetic, it’s that the politicians are just not good enough.
Campaigners in the UK have been pushing for several years to actually have ‘None of the Above’ as a voting box on all ballot papers to enable people to register a real protest vote when they are dismayed by their choices. But the option to simply write very clearly across the ballot paper ‘none’ so there can be no confusion about the voter’s intention will ensure that the vote is counted for what it is.
Voting is always important and democracy, for all its faults, remains under pressure all over the world. We are lucky in Cayman that we have a relatively clean election system. It has far too many systemic faults and there is no doubt that a growing and much more active electorate is sick of the old guard and the repetitive choices. As a result, this election could be the first for some time that throws up some real surprises.
But whatever happens the more people vote, the better.
Registered electors who have a candidate in their district whom they are happy to vote for are lucky and can head out to the polls in the morning, cast their ballot and then enjoy the rest of the day.
Voting against a disliked candidate rather than for someone will be where many voters find themselves, and that is often the best voters can hope for. But for those who can’t stomach the idea of voting against or for any candidate, voting for none of them is better than not voting at all.
Cayman is facing an uncertain future for many reasons. Without doubt, the challenges we face as a result of climate change and the devastating damage we have done to our coastal environment puts us in a poor position to face what’s coming.
Voting for the right candidates who will be able to navigate this existential threat is extremely important, but it is unarguable that there are constituencies in this election where there are no candidates running who are capable of dealing with this or anything else.
Luckily, there are some that certainly can handle what’s coming, and those who can vote for them (you know who you are) are the lucky ones.
That is why the protest vote remains important. The country needs people to stay engaged with the political process even if it is the politicians (or would-be politicians) who are the problem. And a massive turnout is one of the best signals we can send to those in power that we are watching.
Given the environmental issues that the Cayman Islands faces, the country needs its voters and other residents who may not yet be entitled to vote but who have made Cayman their home to be involved in politics long after the polls close Wednesday evening, and for the people to be aware of what those in office are doing. Voting for one candidate or against them all is part of the process that keeps people engaged and those in power on alert.
Whatever happens on Thursday, for better or worse, now more than ever Cayman needs its people to keep their eyes on those who control the reins of power because their mistakes will have consequences for us all.
Category: Viewpoint & Analysis
No one is conducting any analysis of spoilt ballots other than to determine that they are spoilt. They all just end up in the same little pile. So while writing “none of the above” on your ballot might make you feel better, it is essentially pointless as a means of protest and certainly no better than not voting at all. In fact, low turnout is a rather better indicator of voter dissatisfaction.
Prospect: Education is the basis of a bright future – for everyone.
What an outrageous suggestion. First of all it is the registered voters who nominate candidates. If they fail to nominate quality persons then the fault is all theirs. Since their is no minimum number of votes required to be elected, if voters follow your suggestion could result in a candidate getting elected with a minimum number of votes; perhaps as little as ten. Certainly not a desirable result.
CNS: That whizzing sound is the point of this VP flying over your head. There’s a really really big clue in the heading. This is not aimed at people who would otherwise have voted for a candidate but at those who would otherwise not have voted at all.
You also seem to think that registered voters can randomly nominate people whether they want to be nominated or not, and so if there isn’t a good choice it’s the fault of the constituents as a whole. That’s not how it works. People who decide to run ask two people to nominate them. The reason why many good potential candidates don’t put themselves forward for election is a worthy topic but outside the scope of this particular VP.
Thank you CNS for your coverage of this important viewpoint.
CNS, you might have written a little sooner so people could think about it.
Vote Elvis 2021, regardless of constituency!