NB: This poll is purposely minimal. If you have selected ‘No’ or ‘Possibly’, feel free to tell us why in the comment thread so that we can analyse and discuss reasoning.
Tagged: Ballot, Democracy, Elections, Electoral Reform, None of the above, NOTA, Politics
None of the Above UK 
destroying this fake “democracy” is the best form of “meaningful change”
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Hey, just wanted to point out a couple of issues with this poll – first, about representation. I heard about it via the email list for supporters of NOTA. You ask people to share on facebook, but people are likely to have friends with similar views. I doubt that this poll will be representative of the general public.
Second, the ‘it would depend’ option is quite vague. For me, using the NOTA option would be a response to useless candidates – it would depend on who stood. I think this will be common. For others it might depend on what would happen if ‘NOTA’ won, or tactical voting, or any number of other issues. Breaking down that sample of people might help us to know what issues people have with NOTA and be able to target our energies better.
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Hi Emma,
I agree, we will most likely be doing different polls soon to get a clearer picture. You are very welcome to design one and post it here. This first poll is deliberately simple just to get a rough idea of what is out there. There are so many variables when it comes to how people vote that it is difficult to get them all in to one poll. Crucially, this first poll allows people to distinguish between NOTA as pure protest and NOTA with thought through remedial consequences. Those keen to find out our own proposal of what should happen in the event of a NOTA win can do so here: https://nota-uk.org/2013/11/16/nota-for-real-logistics-ramifications/
Stan
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Hi Stan,
I agree that including two NOTA options allows us to distinguish the ‘reformers’ from the ‘anarchists’, but the current options the false assumption that all live candidates are equally unacceptable. If our main aim is to gauge the split between reformers and anarchists (or even between all-in-one reformers, stepwise reformers, and anarchists), then the last two options are little more than a distraction and the question is badly framed – but in this case, the self-selecting nature of the sample is less of an issue. If it’s to estimate the actual likely take-up of NOTA, then the existence of favourable live candidates cannot be ignored – and Emma’s point about the self-selecting sample is even more relevant.
Alex
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Hi Alex, as I said in a comment on the facebook group when you raised this, the issue is not really about the acceptability of candidates. It is about the way in which the current system negates any integrity that a candidate or party might have and ensures the continuation of a corrupt, two party merry go round where the public interest is shelved in favour of corporate, financial sector interests only. It would be that way regardless of how many Caroline Lucas’ or Mo Mowlem’s were standing. As such, candidates of integrity are discouraged while self-serving careerists and corporate puppets are encouraged. As with all of our enterprises, this poll and comment thread is as much an educational tool as a measure of public opinion. I could add an answer along the lines of ‘No – because I believe that a candidate of integrity can make a difference in our current system’ if you like, but why further perpetuate that myth, when we can use the comment section to dispel such myths and further highlight the need for NOTA? Raising awareness of the problem and the solution is our aim, after all. Polls need to be simple and straightforward, in my view, it’s a numbers game. Otherwise they become surveys. How about I add some text at the bottom inviting people who have selected No or Possibly to explain why? Then we can dispel any myths or acknowledge any valid reasons as and when.
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https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/signatures/13636639/verify/l1Zhh20XswyK9OrSkR2
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Hi Sadie, thanks for this, every little helps – although it would probably make more sense to concentrate our efforts in one place rather spread out over a few! Please do sign and share our 38 Degrees petition if you haven’t already: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/inclusion-of-an-official-none-of-the-above-option-for-all-uk-elections-2
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