[Livia]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

If anything other than a cross as a vote is on the ballot paper, it is a spolied ballot.

If that one has been counted and allowed it has to be surely wrong.
I've been at counts, anything with writing on the ballot paper is discarded.

But Joey, you know a half-decent agent will argue for every spoilt ballot paper. If I'd seen this one I would have argued for it for my candidate, and so would you probably! I remember having argued over a paper where the voter dad drawn a penis next to the Conservative candidate and nothing next to any of the others and I ended up having it counted. You have to be willing to argue and it depends on the returning officer... but when all the agents and reps gather round to inspect the spoilt papers, you can guarantee a couple will be argued for and added to the result.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Livia

But Joey, you know a half-decent agent will argue for every spoilt ballot paper. If I'd seen this one I would have argued for it for my candidate, and so would you probably! I remember having argued over a paper where the voter dad drawn a penis next to the Conservative candidate and nothing next to any of the others and I ended up having it counted. You have to be willing to argue and it depends on the returning officer... but when all the agents and reps gather round to inspect the spoilt papers, you can guarantee a couple will be argued for and added to the result.

Hmm I don't know Livia.

I know when I've been at a count I've noticed votes that hadn't a cross.
Which were discounted.

There was a ballot paper too where a cross was more in the Conservative candidates box, with a smaller part of the cross in the box below him.
It was discounted.

As you point out it will depend on the returning officer.

Personally, I wouldn't accept a single ballot paper that had more than a cross on it.

It's simple enough to do, just put even the smallest or largest cross beside a candidates name.
Anything else should warrant it being a vote thrown out and wasted by the voter.

I agree though,if the returning officer included this one,.that's his or her right.
To me however and I think as to the rules of voting, it's wrong.

Even moreso in a tight contest as this one appears to have been.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Hmm I don't know Livia.

I know when I've been at a count I've noticed votes that hadn't a cross.
Which were discounted.

There was a ballot paper too where a cross was more in the Conservative candidates box, with a smaller part of the cross in the box below him.
It was discounted.

As you point out it will depend on the returning officer.

Personally, I wouldn't accept a single ballot paper that had more than a cross on it.

It's simple enough to do, just put even the smallest or largest cross beside a candidates name.
Anything else should warrant it being a vote thrown out and wasted by the voter.

I agree though,if the returning officer included this one,.that's his or her right.
To me however and I think as to the rules of voting, it's wrong.

Even moreso in a tight contest as this one appears to have been.

Well, that's more than one mark on the paper. The penis that was drawn on the paper I was talking about was a single mark, next to the Conservative candidate and I argued it was a clear vote, no other mark existed anywhere so the intention must have been there. You know what it's like when you're scrabbling around for every vote, and it's reeeeeally tight... you'll fight for every vote you can.

I have to say I've met returning officers I wouldn't have tried that on though.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Livia

Well, that's more than one mark on the paper. The penis that was drawn on the paper I was talking about was a single mark, next to the Conservative candidate and I argued it was a clear vote, no other mark existed anywhere so the intention must have been there. You know what it's like when you're scrabbling around for every vote, and it's reeeeeally tight... you'll fight for every vote you can.

I have to say I've met returning officers I wouldn't have tried that on though.

I love going to counts.

I doubt I'd argue with you if you were battling for a ballot paper to still stand.

Some people find being at a count tedious but I love it.