Nothing to Vote For!

Many Voters that choose NOT TO VOTE, often say that there is NOTHING that they feel comfortable in SUPPORTING. I have used this reasoning MYSELF. I am not very supportive of POLITICAL PARTIES in their many different forms. I have often looked for a choice on the BALLOT - "NONE OF THE ABOVE" - that I would have VOTED FOR.

When faced with this dilemma the VOTER usually DOES NOT VOTE. There is another OPTION.

In the statistics of ELECTIONS there is another column of figures - "Spoiled Ballots". Historically the Spoiled Ballots in each ELECTION is around 1% of the VOTES CAST. The record of Spoiled Ballots have to be kept accurately in order to BALANCE THE RECORDS. There is a record of TOTAL BALLOTS CAST and this must equal the NUMBER OF BALLOTS EACH CANDIDATE RECEIVED PLUS ANY SPOILED BALLOTS.

Usually the POWERS THAT BE, often justify the Spoiled Ballots as just STUPID VOTERS THAT DO NOT KNOW HOW TO CAST A BALLOT. The number of Spoiled Ballots are always small and of no real significance to the ELECTION.

The question to ask - What happens IF the percentage of "Spoiled Ballots" took a big spike up to 20% of the BALLOTS CAST? Such a spike would do a number of things;

• It increases the VOTER TURNOUT - as the VOTERS that Spoiled their Ballot would have probably NOT VOTED. This increase in VOTER TURNOUT, without increasing the VOTES RECEIVED BY CANDIDATES would reduce the WINNING CANDIDATES PERCENTAGE OF VOTES RECEIVED. It could put the WINNING CANDIDATE into the 20% range of the POPULAR VOTE. 
• It gives the VOTER another OPTION - besides NOT VOTING, or VOTING FOR SOMEONE THEY DO NOT SUPPORT.
• It tells the POWERS THAT BE - I do care, give me something to VOTE FOR. It definitely sends a message.
• Spoiled Ballots become a actual VOTE - the number of SPOILED BALLOTS becomes SIGNIFICANT IN THE ELECTION.

In the 2009 Election there was barely over 50% of eligible voters that actually voted (50.99%). WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF THE OTHER 49.01% SPOILED THEIR BALLOT?

WE ALWAYS HAVE OPTIONS!