<div dir="ltr">In my country's electoral system, submitting what is referred to as a "spoilt ballot" (e.g. not ticking any of the candidates. writing in None of the Above, writing in your own candidate, scratching off any or all of the names) counts as you participating in the democratic process, even if it doesn't count as a "vote", per se. In other words, because it is a secret ballot, you have been counted as "voting", even if your vote does not eventually count.<div>
<br></div><div>Some people use it as a "protest vote"<br><div><br></div><div style>I must say that I treasure that flexibility as part of the democratic process.</div><div style><br></div><div style>From: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoilt_vote#Intentional_spoiling">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoilt_vote#Intentional_spoiling</a>:</div>
<div style><br></div><div style>"<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.200000762939453px">Spoiled votes may be the result of a deliberate act by the voter; some proportion are likely to be </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protest_vote" title="Protest vote" style="text-decoration:initial;color:rgb(11,0,128);background-image:none;font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.200000762939453px">protest votes</a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.200000762939453px">, especially in systems where </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting" title="Compulsory voting" style="text-decoration:initial;color:rgb(11,0,128);background-image:none;font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.200000762939453px">voting is compulsory</a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.200000762939453px">." </span></div>
<div style><br></div><div style>"<span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.200000762939453px">However, in countries </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_the_United_Kingdom" title="Elections in the United Kingdom" style="text-decoration:initial;color:rgb(11,0,128);background-image:none;font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.200000762939453px">such as the UK</a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:13px;line-height:19.200000762939453px"> where spoilt ballots are counted, some voters will deliberately spoil their ballot paper to show disapproval of the candidates available whilst still taking part in the electoral process. This may include signing or printing the voter's name on the ballot slip." </span></div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><br><div><p><br></p></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 9:03 AM, Avri Doria <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:avri@acm.org" target="_blank">avri@acm.org</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex">Hi,<br>
<br>
This is why I have been requesting a NOTA, None of the Above, option.<br>
<br>
That is a vote.<br>
<br>
As I read the charter one has to participate in the voting event. One should not be forced to pick a candidate they may not support. We should probably even have the option of writing someone in.<br>
<br>
Abstain, to my mind is also a vote.<br>
<br>
It is not really appropriate that you have substituted your opinion, or that of Australia, for a discussion and agreement among the members.<br>
<span class=""><font color="#888888"><br>
avri<br>
</font></span><div class=""><div class="h5"><br>
<br>
<br>
On 8 Jan 2013, at 23:45, Jeremy Malcolm wrote:<br>
<br>
> On 09/01/13 12:37, parminder wrote:<br>
>><br>
>> i think it needs to be explicitly mentioned on the ballot and otherwise on the list just before the elections that participation in voting is required (even if excercising a no preference option) to be eligible to vote for charter amendments (but not for other purposes) - and thus for what can in a way be called as the full membership of IGC....<br>
><br>
> The charter doesn't say that exercising a no preference option is sufficient. This is where Avri and I have a disagreement. I come from a country with a compulsory preferential voting system, so being forced to vote doesn't seem so obnoxious to me. According to the former Chief Justice of the High Court, even handing in a blank ballot paper is not allowed in Australia (though this is debatable). In the context of the IGC, I feel it is better if everyone who wants to count themselves as a "full" member of the IGC expresses a preference. This is one reason for amending the charter, to make the requirements clearer.<br>
><br>
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