[governance] Coordinator election in progress

[Tracy F. Hackshaw @ Google]

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.

Some people use it as a "protest vote"

I must say that I treasure that flexibility as part of the democratic
process.

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoilt_vote#Intentional_spoiling:

"Spoiled votes may be the result of a deliberate act by the voter; some
proportion are likely to be protest
votes<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protest_vote>,
especially in systems where voting is
compulsory<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting>
."

"However, in countries such as the
UK<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_the_United_Kingdom> 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."




On Wed, Jan 9, 2013 at 9:03 AM, Avri Doria <avri at acm.org> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> This is why I have been requesting a NOTA, None of the Above, option.
>
> That is a vote.
>
> 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.
>
> Abstain, to my mind is also a vote.
>
> It is not really appropriate that you have substituted your opinion, or
> that of Australia,  for a discussion and agreement among the members.
>
> avri
>
>
>
> On 8 Jan 2013, at 23:45, Jeremy Malcolm wrote:
>
> > On 09/01/13 12:37, parminder wrote:
> >>
> >>  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....
> >
> > 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.
> >
> > --
> > Dr Jeremy Malcolm
> > Senior Policy Officer
> > Consumers International | the global campaigning voice for consumers
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> Malaysia
> > Tel: +60 3 7726 1599
> >
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> >
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