Police commissioners - did you vote?

[scottycelt]

I usually vote on issues, and even looked up the details of our candidates. I had fairly much decided who to vote for.

On the day I was busy and then I forgot! Ouch.

Maybe it won't make much difference anyway. I suspect I was by no means the only one.

I'll be interested to see if a lot of party candidates were elected, or if many of the winners are independent.

PS: Blast - can't spell "commissioners" - maybe the heading can be fixed. Sorry!
PPS: Odd - doesn't seem possible to delete this first posting - with the option of creating a new version with an amended heading. Is this a feature of this MB? I have deleted some messages in other threads, so why can't I now?

Could this be the first-ever unanimous forum thread (well almost) ... ?

After posting/boasting on another thread that because Ian Blair said we shouldn't vote that was a good enough reason for us all to do so, I also shamefully failed to turn up at the polling booth.

Like others I only remembered half way through the day and when I realised I hadn't a clue who or what I was voting for I decided on the lazy 'not bothered' option. I cannot remember when I last failed to vote, if ever.

I received only one leaflet from the Tory candidate in a rock-solid Tory seat ... at least it was before Neil Hamilton was thrust upon us.

The polls appear to have been pretty accurate in predicting around 16% turnout which really speaks for itself.

[french frank]

But why add credibility to a load of nonsense ?

Because since someone will be elected, no matter how low the poll, I'd prefer it to be someone I think won't make a mess of it.

[amateur51]

There should perhaps be a fixed percentage of turnout (say 25%?) below which a democratic election result is invalid. I wonder how long the government/future governments will stick with this American-style 'police commissioner' idea before they admit it is a huge mistake/cock-up/folly/irrelevance?

I agree ardcarp

[amateur51]

I didn't vote, for much the same reasons as the rest of you. I thought about it quite a lot, and came to the conclusion that it was all rather silly. I looked up the candidates online, but am very aware that most people wouldn't bother, and in any case many people, particularly the more vulnerable, are not able to do this. If I had voted, it would have been for an independent candidate.

I feel a bit guilty, I confess. I wouldn't dream of not voting in a parliamentary election. It was a sort of protest. Perhaps it would have been better to scrawl my objections on the voting paper.

Why did we have to vote on the decision to have Mayors but not on the decision to have police commissioners? So much time/money might have been saved in this way

[Anna]

Because since someone will be elected, no matter how low the poll, I'd prefer it to be someone I think won't make a mess of it.

Ditto. Hence I voted purely in order to (hopefully) keep a certain someone out.
We got leaflets from all 4 candidates, plus canvassing from one Independent.

[teamsaint]

I might have voted if the candidates could have pledges about services given some copper bottomed guarantees..........

[Stunsworth]

I didn't vote as I've had absolutely no information about the candidates, and I diagree with the concept anyway. If I had voted I'd have spoiled my ballot paper.

I've not met anyone who thinks this election was a good idea.

[Stunsworth]

I might have voted if the candidates could have pledges about services given some copper bottomed guarantees..........

In other words you'll vote when pigs can fly.

[Richard Tarleton]

Yes, by post. One candidate was good enough to get back to my email sharing my concerns about the process, the other didn't bother, so he had his chance and blew it. I expect the turnout will have been in the low teens, as elsewhere.

The worst part of it was, our classical guitar club was unable to meet as the hall was being used as a polling station.

[teamsaint]

In other words you'll vote when pigs can fly.

I thought a little gag on a joke subject was in order !!

Pigs will fly before we have real choice, I suspect. Tories, tories with orange rosettes, or tories pretending to be lefties.
And thats just the parish council elections !

[Flosshilde]

I do hope that you are not suggesting that Tory party funds were used to pay Mr Cameron to distribute those leaflets in Bristol!

He did look a bit shifty, as if he'd been caught smoking a fag behind the Eton bike shed.

[kernelbogey]

I voted at 0815 yesterday!

I had seriously considered spoiling my ballot paper with a thoughtful diatribe about the shambles this election - and the whole notion of Police Commissioners is. However that would simply be recorded as a spoiled ballot paper which would achieve little. I would also support the introduction of compulsory voting, as in Oz.

I had one communication through the door - from the local LibDems, who fielded a candidate - and as I'm a former supporter they had my phone and email address, so I received an email and a garbled text message sent to my landline voicemail (there's the coalition partner for you).

I voted for a candidate who has chaired the (now defunct?) Police Authority for 15 years who seemed to me to have the most relevant experience. I gave the LibDem fellah my second vote for old times' sake.

No time to read this thread in full, must go to work....

[Lateralthinking1]

I didn't vote - not least because Londoners didn't have a vote!!!

I was truly amazed when I heard that political parties were fielding candidates elsewhere and immediately thought "no - it's the wrong way of doing things".

[MrGongGong]

I might have voted if the candidates could have pledges

this is the only "pledge" i have any trust in

[teamsaint]

this is the only "pledge" i have any trust in

you have quoted me out of context, and missed out my hilarious side splitter, Mr GG.