today i voted for... no one. i placed an official vote of protest because i could not, in good concience, vote for any of our candidates. so i then have a question; is a vote of protest (no candidate selected) the same as not voting? they still check your name of the list and your ballot is still in the box, it simply doesn't support anyone.
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you know, I read in the SP this morning that it is illegal to deface a ballot or in any way "mess" with it under the criminal code (s.164 I think it said? I'd have to check my code and I think I sold it and I don't feel like going the dept of justice website to search for the section).
I wonder what they do with a ballot without a selection. They were saying in the article that there is no way to make a protest vote the way things are set up right now so perhaps, although your ballot is there, they just disregard it altogether and it doesn't make any difference whatsoever. I don't know.
Posted by: caro![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mennoboy.com/bigboots/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 23, 2006 6:17 PM
i actually asked the lady at the desk if i had a way to do it. she said "i'll hand it to you, you hand it back, i tear off the thing and stick it in the box.. done." so that's what i did. i know it doesn't get counted, but i'm still on the list of people who voted (i saw my name get checked off.) in the end i'll feel better this way. while i didn't actually push the vote one way or the other, i also didn't support anyone i'll wish i hadn't.
i think they should count protest votes because it would be good to see how many people felt they had didn't have a representative option.
Posted by: eustace (matt w)![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mennoboy.com/bigboots/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 23, 2006 6:26 PM
Awww... I was really hoping you'd burn it with a lit $20 bill.
Posted by: Jer![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.mennoboy.com/bigboots/nav-commenters.gif)
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January 23, 2006 11:09 PM