Monday 5th April - Election - The Secret Vote!

Election Time.

May 6th it is. I have already received leaflets telling me who will win where and why other parties have no chance. It is as though the votes have been cast and counted. The main parties keep copious records of past voting performance and write to each category accordingly. Special letters for Hard Tory/Labour/LibDem, Soft T/L/L, Member T/L/L, Did Not Vote etc etc. They know to whom to offer transport, whom to knock up, whom not to encourage. It is all very sophisticated, very anti-democratic and very depressing.

Canvassers work from lists which identify individuals and give most likely voting intentions. These lists are updated with confirmation or otherwise of accuracy of prediction for the forthcoming election. The data will distinguish between your voting record and intentions for local and national elections. This information is then used to update computer records which spew out the appropriate 'personalised' letter to consolidate known support or try to influence soft targets.

The voter, like the MP or Councillor when elected, is treated with utter disdain. Pure lobby-fodder for the election machine.

You don't have to submit to this invasion of your privacy. One wonders what the Human Rights Commission would make of it.

On Election Day there will be party supporters placed at polling Stations to collect the Polling Number of those who attend to vote. This data will again be fed back to HQ where the computer will identify those 'known' supporters who have not yet voted and perhaps need a reminder of the importance of doing so and would they like a lift?

You do NOT have to give your number. It is all so anti-democratic that one wonders how much less secretive the vote can be. My advice is, "Don't co-operate in this invasion of your privacy".

Another of the many processes which offend democracy as you and I understand it occurred at last week's Bristol's Full Council Meeting (30th March). At the conclusion of a debate on Revised Equality Procedures, a Named Vote was called for. This is a device used to embarrass or threaten your councillor to abide by the Party Whip. The way each councillor votes will be recorded in the minutes and published. One needs to be fairly strong to vote according to conscience or as electors have indicated, if the Party deems it unwise to do so.

What a travesty of democracy. Again, I would be interested in the views of others on this denial of Human Rights in our so-called democracy.

Some years ago when I voted contrary to the Party's wishes and was subsequently invited to sign a Behavioural Contract which would gaurantee future compliance, I resigned rather than submit to this bullying. I wrote the following as a spoof election address:

(note - Dennis was the Party Whip)


Please vote for me and I'll intend,
To represent you to the end.

When it comes my vote to count,
Your interests will be paramount.
I'll promote your wishes, and endorse,
Together we'll be quite a force.
My conscience will inform me how
Best to implement my vow.

But Dennis has a duty too,
And he tells others what to do.

You have the power to vote me out;
My duty is to you, no doubt.
But Dennis has more power than you,
And he will tell me what to do.

And when I've found out what you want,
And others, if there's clear intent,
I'll go to Council, speech prepared,
For full debate with others shared.
Views, yours and mine, yet more informed,
By argument and counter-claim;
Trust me to cast my vote, assured,
In your best interests and the ward.

But all this prep's to no avail.
It's Dennis who will set the sail.

But when I used not his suggestion,
I was asked the dreaded question.
"Will you give an explanation,
Of your seeming aberration"?

For Dennis has the power, not you,
And he will tell me what to do.

For, Against or to Abstain,
Is not your choice but Party gain.

Party first and voter second,
Democracy's not as you reckoned.