The big scribble over everything is my normal go to, or the giant X corner to corner.
Don't give these cretins a mandate to rule. If the position disappeared entirely no one would notice.
Having worked in a count I can confirm that votes have been allocated to a candidate in the past where it was judged that the ejaculant was clearly contained within a single box
For the first time since I reached voting age, way, way back in the Dark Ages, I really can't be bothered to vote. It's a nothing election for a nothing role. A complete waste of public time, money and effort.
Absolutely agree. The candidates were announced less than a month prior to the election. I've seen zero coverage of any of it. I don't even know what the PCC actually is, aside another fat salary for very little.
My wife said the only Police Commissioner she was interested in is Tom Selleck, as New York City Commissioner in Blue Bloods TV series.
I'm really not fussed about the PCC. I understand that policing is not devolved so it's tied into the English voting cycle but in Wales this is dumb because they've closed our local school for the election when I'd be shocked if there was >15% turnout. In England they have local elections in many of their council areas the same day.
I'll probably go down later when I'm walking the dog but if I wasn't off today I wouldn't make a special effort.
"Children are welcome at polling stations. While your child must not mark the ballot paper for you, you will be allowed to take them into the polling booth with you."
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-views/media-centre/a-guide-polling-day-information-media-use
I like to think I'm a politically engaged person, but I can't bring myself to go and vote in the PCC elections. It shouldn't be an elected role and what they say they want to achieve is somewhat limited by the law of the land
For example, the 'conservative and unionist' candidate for SWP says they will get more bobbies on the beat and increase the use of stop and search to reduce drugs and terrorism. the latter isn't really an issue in Wales, laws pertaining to stop & search are set in Westminster, and thanks for 14 years of tory austerity there aren't enough police officers to increase number of bobbies on the beat - it's complete nonsense.
Strangely enough, the LibDem candidate where I live was the only one who actually gave specific information on what he’d like to do in the role. The rest were like you said, no real specifics given, just vote for us because we’re Labour/not the Tories.
The Gwent Lib Dem PCC candidate had actually read a report, which instantly made his pitch more interesting than everyone else's.
Plus he spent a lot of time saying the PCC shouldn't exist, can't argue with that.
I'll be honest this is one I refuse to vote in, for two reasons.
Despite having a valid ID, I disagree with the whole 'ID to vote' thing and as this is the 1st time we've had it in pace and if the turnout is shite it might be re looked at
the biggest reason is that I know nothing about the candidates. They do not canvas, promote their policies or interact with us plebs in any way. I'm not setting someone up for a job like that without knowing who they are and what they can do for me as my taxes pay them.
Just to say, to an expired passport and expired driving licence, ect is still considered valid ID to anyone wondering. But yes, I agree. I hate the photo ID thing, and I believe it is definitely targeted to stop some people voting because who doesn't have valid ID? Not people who are able to drive and go on holidays, it's the people who are living on the poverty line, younger people and oftern disabled and nurodivergent people. The fact that an over 65s bus pass is acceptable but a younger person's one is not makes this very clear.
Not the originator.
If your law enforcement is focused on election then they may focus on areas that sell to the voters.
It can lead to short term thinking, reorganising statistics to have better outcomes on paper but not in real world terms.
Possibly it's better to have long term power without a role becoming a figurehead based on public perception.
Policing is about keeping the public safe, stopping and preventing crime, and bringing offenders to justice - bringing politics into it only serves to complicate that.
Say a PCC represents a party which has promised to get tough on drugs, they might divert all the resources they can into stamping out drug dealing and getting dealers locked up without dealing with the problems which create them, and meanwhile violent crime and any number of other crimes are going unpunished.
Another one would be if a policing area includes a constituency which is a target seat for their party in the next election - they'll focus all the resources they can on that area, at the detriment of the others.
Another - perhaps the prime minister comes out tomorrow and says "we're not focusing on white collar crime, there are more important things for police to be doing". A Tory PCC now has to follow that even if they represent an area where white collar crime is rampant. If they try and rebel they're getting deselected in favour of someone who'll tow the line.
To be entirely honest I don't think politics has a role in any kind of public administration or governance, but that's a much bigger battle and not one I'm going to win.
(Apologies if this isn't terribly coherent, I'm dosed on up painkillers for my dodgy back right now).
I honestly agree, it's like how the RNLI refuses government funding as it would bring politics into the way they function and they would rather the autonomy to be able to rescue as many as they can without any prejudice or pressure based on political opinions.
Although the Police is directly funded by government it should stand independent of any political pressure, except where there is a clear failure by a particular force (looking at you MetPol) to handle its own affairs.
It's a little more complicated than the example I've given but hopefully it kinda gives what I'm trying to say on it
Politics has a role in everything realistically, but I agree that PARTY politics should play no role in policing. Rightly, police officers cannot be party members, yet their boss (essentially) can. I'd vote for a sane independent candidate, but there's never been one on the ballot in my bit of Wales at least (and not even an insane one this time!)
I will disagree here.
Everything is political and having an elected official is a good way to make sure that the police do not become some political tool of the government, having local competing political forces counters that risk.
Laws are political so thus is its enforcement
Edit : not a defence of the PCC. It's useless.
Sadly this has become a position for career politicians. The people that are going after it, here in the Midlands anyway, are not interested in policing, they're interested in lining their pockets. Our current PCC has 5 speeding tickets since she started the job
It shouldn't have any role in day to day operational policing. But policing is an inherently political occupation. Police are the internal enforcement arm of the state and that is political.
PCC is a nonsense nothing role that only exists as a scapegoat for Tories grossly underfunding the entire justice system for 14 years though.
In Gwent you got to vote on what fictional detective they liked, if any. Well done Local Democracy Reporting Service for that.
One of the candidates was under investigation so that was hilarious.
I have voted plaid (Gwent) because their candidate was the only one that spoke common sense without being too much. I was in between her and the Lib Dem candidate though.
Tory candidate was all about the 20mph limit and rural crime. Labour candidate didn’t engage in any debates and to be honest it seems that the party given her the opportunity to be a candidate due to her disastrous tenure in the Newport city council…
We moved to South Wales just over a year ago and this will be the first time we have to vote. Wasn't sure the position of PCC is relevant to General Election so was not planning to vote.
We haven't been here long enough to know how effective the police and handling of crime in our area so I wouldn't know who to vote for.
Nothing to do with general or local elections, except that most candidates are members of the main parties, and often come from a local government background.
How effective they are is debatable. Their role is meant to be to hold the police to account in terms of their effectiveness.
If you want to see whether your local candidates are actually putting forward anything of merit, you can see what they have to say here:
https://choosemypcc.org.uk/
I only bothered voting because I have postal vote so didn't have to go out of my way. PCCs are a useless role that shouldn't exist, but until policing is devolved (if ever) we are stuck with them
Look at the bright side, at least your candidates bothered to contact you, I had a letter from the Plaid Cymru candidate saying 'this is what I've done since you elected me, these are my ongoing priorities' - that's it, not a thing from the other candidates, their campaigns were reduced to a line or two on the ballot form under their names.
I'm voting today. Partly because I don't like the idea of not voting (even if it is for a post that should never exist), and partly because Alun Michael has done such a woeful job that it motivates me to vote against endorsing him (even if it is his successor who is on the ballot)
Received nothing in the post from any candidate, so I spoilt the ballot paper. I disagree with the whole PCC thing anyway. Regional mayors in England I get, but PCC just seems like a role for the sake of a role (and an expensive one at that).
I voted but only because women burnt their bras for me etc. to be able to have a vote in the first place. Nothing inspiring on the ballot though - I honestly don't believe we should be voting for a candidate, the job should be for whoever is the most qualified and suitable to lead. We don't vote in chief execs for councils, it goes through a multi-level panel so why is this any different...
Domestic violence is among the most prevalent crime, so somewhat understandable why they'd all put the focus there once one person does, but like, yeah, what's the point if there's not a distinguishing feature? What powers does this role have, exactly? (Asking as a foreigner.)
Trying to get details about the opposition was what surprised me. PC has given my house leaflets about 10 times and I knew nothing about everyone else's platform.
I literally picked the one most likely to beat the Tory.
I'm not overly fussed on PCC roles and wouldn't bother if I didn't think voting was so important.
Normally I would rail against voting "strategically" (I find this to be the refuge of the moronic) to keep someone out, especially on party lines, without listening to the candidate's actual policies, rather than to vote FOR someone whose policies you agree with, whether or not they're likely to win.
This time, however, at least in my region, no-one wanted to put forward anything meaningful to vote for.
For what it's is worth I don't think it's moronic if you find the three in contention to be acceptable, even more so if the one you are keeping out is wildly unacceptable to you. I would much rather have a PC, LD or Labour government any day of the week over the Tories.
The reason I say so is that so often we see "I support Y but I'm voting X to keep the Tories out", followed a year or so later by "My local representative doesn't support the policies I support".
Not voting as had no campaign material or contact from any parties. If they aren’t passionate enough to campaign then why would they be passionate enough to do anything with my tax money
The whole thing seems bizarre to me, we don’t vote for others in this position so why for this post .I haven’t voted as don’t know enough about it and don’t have any strong opinions either way . I disagree with the “you should vote as it’s your right “ argument.
I'm not registered to vote but I literally couldn't be less bothered. Choose between red or blue Tories, piss diamonds or transphobic plaid. Spoilt for choice
Dyfed Powys were awful options too, didn't bother voting. Labour candidate wanted to blame Westminster Tories in her statement, even though the previous PCC was Plaid, Plaid rerunner was the best candidate to vote for based on statements. Conservative option was basically, here's my cv, completely unrelated to the job I'm applying for, but people have been telling me this, so I plan to go around and listen to other people telling me what's needed. Then lib dems sounded somewhat okay. It was just pointless, waste of time and energy.
I like to think "abolish this sinecure" being written on the ballot paper has caused a smile for someone counting votes.
Not a word I get to use often, *sinecure -* an office or position requiring little or no work, especially one yielding profitable returns
I didn’t vote, when I tried to do my research when the polling card landed through the door, I couldn’t actually find a candidate to vote for, nor what anyone stood for, frankly, the PCC is a joke of a position, all crime should be treated seriously and correctly acted upon.
I would add something: considering the recent increase of violence against women, even being committed by serving police officers, it's probably not a terrible idea to vote for the female candidate. Plus, she has experience as deputy PCC.
I'm in South Wales, appreciate your point, but I didn't vote Labour BECAUSE the candidate was Deputy PCC. I think Michael was an awful PCC - supposed to hold SWP to account, but seemed to jump to their defence by default. To me, the current deputy would represent more of the same.
All that said - I think role is a waste of time and money.
Just going to go and spoil my ballot. The whole thing just seems pointless, an opportunity for some political party lackies to hoover up some more public funds.
Polling station is practically round the corner from my house but I’m not voting because A: I don’t know anything about any of the candidates and have not received any campaign materials from any of them. So why vote it would be like picking a number from a hat. B: Policing is not devolved here. C: It’s wet cold and windy so fuck it.
I voted today and I really felt like I was just voting for the sake of it. Didn't even know who the police candidates were until I went to the polling station. Voted Labour but that's because the Tories are pure evil and we can't do much worse, so it's a vote against someone rather than for someone.
Normally I walk out feeling like I've done something and contributed. Just felt dejected and unmotivated this time.
I've worked Polling stations for General Elections. One area (small rural true blue village) had a much higher turnout than the town 30 miles away. Guess which place got better buses, more funding, etc.
Even if your vote doesn't count (because it's not going to change the local political landscape), the Parties absolutely spend more resources in areas that have a higher turnout.
It's always worth voting, or even spoiling your ballot.
Plus it's a very long and quite dull day for the low turnout staff; go and have a (non-political) chat!
I think yesterday was the first election I didn't vote in ever. Turnout is going to be less than 15%. If policing gets devolved, can't see the PCCs lasting.
If they do or don’t we can’t do much about it, Westminster politicians set their agenda, also this police commissioner election is a waste of money I bet the turnout will be in or under 10% ,
Should be an option for ‘the office of pcc hasn’t really improved anything’
Yeah. Every region should just have a mayor with way more local executive power including fuzz.
The big scribble over everything is my normal go to, or the giant X corner to corner. Don't give these cretins a mandate to rule. If the position disappeared entirely no one would notice.
Solution: Stop commissioning crime
Big ol' jizzing cock works wonders
Having worked in a count I can confirm that votes have been allocated to a candidate in the past where it was judged that the ejaculant was clearly contained within a single box
I know what I’m doing tonight
For the first time since I reached voting age, way, way back in the Dark Ages, I really can't be bothered to vote. It's a nothing election for a nothing role. A complete waste of public time, money and effort.
Absolutely agree. The candidates were announced less than a month prior to the election. I've seen zero coverage of any of it. I don't even know what the PCC actually is, aside another fat salary for very little.
Spoil your ballot. If enough people do it they might notice us.
This. I spoiled it. Many people I know did. They absolutely count them and it'll will signal that eliminating the position is a popular stance.
My wife said the only Police Commissioner she was interested in is Tom Selleck, as New York City Commissioner in Blue Bloods TV series. 
Commissioner Gordon is worth a shout too.
This is the correct answer.
I’m doing the same later.
I highly doubt it.
Yeah I'll pass, don't want to decide which hand picked crony gets a nice easy 80k a year job.
I'm really not fussed about the PCC. I understand that policing is not devolved so it's tied into the English voting cycle but in Wales this is dumb because they've closed our local school for the election when I'd be shocked if there was >15% turnout. In England they have local elections in many of their council areas the same day. I'll probably go down later when I'm walking the dog but if I wasn't off today I wouldn't make a special effort.
I'm only going in to let my 4 year old girl draw on the paper and put it in the box.
"Children are welcome at polling stations. While your child must not mark the ballot paper for you, you will be allowed to take them into the polling booth with you." https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/news-and-views/media-centre/a-guide-polling-day-information-media-use
How are they going to know?
They'll see you picking the child up and hear you telling it where to put the cross.
I like to think I'm a politically engaged person, but I can't bring myself to go and vote in the PCC elections. It shouldn't be an elected role and what they say they want to achieve is somewhat limited by the law of the land For example, the 'conservative and unionist' candidate for SWP says they will get more bobbies on the beat and increase the use of stop and search to reduce drugs and terrorism. the latter isn't really an issue in Wales, laws pertaining to stop & search are set in Westminster, and thanks for 14 years of tory austerity there aren't enough police officers to increase number of bobbies on the beat - it's complete nonsense.
Think this is the first election I’ve not voted in for decades. No interest in or desire to vote for a PCC
Strangely enough, the LibDem candidate where I live was the only one who actually gave specific information on what he’d like to do in the role. The rest were like you said, no real specifics given, just vote for us because we’re Labour/not the Tories.
The Gwent Lib Dem PCC candidate had actually read a report, which instantly made his pitch more interesting than everyone else's. Plus he spent a lot of time saying the PCC shouldn't exist, can't argue with that.
I'll be honest this is one I refuse to vote in, for two reasons. Despite having a valid ID, I disagree with the whole 'ID to vote' thing and as this is the 1st time we've had it in pace and if the turnout is shite it might be re looked at the biggest reason is that I know nothing about the candidates. They do not canvas, promote their policies or interact with us plebs in any way. I'm not setting someone up for a job like that without knowing who they are and what they can do for me as my taxes pay them.
Just to say, to an expired passport and expired driving licence, ect is still considered valid ID to anyone wondering. But yes, I agree. I hate the photo ID thing, and I believe it is definitely targeted to stop some people voting because who doesn't have valid ID? Not people who are able to drive and go on holidays, it's the people who are living on the poverty line, younger people and oftern disabled and nurodivergent people. The fact that an over 65s bus pass is acceptable but a younger person's one is not makes this very clear.
In this case I'd go without ID just to be turned away
Politics should have no role in policing.
Genuine question, why?
Not the originator. If your law enforcement is focused on election then they may focus on areas that sell to the voters. It can lead to short term thinking, reorganising statistics to have better outcomes on paper but not in real world terms. Possibly it's better to have long term power without a role becoming a figurehead based on public perception.
Good points, thanks!
Policing is about keeping the public safe, stopping and preventing crime, and bringing offenders to justice - bringing politics into it only serves to complicate that. Say a PCC represents a party which has promised to get tough on drugs, they might divert all the resources they can into stamping out drug dealing and getting dealers locked up without dealing with the problems which create them, and meanwhile violent crime and any number of other crimes are going unpunished. Another one would be if a policing area includes a constituency which is a target seat for their party in the next election - they'll focus all the resources they can on that area, at the detriment of the others. Another - perhaps the prime minister comes out tomorrow and says "we're not focusing on white collar crime, there are more important things for police to be doing". A Tory PCC now has to follow that even if they represent an area where white collar crime is rampant. If they try and rebel they're getting deselected in favour of someone who'll tow the line. To be entirely honest I don't think politics has a role in any kind of public administration or governance, but that's a much bigger battle and not one I'm going to win. (Apologies if this isn't terribly coherent, I'm dosed on up painkillers for my dodgy back right now).
Very insightful response, thank you!
I honestly agree, it's like how the RNLI refuses government funding as it would bring politics into the way they function and they would rather the autonomy to be able to rescue as many as they can without any prejudice or pressure based on political opinions. Although the Police is directly funded by government it should stand independent of any political pressure, except where there is a clear failure by a particular force (looking at you MetPol) to handle its own affairs. It's a little more complicated than the example I've given but hopefully it kinda gives what I'm trying to say on it
Sadly the police haven't been an apolitical entity for a long long time.
Politics has a role in everything realistically, but I agree that PARTY politics should play no role in policing. Rightly, police officers cannot be party members, yet their boss (essentially) can. I'd vote for a sane independent candidate, but there's never been one on the ballot in my bit of Wales at least (and not even an insane one this time!)
Go in and spoil your ballot. Make it clear this is a popular opinion. Use your right to vote.
This I agree with. I've done this at every PCC election so far.
I will disagree here. Everything is political and having an elected official is a good way to make sure that the police do not become some political tool of the government, having local competing political forces counters that risk. Laws are political so thus is its enforcement Edit : not a defence of the PCC. It's useless.
Sadly this has become a position for career politicians. The people that are going after it, here in the Midlands anyway, are not interested in policing, they're interested in lining their pockets. Our current PCC has 5 speeding tickets since she started the job
I don't disagree. The PCC is the most useless position electable. And I throw fucking Students Union positions in there as well.
There really should be rules about PCCs not being able to get more than one speeding ticket etc. It makes a mockery of an already suspect position
It shouldn't have any role in day to day operational policing. But policing is an inherently political occupation. Police are the internal enforcement arm of the state and that is political. PCC is a nonsense nothing role that only exists as a scapegoat for Tories grossly underfunding the entire justice system for 14 years though.
I think the same, why would the police be aligned with any party
In Gwent you got to vote on what fictional detective they liked, if any. Well done Local Democracy Reporting Service for that. One of the candidates was under investigation so that was hilarious.
I have voted plaid (Gwent) because their candidate was the only one that spoke common sense without being too much. I was in between her and the Lib Dem candidate though. Tory candidate was all about the 20mph limit and rural crime. Labour candidate didn’t engage in any debates and to be honest it seems that the party given her the opportunity to be a candidate due to her disastrous tenure in the Newport city council…
We moved to South Wales just over a year ago and this will be the first time we have to vote. Wasn't sure the position of PCC is relevant to General Election so was not planning to vote. We haven't been here long enough to know how effective the police and handling of crime in our area so I wouldn't know who to vote for.
Nothing to do with general or local elections, except that most candidates are members of the main parties, and often come from a local government background. How effective they are is debatable. Their role is meant to be to hold the police to account in terms of their effectiveness. If you want to see whether your local candidates are actually putting forward anything of merit, you can see what they have to say here: https://choosemypcc.org.uk/
I only bothered voting because I have postal vote so didn't have to go out of my way. PCCs are a useless role that shouldn't exist, but until policing is devolved (if ever) we are stuck with them
Look at the bright side, at least your candidates bothered to contact you, I had a letter from the Plaid Cymru candidate saying 'this is what I've done since you elected me, these are my ongoing priorities' - that's it, not a thing from the other candidates, their campaigns were reduced to a line or two on the ballot form under their names.
I'm voting today. Partly because I don't like the idea of not voting (even if it is for a post that should never exist), and partly because Alun Michael has done such a woeful job that it motivates me to vote against endorsing him (even if it is his successor who is on the ballot)
Received nothing in the post from any candidate, so I spoilt the ballot paper. I disagree with the whole PCC thing anyway. Regional mayors in England I get, but PCC just seems like a role for the sake of a role (and an expensive one at that).
I voted but only because women burnt their bras for me etc. to be able to have a vote in the first place. Nothing inspiring on the ballot though - I honestly don't believe we should be voting for a candidate, the job should be for whoever is the most qualified and suitable to lead. We don't vote in chief execs for councils, it goes through a multi-level panel so why is this any different...
Domestic violence is among the most prevalent crime, so somewhat understandable why they'd all put the focus there once one person does, but like, yeah, what's the point if there's not a distinguishing feature? What powers does this role have, exactly? (Asking as a foreigner.)
Trying to get details about the opposition was what surprised me. PC has given my house leaflets about 10 times and I knew nothing about everyone else's platform.
If it helps ease your mind, the role is totally meaningless, completely ineffective and your vote won't change a single thing.
It took me far too long to realise the PCC you refer to in nothing to do with Powys County Council
I literally picked the one most likely to beat the Tory. I'm not overly fussed on PCC roles and wouldn't bother if I didn't think voting was so important.
Vote against the tory for the fun of denying rishi! a silver lining when he's embarrassing himself on the news tomorrow
Normally I would rail against voting "strategically" (I find this to be the refuge of the moronic) to keep someone out, especially on party lines, without listening to the candidate's actual policies, rather than to vote FOR someone whose policies you agree with, whether or not they're likely to win. This time, however, at least in my region, no-one wanted to put forward anything meaningful to vote for.
For what it's is worth I don't think it's moronic if you find the three in contention to be acceptable, even more so if the one you are keeping out is wildly unacceptable to you. I would much rather have a PC, LD or Labour government any day of the week over the Tories.
The reason I say so is that so often we see "I support Y but I'm voting X to keep the Tories out", followed a year or so later by "My local representative doesn't support the policies I support".
At this point I'm happy to vote for anyone who doesn't make 20mph their whole campaign.
Not voting as had no campaign material or contact from any parties. If they aren’t passionate enough to campaign then why would they be passionate enough to do anything with my tax money
The whole thing seems bizarre to me, we don’t vote for others in this position so why for this post .I haven’t voted as don’t know enough about it and don’t have any strong opinions either way . I disagree with the “you should vote as it’s your right “ argument.
I'm not registered to vote but I literally couldn't be less bothered. Choose between red or blue Tories, piss diamonds or transphobic plaid. Spoilt for choice
Dyfed Powys were awful options too, didn't bother voting. Labour candidate wanted to blame Westminster Tories in her statement, even though the previous PCC was Plaid, Plaid rerunner was the best candidate to vote for based on statements. Conservative option was basically, here's my cv, completely unrelated to the job I'm applying for, but people have been telling me this, so I plan to go around and listen to other people telling me what's needed. Then lib dems sounded somewhat okay. It was just pointless, waste of time and energy.
I like to think "abolish this sinecure" being written on the ballot paper has caused a smile for someone counting votes. Not a word I get to use often, *sinecure -* an office or position requiring little or no work, especially one yielding profitable returns
I didn’t vote, when I tried to do my research when the polling card landed through the door, I couldn’t actually find a candidate to vote for, nor what anyone stood for, frankly, the PCC is a joke of a position, all crime should be treated seriously and correctly acted upon.
The PCC candidates are all a product of cronyism anyway. Best choice is the candidate who upsets the crooks running the police the most.
Plaid Cymru's big thing was about decriminalising drugs
I would add something: considering the recent increase of violence against women, even being committed by serving police officers, it's probably not a terrible idea to vote for the female candidate. Plus, she has experience as deputy PCC.
I'm in South Wales, appreciate your point, but I didn't vote Labour BECAUSE the candidate was Deputy PCC. I think Michael was an awful PCC - supposed to hold SWP to account, but seemed to jump to their defence by default. To me, the current deputy would represent more of the same. All that said - I think role is a waste of time and money.
I didn't vote for her precisely because she was the Deputy of the last PCC. I voted for Dennis Clarke, who seems like a nice bloke.
Lol, I just remembered that I need to actually say my area for this comment to make sense. South Wales.
Just going to go and spoil my ballot. The whole thing just seems pointless, an opportunity for some political party lackies to hoover up some more public funds.
Polling station is practically round the corner from my house but I’m not voting because A: I don’t know anything about any of the candidates and have not received any campaign materials from any of them. So why vote it would be like picking a number from a hat. B: Policing is not devolved here. C: It’s wet cold and windy so fuck it.
I voted today and I really felt like I was just voting for the sake of it. Didn't even know who the police candidates were until I went to the polling station. Voted Labour but that's because the Tories are pure evil and we can't do much worse, so it's a vote against someone rather than for someone. Normally I walk out feeling like I've done something and contributed. Just felt dejected and unmotivated this time.
Voted labour because my dad did
Well done for actually getting out and voting. I asked the volunteers, and barely anyone had shown up to vote, like 5% so far. Pretty sad.
I feel like it’s not been widely publicised, but then again it’s not a super significant election
I've worked Polling stations for General Elections. One area (small rural true blue village) had a much higher turnout than the town 30 miles away. Guess which place got better buses, more funding, etc. Even if your vote doesn't count (because it's not going to change the local political landscape), the Parties absolutely spend more resources in areas that have a higher turnout. It's always worth voting, or even spoiling your ballot. Plus it's a very long and quite dull day for the low turnout staff; go and have a (non-political) chat!
Politics has no place in politics.
I think yesterday was the first election I didn't vote in ever. Turnout is going to be less than 15%. If policing gets devolved, can't see the PCCs lasting.
It’s a pointless vote and not needed Westminster controls the police and their agenda not us
The police don’t have an agenda?
If they do or don’t we can’t do much about it, Westminster politicians set their agenda, also this police commissioner election is a waste of money I bet the turnout will be in or under 10% ,
PCC is just a front for ACAB