Some of us may turn up at the polling station today and decide that actually, we don’t want to choose a political party.

However, you still want your vote to count, so what can you do?

Well, you could draw a massive penis on the paper instead – as some people will undoubtedly do this polling day.

That’s because spoiling the ballot is a tradition that has been around for years.


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Deliberately filling in the ballot incorrectly will render it invalid, but the paper will still be counted along with the other votes.

The number of spoiled ballots is announced in the election results, and are a way of showing up to vote – but making your feelings known in a different way.



Here are some of the inventive ways people have spoiled their ballots in the past.

Get artistic.

remember the only true anti establishment vote is a spoilt ballot pic.twitter.com/xFCyihf8p5 — COMMIE hanra (@hahahanra) June 7, 2017

Make your feelings clear.

Use colourful language to get your point across.

Did my postal vote ages ago pic.twitter.com/xeJJp835wO — ? (@VOTEfascistCOW) June 8, 2017

Make up your own ballot paper (a vote for ‘Duck’ probably won’t be counted, unfortunately)

#GE2015 Spoilt ballot paper at the Merton count, who would you vote for? #SWLGE2015 pic.twitter.com/S4flORz6Eb — Zainab Al-Deen (@zainab_aldeen) May 7, 2015

Set the dog on it.

Does this constitute a spoilt ballot paper? Our dog must be an anarchist #election 2015 pic.twitter.com/CzikhQXDKj — John McGoldrick (@johntmcgoldrick) April 8, 2015

Let people know you’re on the fence.

Use the opportunity to have your voice heard on a different topic.

A spoilt ballot with a stark message in Tilgate & Furnace Green #wsccelections pic.twitter.com/ormwwDVVHw — Crawley Observer (@Crawley_Obby) May 3, 2013

Write an essay explaining your decision.

Let them know you’re over this voting sh*t.

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