I'm finding it very hard to select a candidate to vote for.

The choice of party might be slightly easier (though not as a positive
thing) but the local candidate obviously doesn't have an effective media
adviser and all the publicity photos scream "Don't trust your child (or
pet, or...) to this person!".

We don't have a "None of the Above" option on the ballot paper.

If I had started earlier (with the time, money, inclination) I could have
formed the None of the Above party.

No manifesto.
No promises at all of any kind.
No campaigning.
Just someone local with enough cash to pay the deposit and get the party
name on the ballot paper.

This would provide an avenue for a pure protest vote without having to
tick Monster Raving Loony and the like.

I haven't worked out yet what would happen should a party member be
elected, not how to police the "no manifesto, no campaigning" rule but a
small price to pay for real(ish) democracy.

Cheers

Dave R

PM in waiting.

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Windows 8.1 on PCSpecialist box