General election

[tanyavee]

I know this is unlikely, what would happen if no one voted at a general election?

[Loosehead]

Parliament is dissolved so there are technically no MP's at the moment. If no one voted then it would be a tie in all constituencies. The rules for a tie are clear, lots are drawn so you are deciding all the seats by chance and with the 640 ish seats you would get a fairly even spread of parties getting the seats. Most likely outcome would be a hung parliament but this could be very good for minor parties contesting a lot of seats and very bad for the largest party. PR by chance effectively!

[Romeo]

MI6 (HM Intelligence Service, the 'secret state') would send the army to keep order, a temporary state of emergency would be declared and there would be martial law until an elected parliament was restored.

[Loosehead]

No No Romeo, the situation is entirely catered for in the current system, read my post above.

[DavidUK]

As I object to all three major parties (I believe it makes no difference which one gets in in the long term) I spoil my ballot paper. This is to make the point that it's not that I can't be bothered to vote, it's that I don't want to vote for any of the present bunch. If everyone did this they might have to change their ways.

 

Sorry that this isn't really an answer to your question but I couldn't resist the opportunity to promote the "spoil your ballot paper campaign"!

[OBonio]

Don't they just bin the spoilt ballots?

[Loosehead]

They do bin them yes but they also count them, there is always a figure given to spoilt papers. I think the point David is making is that if there where a lot of spoilt papers then that could be seen as a "none of the above" box, which in some countries is actually on the paper. The point being that is the "none of the above"'s or spoilt papers if you like outnumber the votes then the mandate for the winner is seriously undermined.

[Zen]

The labour party would win,as they probably will have filled all the postal votes in for everyone.

[JohnPPotts]

Doesn't the Returning Officer have a casting vote? I believe it is traditional for this "vote" to be cast by drawing lots between tied candidates, but this being Britain there's probably nothing that actually binds him or her to do this.