h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Trying to decide how to vote. Tricky - our constituency used to be a three-way marginal; had the same MP been standing again, I would definitely have voted for him, as he was a good constituency MP and came out of the expenses business squeaky clean. But it's a new candidate, so I'm not sure ...

Annie I think this 'intelligent voting' thing has been creeping up on us for weeks. My mother was complaining months ago that her preferred party had lost her marginal seat at the last election, but that the Other Side was a much better MP.

A couple of weekends ago I found myself having a roundabout conversation with o/h about tactical voting. For the first time in our lives I think both of us had come to the conclusion that we would vote on a negative principle. Our MP does not have a squeaky clean record on his second [constituency] home, but appears to have kept out of the spotlight.

I'm sure that Cambridge will throw itself into the discussion for other voting systems. Offspring's pal has just become Chair of one of the University political clubs. Don't whether he will be voting at home or in Cambridge though.

I'm just pleased to be in a seat in which is quite clear which way I need to vote, and my vote will probably be helpful to keep that party in locally, and will do its bit nationally.

My mother is agonising over her choice - and I'm glad not to have her choice as I don't know what I would do in her place. A far more borderline seat, an OK local MP (who impressed on the doorstep, but she's not so sure about his voting record), a party who she feels have badly let her down, but worries about letting another party win.

I once voted tactically and it didn't work - would have far rather voted with my heart and lost then.

We're in a safe seat so it doesn't really matter what I do. I usually vote for who I think will come second, but due to boundary changes they're predicting a different second so I don't know whether to vote for the one who usually comes second or the ones who they're predicting will...

I often wish that I lived somewhere more exciting politically, but at least I don't end up with conscience problems when the one I voted for lets me down.

I'm in a 2 way marginal and I have been bombarded with enough election literature to paper my living room. Hardly surprising as according to to the UK Voting Power Index I have 25 times more voting power than my Mother who lives in a Constituency where the sitting party could field a monkey on a stick and still win.
Is anyone else as surprised as I am that there has been almost no mention of Afghanistan and Iraq by any of the major parties during the campaign?

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You've met our sitting MP then, Poll?

Phone-in on the way to/from the dentists this morning [11.30-ish?] had that old chestnut Trident replacement again - feel guilty about groaning becuase it's such a huge sum. Cons aren't going to bring up the Middle East voluntarily becuase they know that the Lib Dems are the only ones with a consistent voting record against conflict.

Thanks for the Power Index - apparently I have 0.066 worth of a vote! Couldn't find out whether this is based on previous results or a projection. [Once a Civil Servant...]

petal jam, I am not an expert but as I understand it the index is based on the level of marginality (based on how many times the constituency has changed hands in the past) and the number of registered voters (the more voters the less power each vote has to affect the result).

I have 0.014 worth, it certainly won't be worth getting wet if it's a rainy day. My brother a mile up the road has 0.005 worth and my other brother 4 miles away, who has changed constituency due to boundary change, has 0.273 worth.

According to the Power Index, our constituency is 'fairly safe' and I have 0.226 of a vote - not too bad compared with some of you guys!

The LibDems worked very hard getting the student vote last time and their new candidate (like the last one) is an academic, so they will probably get in again.

I was canvassed (by telephone) yesterday evening by a local Labour councillor who informed me that voting anything but Labour would be a 'big mistake' and result in a Tory majority.

Still not sure ...