Protest vote

<p>A protest vote (also called a blank, null, <a href="/facts/Spoilt_vote/eKTpS1jU">spoiled</a>, or "<a href="/facts/None_of_the_above/uM4rYeKA">none of the above</a>" vote) is a <a href="/facts/Vote/jPVTljTJ">vote</a> cast in an <a href="/facts/Election/oS1sLBlf">election</a> to demonstrate dissatisfaction with the choice of candidates or the current <a href="/facts/Politics/1gDNy3RP">political</a> system. Protest voting takes a variety of forms and reflects numerous voter motivations, including <a href="/facts/Political_apathy/ff6uGsWB">political apathy</a>. Where <a href="/facts/Compulsory_voting/J6lhdBI9">voting is compulsory</a>, casting a blank vote is available for those who do not wish to choose a candidate, or to protest. Unlike abstention elsewhere, blank votes are counted.
</p><p>Along with <a href="/facts/Abstention/xSIw3Rxu">abstention</a>, or not voting, protest voting is a sign of unhappiness with available options. If protest vote takes the form of a blank vote, it may or may not be tallied into final results. Protest votes may be considered spoiled or, depending on the <a href="/facts/Electoral_system/e6zvx3Bo">electoral system</a>, counted as "none of the above" votes.
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Protest vote open-in-new

Protest vote