Blank votes are not always taken into account because they are not considered as votes expressing a choice for a candidate or a specific option, but rather as a form of protest against the electoral process itself. Therefore, in many electoral systems, only valid votes expressing support for a candidate or an option are counted to determine the final result.
In many countries, blank votes are allowed but not really recognized in the final electoral calculations. Why? Because according to most legislative frameworks, only clearly expressed votes for a candidate or a party count concretely during the tallying. In France, for example, blank ballots are counted separately from invalid votes — they are officially recognized but still carry no weight in the final election results. Concretely, this means that even if 20% of voters cast blank votes, those votes are only indicated for informational purposes, without influencing the final outcome. Other countries, like Sweden, simply do not classify blank votes separately, mixing them directly with invalid votes. It largely depends on the electoral rules specific to each country.
Blank voting mainly allows voters to express dissatisfaction or disagreement with the candidates presented. However, it generally does not significantly change the direct outcome of an election: these ballots are often not counted among the officially expressed votes, which determine the final results. Thus, even if 10 or 20% of voters cast blank votes, it does not challenge the election of the leading candidate. Politically, however, a high rate of blank votes still sends a serious signal to parties and candidates: it reveals a crisis of confidence or a lack of suitable political options, which can prompt some political actors to reflect or even propose reforms. Nevertheless, the immediate impact remains limited, as currently, these votes do not directly alter the balance of power after elections.
First, it is important to understand that a blank vote is a ballot that does not indicate any choice. One might think it is simple to count, but in reality, it poses some issues for polling stations. Already, there is frequent confusion for voters and even poll workers between a blank vote (empty envelope or ballot without choice) and a null vote (torn, scribbled, or marked ballot). As a consequence, it requires careful sorting and time to ensure that no mistakes are made. Another concrete problem is that blank votes are not considered as expressed suffrage, so some polling stations are less rigorous in counting them, especially if there are very few: as a result, sometimes a few get overlooked. In short, even if it seems straightforward on paper, in reality, managing blank votes involves additional verification steps, increased human attention, and therefore more time and practical resources during the counting process.
From one country to another, the treatment of blank votes clearly differs. In Sweden, for example, blank votes are counted as validly expressed votes, giving them real political weight, even though they do not affect the results. In contrast, in the United States, the very concept of a blank vote does not exist; dissatisfied voters must find other ways to express their discontent, often by abstaining or choosing marginal independent candidates. As for France, although blank votes have been counted separately since 2014, they remain excluded from the total of expressed votes and do not directly change the outcome of elections. Finally, some countries, like Uruguay, have opted for original measures: if the blank vote reaches a certain threshold, it can invalidate the election and force a new vote.
Regular debates are taking place to evolve and clarify the status of blank votes. Some political parties and civic associations propose to better account for them by integrating them into the calculation of results, even considering reholding the election if blank votes exceed a certain threshold. However, these ideas often face political resistance or practical complications. A few neighboring countries, such as Switzerland, are seriously exploring ways to better value these votes. Another idea circulating is to establish a specific threshold (for example, 10%) above which an election would be invalidated, necessitating a redo with new candidates. For now, it primarily remains a significant topic during election campaigns, but concrete proposals are still rare and slow to materialize.
In France, blank ballots have been counted separately since 2014, following an electoral reform. However, they are still not taken into account in the calculation of the final election results.
Some countries, such as Belgium and Brazil, have implemented mandatory voting and explicitly recognize blank votes to allow voters to express their political dissatisfaction with the candidates presented.
In India, the possibility of casting a negative vote called NOTA (None Of The Above) has existed since 2013, allowing voters to reject all candidates without directly influencing the outcome of the elections.
In Switzerland, leaving a completely blank ballot can be considered as abstention, while the use of officially provided blank ballots may sometimes be interpreted differently depending on the canton.
Yes, several citizen and associative initiatives exist to promote better recognition of blank votes. These actions particularly call for blank votes to be included in the expressed votes or for them to trigger, when they are in the majority, the organization of a new election.
In practice, since blank votes are not considered as valid votes in the calculation of electoral results, they generally do not have a direct influence on the final outcome. However, a high rate of blank votes sends a strong political message of dissatisfaction to candidates and political parties.
Some countries, like Sweden, officially count blank votes in the electoral results. In contrast, in France or Belgium, for example, blank votes are counted separately but are not included in the valid votes that determine the final outcome of an election.
Counting blank votes often involves substantial legislative changes and a redefinition of existing electoral rules. It would also be necessary to consider the political consequences if blank votes were to be the majority in an election, requiring the implementation of specific methods such as organizing a new vote.
A blank vote is an empty envelope or a ballot without a candidate choice, voluntarily cast by the voter to express dissatisfaction with the available options. A null vote generally results from an error (torn ballot, various annotations, etc.) and is considered invalid. Both are not counted as expressed votes in the official results.
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