Sotto voce: the case for voting informal

It is probably too late to establish a "No choice" campaign and achieve a massive informal vote. So the success of the "No dams" campaign will not be repeated. The Age and the Australian both declined this opinion piece (actually they did not even respond). However, I think even the mention of voting informal might turn on a light in people's minds. They might realise that they do have a third option, albeit not the best one. The available third option is to write "No choice". I mention it now in the hope that the idea might spread and build. Please share it on FB and X and Instagram. It will help our nation.

If the informal vote is larger than usual this would be an important message to power. How large?

In the last referendum on the republic in 1999, the informal vote was 5.2%. I hope this time it will be higher. And if the result of the referendum is No, a high informal vote will provide another interpretation of the outcome than we are a nation that rejects reconciliation.

Indeed, if the polls indicate a clear No result just before the referendum, the only ethical vote is "No Choice". Because a high informal vote is the only way to soften the message of that outcome.

Moreover, it should lead to an analysis of how ill-conceived this referendum was from the beginning and how both sides of politics are solely focussed on partisan advantage regardless of the damage they do to the nation.

And then we can start talking to each other again, in good faith, without the media and pollies waiting to judge us for their own advantage.