England is "not a valid country".

RuthnJasper

This reminds me of the "From the messageboard" column in Private Eye.

"Great stuff guys!" Bogbrush

shaun_from_Africa

antrobus wrote: »

Congratulations!

You now qualify as being too stupid to be allowed to vote.:)

Unfortunately there's no such stipulation but I think the government should bring it in along with a similar requirement for those wanting to become parents, people wanting to own any pet bigger than a goldfish and anyone applying for a driving licence.

Azari

photome wrote: »

I have always thought we are a country and would argue with anyone who thought different, now i am not so sure

It's all a question of terminology. We (EWS&NI) are not really 'countries within a country' because neither Great Britain nor the United Kingdom are countries, in the normal sense of the word. They are administrative groupings, and as such are very frequently used for official purposes - and, indeed, may be the only way the constituent parts may be recognised by various organisations.

Problems arise in various circumstances, for example when someone creating a form or web site uses the expression 'country', but actually wants to know the name of the country or grouping used by the organisation relevant to the form or site in question.

This gets people used to seeing Great Britain or UK being used as names of a 'country' when they are actually such things as 'nations' or 'nation states' or whatever is relevant to the organisations involved.

Azari

antrobus wrote: »

Congratulations!

You now qualify as being too stupid to be allowed to vote.:)

But you are being just as stupid - if not more so.

He's quite correct to point out the absurdity of disallowing the name or something that is a country whilst insisting on the use of something that isn't whilst referring to it as a country.

True it's not really anything worth worrying about too much but it is sloppy and ignorant design.

Bollotom

They gave you three options. Obviously you're not Irish so don't tick. Obviously your not from another country so don't tick. The option left is 'British'. For want of better descriptions you are British, so tick British. Bet you're a load of fun on holiday with all those 'Foreign' Welsh, Scots and Ulster people. Just fill the freakin form in and stop wasting peoples' time. :cool:

Smithers37

People that can't see that being English means your British shouldn't be allowed to vote.

[Deleted User]

Bollotom wrote: »

Obviously your not from another country

I am from another country.

I'm from England.

antrobus

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Unfortunately there's no such stipulation but I think the government should bring it in along with a similar requirement for those wanting to become parents, people wanting to own any pet bigger than a goldfish and anyone applying for a driving licence.

Yes, but in this case the OP is trying to register to vote online, and it won't let him, because he keeps selecting the stupid option. Until he manages to complete the process he won't be allowed to vote.

Azari wrote: »

But you are being just as stupid - if not more so.

He's quite correct to point out the absurdity of disallowing the name or something that is a country whilst insisting on the use of something that isn't whilst referring to it as a country.

True it's not really anything worth worrying about too much but it is sloppy and ignorant design.

Eh? Don't you understand the process here? We're talking about the electoral register. It sensibly first asks the question 'What is your nationality?' and gives you the option of British, Irish, or other. If you are a British or Irish national then an appearance on the electoral register means that you can vote in any UK election. If you select 'other', then it asks you to select which nationality you do have, because the citizens of certain Commonwealth and European countries also have the right to vote. (Although that right is qualified for EU citizens.)

The franchise is legally defined in the Representation of the People Act and those that compile the electoral register are obliged to follow the law. Specifically the law extends the franchise to those who are either a "Commonwealth citizen or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland", and the British Nationality Act sets out those countries whose citizens are commonwealth citizens. Sadly, England is not one of them.

[Deleted User]

antrobus wrote: »

Until he manages to complete the process he won't be allowed to vote.

I've managed it.

I filled in the paper form instead.

LilElvis

Bedsit_Bob wrote: »

I've managed it.

I filled in the paper form instead.

Wow, it must be quite some form as its taken a day and a half to complete! Was there a box to tick that enabled you to declare that you are English?