Talk:Bill Boaks

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I think the lowest vote recorded in a British election was zero, for the Temperence candidate in Ripon, North Yorkshire. Unfortunately I can't find any records to back this up but it was a popular part of local history when I lived there.

This was before universal franchise and refers to F.R. Lees, "Temperance Chartist" in an 1860 byelection. Lees did have supporters but they were under the impression that he had withdrawn and the election was unopposed. There are numerous examples of candidates getting tiny numbers of vote pre-1885 but that was in the days when voting was in public and so candidates often withdrew after only a few voters had the oppportunity to vote because it was clear they would not win. Also, some returning officers insisted on formally opening the poll even when candidates had withdrawn, then closing it after a few votes had been cast. Boaks' achievement represents the equal lowest total of any active candidate who actually wanted to win. Dbiv 13:08, 22 Dec 2004 (UTC)

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but when revisions to electoral law allowed candidates to have a six letter description of their candidature on the ballot paper, he settled on "Public Safety Democratic Monarchist White Resident"
Shouldn't that be 'six word'? — KayEss | talk 17:23, 12 July 2005 (UTC)