Politics · Advice & Questions · Oct 18

My brother told me his vote and now says I owe him mine

Politics

"I was honest with you," my brother said. "You could at least do the same."

We live in England. After voting, he volunteered his choice over lunch. I hadn't asked him to, and I said I was keeping mine private. He now thinks I'm either embarrassed by it or refusing to trust him.

We've always talked about politics. I'm still willing to discuss the issues; I just don't want that discussion to end with a demand for my ballot choice. Our mother suggested naming a party to stop the awkwardness, even if it wasn't the one I chose. I don't want to lie either.

What can I say that respects his openness without accepting that his decision to disclose creates an obligation for me?

Discussion

2 community replies

@northstar88

His disclosure was a choice, not an agreement you made to exchange votes. You can thank him for trusting you and say that you're keeping the same privacy boundary you stated at lunch. There isn't a debt to settle by naming a party.

@softfocus

The [Electoral Commission's guidance on protecting your vote](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/media-centre/your-vote-yours-alone-protect-it-mays-elections) describes the right to vote independently, privately and free from undue pressure. You don't have to treat a family lunch as a declaration of your ballot. That doesn't mean every curious question is electoral fraud; the practical point here is that you can decline to disclose.

My brother told me his vote and now says I owe him mine

Discussion

Join the discussion

More in Politics

My partner's civic meetings always leave me doing bedtime. Can we share the cost?

A councillor is taking all the credit for the bridge repair. How should our group respond?

My draft information request asks the council to explain a decision. Should I ask for records instead?

The headline says Parliament backed the reform. How do I check whether it is law?