How to Use Welsh Voice
Using the site is simple :-
- Enter your basic details ( Register )
- Verify your email address (Click on the link sent in the joining email from us)
- Enter your personal identity information (Optional)
- Enter your personal profile information (Optional)
You can then browse questions with a view to voting on the ones which are important to you and ignoring the rest.
If you do not enter personal identity information you will not be a verified member and as such cannot propose questions and your vote only counts on certain issues.
Full members (verified) can propose questions, and their votes are always included. If you wish to vote when some news item interests you, you will need to be a full member. If you wish to propose a new question when some local news item annoys you, you`ll need to be a full member.
Personal profile information
This is used to help create statistics and socio-demographic analysis, i.e. how many pensioners voted on a topic, how many were women, how many were ethnic? Etc. This section is optional, but it does help us. No one will ever know how you voted, or what your personal profile/characteristics are.
Voting
Voting itself is simple. Just click on the `SEARCH QUESTIONS` button on the front screen (when you are logged in) and it will take you to a menu and a list of questions. Simply tick YES or NO for each question, then scroll down and carry on. The system will remember your last vote on this subject, which you can change. If you wish to just look at a particular topic, such as EMPLOYMENT, you can use the index to go directly to that section.
Everything you vote upon is immediately stored and you can come back to it later if you wish.
Your votes for this month are frozen for analysis at the end of the month, then they are all carried forwards to next month so that you don't have to type them all in again. Obviously, if you wish to change your mind on anything you have already voted upon, just find it and click the opposite answer. Your previous vote on this question for last month cannot be changed.
Within a month you can change your mind as often as you like.
If you do not understand a question, perhaps you are not familiar with the topic or the people/places/subjects mention, just leave the question. It is best not to vote on questions you do not understand fully. Some questions are obviously regional and you may not know the place referred to if you do not live there.
Votes turn green when clicked *, and new questions to vote on always appear first (in white).
In the interests of entertainment, some questions are left in for humour rather than practical application.
Proposing a question
If you are a full member then you can propose questions. Example, you feel strongly about the speed people drive on a certain road, you want a speed bump fitted. Log in, click on PROPOSE A QUESTION, then type in your suggested question an example of which is given below:
(The above example is a screenshot taken from the Propose Question area of the website)
We will edit the question and make sure that it is suitable, and that people can answer with a YES or NO. We will also check that there is not a similar question already in the system, and that there are no swear words or spelling mistakes.
If we approve the question it will then be available for other members to vote on!
The proposed question may be REJECTED by us, sent back for re-working, rejected for being a duplicate or similar to something else. You may then alter it, delete it or try again.
CENSORING
We are not here to censor anyone`s freedom of speech, but we will maintain orderly control of this website and its content, for the good of everyone. We will make sure that questions are suitable, suitably worded and phrased and not `loaded` questions.
Bad question: Given that WRU boss Joe Bloggs is terrible, should we replace him?
Acceptable: Given recent events, do you have confidence in the current leadership of the WRU?
Obviously we would not accept the naming of individuals who are not in the public eye, nor accept slander or unjust criticism of a person or body. You can make your point subtly without offending anyone.
Persons who make numerous unsuitable, silly or offensive proposed questions may have that right removed or may be banned.
NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW HOW YOU VOTED
Where do the votes go?
Votes are analysed by our software, then a text document is created which can be viewed by people using the website. We also send copies to all local politicians, political bodies, interested groups, newspaper and TV groups. Eventually we plan to making voting data available in Excel format so that statistics can be downloaded from the site and analysed.
Why is there no Welsh language version (yet)?
This website is not a registered charity, it was set-up and funded by a local businessman at his expense. Advertising space is sold not to make money, but to fund the site and its development and advertising. If you are a fluent Welsh speaker and wish to assist with a Welsh version or conversions of questions from English to Welsh then please get in touch via the "contact us" button on the top right. Such assistance is unpaid and with no recognition.
I noticed a question with a spelling mistake
Some questions may have bad grammar and contain the odd spelling mistake that our helpers have missed. Place and person names can often be wrong. We DO NOT offer, nor guarantee, to correct the grammar and spelling of all questions proposed.
NOTE! Questions are proposed by the public and we try not to alter them too much, nor affect their tone or style if we can help it. Questions are not set, or checked, by professionals.
*The website has been tested in multiple web browsers for compatibility including, but not limited to, Internet Explorer 7, Internet Explorer 6 and Firefox. The website also requires Javascript to be enabled for some of the advanced facilities (such as automatic voting) to work.