So those people sitting outside the Polling station...

Indeed!

Plenty of things in life are 'above board' but still outrageous, though!

Yes @LakeTiticaca - I remember the loudspeakers! I guess all the bellowing is now online…

I’m a member of a political party and they will be knocking on my door in a bit to ‘get the vote out’ the people just ask for your number so they can see if you are a member of their party and can cross you off the list of having voted

I also don't get the whole fuss about the exit polls.

Unless there's something that I'm missing, what on earth is the point in trying to ascertain a 'best-guess' scenario of the results that you will have accurately and audited in a few hours time anyway?

Yes, that was my thinking. Interesting.

It is such a widespread practice, though, so I assume it must all be perfectly above board. I do absolutely think they should be required to say who they are and how they are using the information though.

I've had my door knocked in the past asking if I have voted yet.
I remember the days when we had canvassers from all the parties knocking (had none at all this time) and cars with a loudspeaker driving around the neighbourhoods calling out Vote Labour/Vote Conservative etc. Candidates holding court in the town centres, talking to people
Volunteer party members offering to give older voters a lift to the polling station. My Nan used to get a lift every time 🤣
It all seems a bit insipid nowadays

I have done this as a favour for someone. All you get is a polling number - no other information. Someone comes round and peroiodically collects the numbers so they can see if people who have promised to vote for them have done so, and if not go and “knock them up”.

Finding tellers is hard (hence why I was guilted and it was a one-time only favour!) but the LibDems are very keen on it as they have big local machines. You see armies of them haring round on election days.

I get really angry about this, irrespective of party affiliation (although the Lib Dems are easily the pushiest). Last time I voted in the GE, the LibDem supporter virtually insisted on seeing my polling card, I’m afraid I lost my rag and told her that she had no right to approach any voter on Polling Day. People have died to achieve support the secret ballot, and this sort of thing is whittling away at that principle.

I complained about her to the Polling Officer. he said that they hated having them outside, but there was nothing they could legally do about it.

Hmm. I wondered that with regard to the tellers. Perhaps recording whether or not someone has shown up to vote doesn't count as personal data. (Though I sort of think it should!)

But when they canvas door to door, I'm pretty sure that they keep a record of who says they will vote for them, who says not a chance etc. Don't they?

I have never consented to any party storing my information so I am assuming that there must be some other justification that they can use, but I'm just curious.

I have done this in the past and it’s a case of dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t. Lots of people mention that there wasn’t even anyone to represent the party at the polling station if there is nobody there and if there is you get abuse because people don’t like the party you represent, you can’t win.

It’s because the local candidate can’t be everywhere at once so there is a party member who will stand in for them to answer any questions people may have or to help with lifts etc. Most people don’t love doing it but they are perhaps passionate about the party or candidate and want to help. You aren’t under any obligation to talk to them but no need to be rude to them. Just say no thanks an move on.

Considering that they don't usually tell you who they are, why they are asking for your details or what they will do with that information - whilst hanging about in a manner that a great many people would naturally assume meant they were part of the official neutral process - I think they would be on phenomenally thin ground, legally-speaking, if they were challenged on it.

Interestingly had nobody at out polling station at all, think the incumbent (con) has given up

I'm not an expert on GDPR but if all they're doing is using a copy of the electoral register and ticking people off I doubt there's any breach.

They are annoying. I don't think they should be there. None of their business. Get a postal vote next time!

YOU know that, but how many other people don't - especially first-time voters or those with learning difficulties or other vulnerabilities?

You go to vote, taking your polling card with you, as you've been told that it can save time if you have it. Then, you get to the polling station and somebody outside the door, in smart clothes, approaches you and asks to see your polling card.

How on earth would you possibly instinctively know that you can decline to show it to them - and that they are seeking to politically gain from your personal information, rather than being an official neutral steward who is a standard part of the voting process?

It's the political equivalent of somebody hanging around at the door of the GP's surgery in a sharp suit and holding a clipboard, stopping you as you go in and asking you to confirm your name, address and the purpose of your visit - as they have a 'miracle natural cure' that they are selling and want to get your details for marketing it to you, by acting in a way that many people would assume meant they legitimately worked for the surgery.

They are volunteers, not paid. My parents used to do it.

Consent, I imagine?

I never share it with them. Partly because I just want to get going.

We had some UKIP tellers putting pressure on people one year when I was running a polling station, I remember having to go and have words!

You might be right, but again, I'm curious about the lawful basis that they have for processing and sharing my information.

Not saying that there isn't one, but I don't understand what it is.

I can't believe this is even allowed, tbh - especially right outside the polling station.

At the very least, they should have to introduce themselves as associated with one of the parties/candidates and make it very clear that they are wanting to see your polling card for their political gain, rather than as a neutral agent working with the official voting process or seeking to help you. Personally, if they must be there, I'd make them wear a sandwich board emblazoned with their party and/or their name and 'candidate'.

I'm sure they'd protest "But I'm wearing a rosette!", but people don't always notice this and/or realise that it's a sign of one or other party - especially now it isn't just red or blue, but various hues of easily-mistaken colours. Them wearing a rosette is the equivalent of companies putting legally-mandated information that they would rather you not see in teeny, tiny little print.

I'll bet a lot of young first-time voters wouldn't have a clue that they aren't a necessary part of the standard electoral process - why ever would they? It's thoroughly dishonest of them to approach you and ask if you know/can show them your voter number, when they know full well that you only need to give your name and address - to the actual officials inside - and you never need to know your voter ID number yourself at all.

If there are reps from more than one party I suspect they work together!!

The one outside ours was Lib Dem, I was happy to talk to him as I was voting for them anyway.

I always refuse to provide any details unless they are from the party that I'm voting for. None of their business otherwise, and I have no wish to help them with their data collection.

I'm always curious though about how the data that political parties collect from this kind of activity and from canvassing etc fits in with GDPR. What is the lawful basis for them holding the information that they hold - does anyone know?

They were outside my polling station. I did notice they didn't ask me for my details 🤔 they were asking other people (older generation). This explanation is interesting.

You can comfortably refuse to tell them anything, I usually do.