So those people sitting outside the Polling station...

If you haven't been to vote, sometimes people from one of the parties knocks on your door to remind you to vote. I'm presuming this is how they find out if you've been yet.

My parents are in their 70s and have already had the tories and labour on their doorstep asking if they need a lift to the polling station today!

Per PP, the parties have access to the electoral registers and if they’ve canvassed you before they’ll likely know which way you’re voting. If you tell them your poll number (though you’re under no obligation to) then they’ll tick you off their lists. Basically, if they think you’re likely to vote for them and they haven’t ticked your name off they’ll probably come round after work to check if you’ve had a chance to vote.

That’s only really the case when they have a good local ground game, enough volunteers and have been doorknocking all year round every year regardless of election season. If they haven’t, then they’re just there for show.

X posts Bromptotoo😃

It’s all part of the arcane pageant of voting. I don’t mind telling them, they are part of the political system. Not my idea of a fun way to spend a day, but I admire their commitment.

They represent different political parties and really they just want to know if you’ve voted or about to vote.Where numbers get close they will sometimes pick you up in a car to get you to the polling station.Mum always waits until they do that.😁

They're there for whichever party's rosette they wear.

Are you in a seat that's likely to have a tight result?

If they've canvassed the area then they'll have identified the people who might support them. If, by later today, they've got potential voters who've not yet cast their ballots then they might be called at their door and reminded the election's on and would a lift to the polling place be any use.

We had a teacher at school back in the seventies who told us about this stuff under the general heading of civics.

He also told a tale of an elderly lady of strong Labour persuasion who'd accept a lift from the Tory and tie the car/driver up for an hour by faffing round at home, in the polling place and then asking if they minded stopping at the corner shop for her fags and a bottle of milk stout!!

They're called 'tellers' and they're there on behalf of candidates.

Thus is from the Electoral Commission.

"Tellers are people who stand outside polling places and record the elector numbers of electors who have voted [sic].

They can then identify likely supporters who have not voted and encourage them to vote before the close of poll.

Tellers have no legal status and voters can refuse to give information to them. The (Acting) Returning Officer is in charge of the conduct of the election. If they are concerned by the activities of tellers, they can ask tellers to comply with agreed behaviour or leave the polling place."

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-and-agents-uk-parliamentary-elections-great-britain/polling-day/who-can-support-you-polling-day/tellers

They can ask for your details. You can refuse. I haven't seen one for years, but when I did, I tried to refuse politely. I'm older and crankier now so who knows what might happen.

They are Tellers and work for one of the parties, but have no official role in the election. You are under no obligation to speak to them if you don’t want to.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teller_(elections)