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Original poster

So all of these people who wern't able to vote,

61 replies

Callisto · 07/05/2010 11:15

I'm not sure if I have much sympathy for them really. It does clearly state that you have to vote at your designated polling station before 10pm.

One of the officers in charge said:

"Many did not have their polling cards, which significantly adds time. Some people went to the wrong polling station.

"And... the absolute laziness from the elector by not joining queues when they arrive, returning at a later time only to find a longer line and re-returning at 2200 BST, which, as it clearly states, is closing time."

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8666338.stm

OP posts:
wannaBe · 07/05/2010 12:12

tbh I think there's blame on both sides.

I think that having understaffed poling stations that run out of ballot papers is totally unacceptable and there is no excuse for that. Equally no excuse for making people queue for over an hour and then telling them they cannot vote.

But equally I don't think that someone can expect to turn up at 10:00 and then be surprised when the poling station is closed.

Equally people who did not have poling cards - you don't need a poling card to vote, but even if you felt you did, this election has been well publicised for the past month, people have had ample time to think "Oh, I haven't got my poling card yet" and to contact someone wrt getting a replacement one/getting clarification re the rules i.e. whether a card is required.

AMumInScotland · 07/05/2010 12:08

There was also someone from the Electoral Commission on the radio, who was explaining that even though they oversee things, the local Returning Officers each make the practical arrangements. She said they'd be making a report, and I got the impression they'd reported before on problems but nobody has wanted to change the system. Hopefully this mess will convince them that something needs to be done!

AMumInScotland · 07/05/2010 12:06

There was a lady on the radio this morning who had joined the queue at 8:30pm and stayed there solidly, and just missed being able to vote. I don't think there's anything unreasonable in turning up at 8:30 when the polls are open till 10 - perfectly reasonable to think the system will be run efficiently enough not to have a problem. If I went to a shop an hour and a half before closing time, I'd be pretty annoyed if they couldn't serve me!

southeastastra · 07/05/2010 11:44

but people weren't anticipating the mess that did happen last night, never happened before has it? hindsight is so helpful

McDreamy · 07/05/2010 11:42

I think you are being very harsh. There are plenty of people who wouldn't be able to turn up until after 9.30pm. If I were still working I would have been one of them (although wouldn't have been a problem in my area).

You did not need to take your Polling card and some people didn't even receive one. I was one of those people and it took me no longer to vote than the elderly lady in front of me who had her card.

OnlyWantsOne · 07/05/2010 11:42

postal votes?

helllooooo?

Postal votes

beanlet · 07/05/2010 11:39

There are plenty of people in those queues who were queuing for 2 hours! In normal circumstances you would well and truly expect to vote before 10 PM if you turned up at 8.

Sounds like some of the polling stations were very poorly organised, TBH -- at least one actually ran out of ballot papers! That's unforgivable.

ahedgehogis · 07/05/2010 11:33

i have a friend who worked 7am til 7pm, then at college til 9pm and still managed to vote

southeastastra · 07/05/2010 11:22

argh this is bugging me now!!! dp gets in at 9.30 every night and i'm sure lots of these late voters were the same. also we didn't get our voting cards at all this time.

why blame the voters? .

rubyrubyruby · 07/05/2010 11:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OnlyWantsOne · 07/05/2010 11:17

The polling stations opend at 7am, if they were that bothered they wouldnt have left it til 9.30pm to go and que up