I've just been to vote, no drama, my 18 year old handed over her voting ID thing and they handed it back. That's all. I made pleasantries whilst waiting for her and the husband to finish and then we left.
Maybe the fear comes from it all being treated as being as dull as dishwater.
Godspeed though, to you, Dee on your epic adventure to the polling station, and remember to be grateful that, like a NI poster pointed out, there are no parliamentary heavies stood outside.