Tomorrow I’ll be a Presiding Officer in a polling station. AMA

[Tygertiger]

This may not be the most thrilling AMA in the world, but if there is anything you’ve always wondered about the voting process, go ahead!

I wasn't at all unpleasant or hostile, I thought he was official and he presented himself as such. My ignorance I suppose but when a big burly bloke holds out their hand for your paperwork at the door, you assume they have the right to do so.

As I said, I've since found out who he is and now I know I'm not obliged to engage, I won't be. If he deems this rude then so be it.

My husband has had to go and stay with his parents this week as his Mum is very ill in hospital. It was very sudden so he had no chance to sort out a proxy vote. Is there anything he can do? They live in a totally different part of the country.

@MissingKitty I was in a similar situation for a previous election (think it was 2015); I'd recently moved, registered to vote but not received a poll card. On the day I went into the poll station (luckily a neighbour was happy to tell me where it was - unsure if there is a way of finding out otherwise??) and explained and they were happy to check the list for me. You dont need a poll card to vote so no reason not to ask. Remember your ID!

I'd get in touch with your local electoral services today as I don't believe you can vote in person if you're registered for a postal vote.

This is a process called “telling”. It is done by all political parties so that they can work out which of their supporters have voted. You do not have to provide them with your poll card number but if you do, it means no one will knock on your door later on to remind you to vote.

Tellers are not allowed to ask how you have voted and there is no way of us knowing this information. Also, parties usually share the poll card numbers with each other. So, while it is absolutely your right to refuse, there is really no reason not to politely give them the number on your poll card.

You DO NOT have to show them ID, though, and they shouldn’t ask for this.

It's this man in particular. I do not want him to know my name or address for example.

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/ways-vote/emergency-proxy-vote

Look for your local council's website (generally borough/district level) but he should be able to apply for an emergency proxy I believe.

We haven’t had our polling cards. I called the electoral office to make sure we are registered to vote and we are. Should we have any problems?

No, as long as you know where you need to go

Brilliant AMA - thanks to all involved. I hadn't thought about the "car-jacking" approach to delivery at the count. I'm in the NE so we have LA's racing to be the first to declare - I'm slightly annoyed I can't drive to where the count is to watch the artistry of it all! Who does the car marshalling? We had a request from our LA to circulate info about staffing polling stations and at the count but car marshalling like you're directing a 747 wasn't on the list at all!

To the poster who queried taking snacks for the staff - I did once and they weren't returned to me and the staff seemed a bit surprised but thankful. I did decide to buy only shop bought goods rather than homebaked so there was no suspicion of me trying to take out a polling station through food poisoning!

Thank you so much for this!

It is done by all political parties so that they can work out which of their supporters have voted.

But how can they possibly know who their supporters are until they've voted? And even then, it's a secret ballot, unless folk are particularly keen to tell a stranger who the recipient of their vote was.

Surely, if they're self-identified supporters - members of their own team etc. - they will make certain that they vote. Even people who are (currently) members of one party or another may well decide to change their vote, come the election.

Or are they doing the arrogant politician thing of assuming that anybody who decided to honour their party with their vote at the last election is automatically 'their voter' thenceforth, whether they've done anything to win their trust again or not?

There also seems to be further arrogance in them 'reminding' people to vote in the first place. Everybody knows that there's an election on, so if they haven't voted, it doesn't mean that they have forgotten to do so; rather that they have decided not to vote because they can't be bothered, don't see any point in it, don't have a preference, can't hold their nose enough for any of the candidates etc.

Using your vote is exercising your choice; just as choosing not to use it - whatever your reasoning - is also exercising your choice. Personally, I think that looking who hasn't yet voted, going over and knocking on their doors and then 'encouraging' or 'reminding' them to come out and vote (whatever format that may take) is potentially stalkerish, coercive and/or undemocratic.

If you're obviously the best candidate, a majority will vote for you and you will discover that you've won once it's announced... and if you aren't the best candidate, why on earth do you think you should win in any case?!

Tellers are also used to determine where to push to get the vote out.

So let’s say you’re in marginal seat and labour tellers in PS 1 are reporting that by 11am 900 have been thru the door 600 shared who they were voting for and 80% of them are voting tory, well then it’s time to get the troops knocking on doors ‘have you voted? Can we give you a lift?’ Etc etc.

Likewise if the tellers for a party can get the feel that their candidate is doing very well in their PS they can rally the troops to another postcode to get the vote out.

I’ve been and picked up my ballot box. She’s safe at home, with all her contents ready to go. I had to sign a disclaimer to say she will not be left unattended in a vehicle at any point - including tonight before the polls open!

Shall we put them by our beds?! Mine has been on lots of adventures with me already 😂😂

@myrtleWilson the marshals at the car jacking count are LA employees. My count is at an absolutely huge venue so there are over 60 marshals. It is bonkers.

@AgathaMystery are you at one of the constituencies that race to be first to declare?

I was PO in a prime minister's constituency, and the count was guarded by scores of armed police, that was exciting!

I'm a PO tomorrow and my polling station is in the pub.

@Scissorsisters do you get free refreshments?

Haha no! A kettle and water supply. Bring your own tea coffee milk and food.

Another PO checking in! I have my box, I've checked and double checked the contents, the ballot papers are currently sitting on my kitchen table, I'm very excited!

I've done it about 4 times before, but I love it every time!

I don’t know. They always make a huge fuss but never declare early.

Me too- am an SPO.

I'm heading out in ten mins to set up the booths and tables ready for tomorrow. We're a split station so have two of everything to set up.

Our two areas cover the boroughs posh roads- ones that have house names only and no numbers. It has always been super Tory so will be interesting to see turnout tomorrow and the general vibe.

I love seeing families coming in together- and always have sweets for first time voters.

Good luck to everyone tomorrow 👍

I’ve been to loads of counts, but none for a while. But I don’t think things have changed.

the boxes arrive from the polling station to where the count is. It’s checked off and authorized etc. each part of the hall is divided into wards with long tables. The tellers are at one side and the other side is made up of representatives from the parties/candidates.

each ward is divided into defined areas or ‘boxes’ and given a corresponding letter ie AA, AB etc.

theres usually a large table in the middle where the Returning Officer and other electoral council reps are and keep records. They will bring the box over to the correct ward, open it up and tip out the ballot papers along the table.

the tellers gather theses votes into bundles of 50 held by spring pegs, to ensure then be tallied and cross referenced against the amount which should have been in the box. When they’re satisfied it’s correct the bundles are put out again and sorted into the candidates (again in bundles of 50). These are then put into rows of the various candidates to be counted. Any spoiled papers are sifted out and put to one side to be verified etc - usually one of the clerks and the election agents are then pulled to one side to examine (see) them and decide if any of them can be assigned to one of the candidates.

once they’ve all been counted, the Returning Officers and clerks then have to tally all the box votes before declaring who the candidate is - very formal process, usually say how many votes were cast etc.

for a General Election it takes loads longer to declare the results as the turnout is usually much greater than for locals, but also the various wards which make up the constituencies have to also be tallied together before the result is declared.

the 1st and 2nd parts where the papers are out usually feels exciting and buzzing, the waiting can be quite anxiety inducing, especially if the result is v close and the votes have to be counted again.

sorry - quite long explanation

I don't have my marriage certificate, only a certified copy to validate my name change - I assume this isn’t enough?

Do you mean an official copy you bought from the Register Office? That is a Marriage Certificate... the actual one is held by them.

I’m not a Reform voter but they tried to turn me away last year at an election, must have been a council one because they reckoned i didn’t look enough like my in date driving licence. 🤷‍♀️. I stood my ground and eventually was allowed to vote.