to think that an election on the 12th December is a bad idea because it will affect Christmas at primary schools?

[chomalungma]

How many Christmas plays will be on on that day?

I am sure some will be able to be altered - but it's a really crappy time to close a school for voting when there are parties, school plays and the end of term atmosphere.

There are other reasons as well - but this is just one that may not have been thought about.

Like some other posters, I have no idea why people are kicking off. There's no reason at all why they can't just vote first thing in the morning before the day starts. The vast majority of people live within walking distance of their polling station. Just go at half seven to eight in the morning. Or go at seven or eight at night. (or nine.)

I feel that people are looking for problems where there are none. There's no reason for anyone to not vote in mid December. It takes a few minutes and will almost certainly be within half a mile of your home.

The only time it will be awkward is if they're away on holiday, and that could happen any time of year. Most people will not be doing anything that will keep out of the area for the 15 hours the polling stations are open

If you cannot POSSIBLY get to the polling station that day, then ring now and ask for a postal vote (or a proxy vote,) instead of griping about how 'inconvenient' it is.

Mid December or not, I reckon this election will bring out the most voters EVER.

@Likethebattle you’ve just made me feel like I really missed out. Where I come from schools are the usual polling stations but elections are always held on Saturdays to cause minimum disruption (mandatory voting so I suppose they have to be more considerate towards voters).

I reckon this election will bring out the most voters EVER

Friendly bet that it won’t?

The thing is that however convinced you are by your reasoning, if you make it less convenient to vote some people who would otherwise vote will not. If weather is inclement, that makes some people stay at home who'd go otherwise. This is inevitably more of an issue in winter not just because of worse weather but less daylight. Rain or whatever that would be ok during the day becomes less so when it's dark, which it will be for the whole evening.

I'll always vote and will do whatever I need to in order to arrange that. I'm also quite organised. These things are not true across the electorate however much you think they should be.

@RufusthebewiIderedreindeer

YEP. Friendly bet that this election WILL bring out more voters than ever before.

Having said that.

A) I don't know what to bet.

B) I am not even sure who I'm going to vote for yet, as I am currently politically homeless. (Was always a Labour voter. Wouldn't vote for them now with Corbyn as leader, but won't vote Tory - no WAY.)

Apparently poor weather may not lead to poor turn out - there is in USA where there's been a lot of research but not other places.
newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2016/06/does-weather-affect-voter-turnout-polling-day

According to Stephen Fisher, a politics researcher at Oxford University, there is little correlation between good weather and voting patterns. He told the BBC in 2002 that data from the last 15 general elections showed no link.

Though the cavat to that:

“If you had a January snowstorm”, says John Curtice from the University of Strathclyde, “it would make a difference but for the most part the weather is mildly inclement at these times of year. So you might need to take a brolly with you or you might have sunshine but you won’t have a howling gale or snow or serious travel disruption.”

I'm not sure voter turn out will be high though voter apathy and a loss of suppot in polls for main parties could well mean a low one.

For God's sake, schools aren't obliged to let their facilities become polling stations, it's no different to any other hire. If their hall is already booked then the LA will simply have to find somewhere else.

Highest UK turnout ever at an election since full suffrage was in 1950 with 83%. Don't make that bet lavendar, you'll lose.

Ive no idea what to vote for either lavendar

Its such a mess...

I think we just win piss taking rights on any political threads we see each other on...i can feel a name change coming on

Shush dawn

Only people who own their own cars will be unaffected

Seriously?

I understand many of the arguments and I don’t want an election, but why on Earth would you say that only people who have their own cars won’t be affected is something I don’t understand.

Stephen Fisher was commenting all almost exclusively 20th century elections when turnout was higher generally, 2001 being a weird exception for a number of reasons, and on elections that primarily took place outside of winter. Variable as British weather can be, and rainy as our springs and summers are, usually we are voting when it isn't pitch black at 7am or for the whole evening.

@Chardonnay I don't understand that comment either, that only people with cars will be unaffected!

Are all the polling stations going to be 20-30 miles away from peoples homes, in a rural area, with no public transport???

@RufusthebewiIderedreindeer I'll still take that bet!

Only people who own their own cars will be unaffected
I have a car but would only drive to vote if I'm calling in on my way somewhere else. If it is actually snowy or icy I'm more likely to walk, not less, because my road is like a slalom run in bad weather.

I'm 64, by the way, so probably qualify as old and nothing will stop me voting.

Interesting though - if the weather does affect turnout, I wonder what party will be affected most?

Low turnout out benefits the Tories, although perhaps not if “the elderly” don’t vote.

Don't say you weren't warned lavendar!

Honestly though, 83% is massively more than we've had in any UK wide election recently. The Scottish independence referendum was 84% and the Good Friday Agreement vote in NI was 81% so not too far short, but those were both very specific circumstances and only included a small minority of the UK as the electorate. Other than that nothing close in decades.

Variable as British weather can be, and rainy as our springs and summers are, usually we are voting when it isn't pitch black at 7am or for the whole evening.

No and I think it a bloody good reason to avoid December ,January and February but weather isn't as the establish factor as I at least initially thought it was.

If they have to get inventive with polling stations sticking them in supermarkets or pubs – with good parking that might help numbers – people driving there and easily parking and being able to do other things like Christmas shopping.

RufusthebewiIderedreindeer I'll still take that bet

Bugger...now i think its a trap

Excellent lavendar see you on the 13th

Amazing how December being dark and cold doesn't affect people buying trolley loads of crap in the shops.

If the entire adult population were all expected to make a particular crap purchase at a location they hadn't chosen within a set 15 hour period on a weekday in December, it probably would.

Doesn't seem to stop people going to Lidl on Christmas Eve.

@chomalungma

YABU.

@chomalungma

YABU.

@DawnOfTheDeadleg and @RufusthebewiIderedreindeer

Yep, I'll see you on the 13th!

@Trewser

Amazing how December being dark and cold doesn't affect people buying trolley loads of crap in the shops.

Well, exactly! I think there are probably WAY more people out shopping in December, than any other month in the year. Even though the weather is usually not great.

@CaptainMyCaptain

I'm 64, by the way, so probably qualify as old and nothing will stop me voting.

Well exactly. I don't think everyone who is a 'senior' will be incapable of voting, just because the election is in December. I mean, if there's 6 foot of snow, that's going to hinder everyone, not just the over 60s.

@HeyMissyYouSoFine

If they have to get inventive with polling stations sticking them in supermarkets or pubs – with good parking that might help numbers – people driving there and easily parking and being able to do other things like Christmas shopping.

Not a bad idea. However, I think most peoples polling stations are fairly close to their home anyway (probably closer than the shops in most cases...)