To wonder what's stopping them tampering with the postal votes

[nobeans]

By setting post boxes in key constituencies on fire or otherwise delaying the post collection?

I’ve worked both as poll clerk in polling stations and overnight at the count (not at the same elections) and yes, the supervision, monitoring and cross-checking is incredibly detailed and thorough.

I think the potential issue with postal votes is more about checking eligibility when people apply for them. Or fake applications are made. But I don’t think it’s a common occurrence - not enough votes to change the result.

But I just genuinely wanted to know how the system prevents this.

The same way it tackles the problem of trained weasels being sent into post boxes to sniff out postal votes. It doesn’t because it’s not a thing.

Why not take a break from undermining democracy and watch a nice cat video?

@nobeans That's reassuring. I see I can hand mine in at a polling station but I have to fill in a form when I'm there. I might just do that.

What form do you have to fill in? I've sometimes just handed my postal vote in at the local polling station, but have never had to fill in a form??

It’s new, since the voter ID thing came in.

You have to give your name and address and the reason why you’re handing them in (if handing in other people’s postal votes).

@SabrinaThwaite Thank you - you learn something new every day! :)

If you're going to do that, why not just vote in person at a polling station?

Or fit you on aboot min.😁

If you are really worried about your postal vote and someone following you to a post box and either setting it alight or pouring water in there, you can take it into the Town Hall in the days before the election. They have to complete a form for each one handed in this way. They keep the f but I guess you could ask to take a photo of if

When the postal votes are opened, the candidates can be there to oversee them being counted & verified.

This is delightfully bonkers. Water won't do anything, are they not in an envelope inside another envelope? Given the design of UK post boxes you would need some kind of flexible tube too 😂

This, then the next day you would have to set them all on fire again…… oh, hold on, I have just noticed the flaw in this scenario.

@NigelHarmansNewWife If you're going to do that, why not just vote in person at a polling station?

Because I'm registered for a postal vote - I usually post it back, but there's been the odd occasion where I've been too late to post it, so I've taken it to the local polling station

Jeez paranoid much!!

Anyway, nobeans you don't seem to have answered the question about who the nebulous "they" actually are. Can you clarify?

In any case, if you really have serious worries about it, just drive up to Ullapool and post it there.

Oh gosh 😍 I hope not! I have registered for a postal vote! Due to being unwell. 1st time ever.lets hope"they" decide to obey those welll practised set of rules known as the law !

I have a postal vote. You have quite a long period over which to vote. The post boxes I could use are: one a few minutes walk, one a slightly longer walk, about 3 near the high street, one by little Tescos, one by big Tescos and then a lot more on my way to work etc.

The one by big Tescos is the most secure as it's inside the store.

But if a lot of post boxes were set on fire then I'm sure the police would be very concerned (it would also have lots of commercial implications). But if really worried I could also take it into a post office and get them to put it into a sack.

Thank you that's the sort of insight I was interested in. The police being involved in making sure every vote makes it.

Thank you for answering my question and not just laughing at me

For a lot of people it will be their way round the ID thing to have a postal vote

Is that the case for you?

Yes they do…

https://www.usa.gov/absentee-voting

Yes I lost my ID

This will be the third election where I'll need to show ID at the polling station. A Voter Authority Certificate is free if you don't have other photo ID.

Some dates to note if you want to vote in the GE:

18 June electoral deadline
19 June deadline for applying for a postal vote
26 June deadline for applying for a Voter Authority Certificate if you don't have other valid photo ID

Oh look at that! That's great to hear - especially with some of the distances involved for some people