AIBU to resent tory party representative standing outside polling station asking for polling number?

[ITVX]

I don't think it should be allowed. I first thought she might be part of the management team for the polling station as I didn't see her badge identifying her as a member of the Tory party. I realised that it would be unlikely that they would ask your polling number outside the building. I asked why she wanted to know. She replied that it was so we didn't get phoned later. I said that I thought that voting was meant to be confidential, after which she ignored me!

There have been tellers outside every polling station I have used. I don't usually have my card so it's moot but they are a normal part of the process. The one today was from the party trying to take the seat so I'm hoping it is a sign!

A teller is outside to take your number. It is then sent back to party HQ and it means you won’t have a knock on your door by party members to ask if you had voted yet, would like a lift to a polling station etc. it is done by all parties to make sure they get their voters out. E.g if when being canvassed before the election you said you were voting for that party.

The only issue might be if that had identifying rosettes etc. on within a certain distance of the polling station because that is not allowed. (I can’t remember the actual distance).

Same here.

It’s normal, and I’ve been voting since 1973.🤷‍♀️

I just had an unpleasant encounter with a teller - they asked me my polling number and I asked them politely why they required it, they said you don't have to give it to me in an aggressive tone. If outside polling stations they should identify themselves and tell you why they are data collecting. I've never encountered them before.

It's how exit polls are conducted too.

The parties often co-operate and share the info they gather, but in seats which are hotly contested you might find more than one party per polling station as they are really avid about getting their voters out.

I've been asked several times over the years - was a bit stunned the first time I was asked as the person seemed so assured and I assumed it was some sort of extra check (I'd moved from safe seat where no-one really checked to an inner city swing seat) and answered. Then felt really really cross about it!

Since then I've politely declined. Most people respect that, but some badger you - firstly about exit polling ("no thank you, the real results are only hours away") and secondly about later canvassing ("I'd be delighted to see someone. You haven't been round at any point in the campaign and I'd welcome the opportunity to state my views. Bye")

In some places I've lived I've seen this others not. Not this time, but it wasn't very busy at the local polling station.

It is a bit dodgy I agree! I remember my mum getting very irate about it, back in the 70s in our little village.

I've also encountered exit polls, I won't talk to them either.

I'm 54 and have never come across any, although I have heard of them. I've also never been polled to ask who I voted for.

@ITVX Is this your first rodeo?

We had Tory and LibDem tellers outside today - they always wear their party rosettes so you know who they are. None of the other parties will come anywhere in this constituency so I guess they don’t feel the need. I always refuse to give them my card number - choosing not to cast a vote is a legitimate engagement with the democratic process, and I don’t want someone chasing me up for not voting!

No. They ask for the number on your polling card, nothing more. They don't want to know who you voted for, only whether you have voted at all. Political parties have access to the electoral roll and they will often contact people on election day to remind them to cast their vote. If they have your polling number, they can cross you off their list because they know you've already voted and they won't call you to remind you. That's all. Nobody's obliged to give them any information, of course.

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/guidance-candidates-and-agents-uk-parliamentary-elections-great-britain/polling-day/who-can-support-you-polling-day/tellers

Exit pollsters might ask you how you voted, but again, you don't have to tell them if you don't want to. It's just so they can try to work out who might have won.

It’s quite normal but happens more in marginal seats. They don’t ask who you voted for but they just record that you have voted. If they think you are one of their supporters and you haven’t voted by about 8pm they will contact you to offer a lift to the polling station etc. They are just trying to get their vote out but you don’t have to give them your number if you don’t want to. It will just stop you getting pestered later.

54 and have not only seen it but done it! (not for the Tories)

So you door knock and canvass and have a list of your parties yes voters - you then ask for polling numbers as you have the electoral list - information is then relayed to HQ (quite often our house!) and you then ring yes voters who haven't voted to remind them to vote, offer lifts etc - so you can rally your troops out to vote!

Not even had a knock on the door from any of the parties. No one outside our polling station but we did have ipsos inside. You'll be pleased to know I helped sign jakes death warrant

@Sorenlorrenson What a wag! Is this your puerile attempt at sarcasm?

I’m in a new constituency and it’s only under this years’ extraordinary circumstances that there’s any sort of chance of this area not voting blue, but I’ve been voting here for 25 years and we have always had tellers from at least two parties, even when the majority has always been 20k for the Tory. So I don’t think it’s true that it denotes a marginal constituency - rather, more engaged activism.

I always say hello and have a chat with them. They're not usually from the party i vote for but they're nice.

Awww I remember my lovely mum doing this in the 90s and 00s!!

Lib Dem’s are doing it outside ours, just tell them no.

For those asking the OP if this is the first time she's voted you should know that it does not happen everywhere. I've voted in 6 different places over the years and had never seen it until I moved to where I live now.

I am 52 and never knew this. There is no one outside our polling station and never has been. I do live rurally. don’t treat people like idiots please.

We had a Lib Dem person outside of our polling station and we all remarked that we've never 'had' to give our number before! Oh and I've been voting for years.
Makes me laugh though, that you take your polling card in, show them and then they ask you to confirm your name and address ..... errr it's on the card that I've just handed to you and it tallies with my ID!

Oooo is this what they are haha I had no idea I just wave my card at them and walk in.

When I voted this morning hours after 7am they where dead empty still putting signs up.

Had the independent and labour come round since. Labour asked me who I voted for told her I wasn’t telling her 🤷🏻‍♀️ also want to know why/how she knew my name tbh 😅 didn’t see a sheet of names and addresses in front of her.

We do this here in the US but we don’t ask random people: only registered party members and we don’t ask them how they voted. We sometimes (state by state) have the right to scan the list of people who have voted so we can contact “our voters” and offer them a ride to the polls or otherwise GOTV.

When I lived in Chicago 30 years ago the ward machine was so active they left multiple notes on your door throughout the day to encourage you to vote.

Doesn’t bother me. I’m from Massachusetts where we consider politics a major sporting activity. I want my party to win. No point not winning. Also ran’s can’t get their policies enacted.