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!

I agree with you and you get tellers everywhere but when I lived in a very marginal constituency people came in from neighbouring areas to do it. I have done it myself in the past .

I used to live right over the road to a polling station. When it was in a wmc. Its moved to a church now.
I saw all sorts and yes tellers were one of the things. Some pushy, some unbothered.
I was rarely asked anything by them, not sure if because resting bitch face or that I go to vote late on. And later on they usually have some idea which way it's gone. And often the tellers are gone by 7.30. It's just stragglers like me after the rush hour.

Yes, YABU to resent a normal part of our democratic process. Just posted on a another thread to say you can't have a functioning democracy without political activism.

Just politely say 'no thanks' if you don't want to say.

The parties will find out the information anyway when they get the marked register:
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/running-electoral-registration-england/access-and-supply-electoral-register/supply-marked-register-and-marked-absent-voting-lists

Your name will be accessed via device now, each party has their own system.

Think you must be right. We are in a seat that has never been anything other than tory and still had the teller outside the polling booth. Maybe this is a slightly different to usual situation as Torys are expected to be hammered. Maybe having a teller is more essential than in previous elections!

The Conservatives are working in seats previously so safe they did not need tellers this time - there will be more activity in many areas.

Sounds pretty amoral to give lifts to people to the polling station to press gang them into voting.

" I said that I thought that voting was meant to be confidential, after which she ignored me!"

How you vote is meant to be confidential. The fact that you turned up at the Polling Station is not.

I've never seen an election where there haven't been tellers. One time a local representative rang the doorbell and asked if I'd like a lift to the Polling Station as I'd slipped past them. She was fine when I said I'd voted and not for her party, but she said that all the reps she knew were happy to take voters to the Station regardless of how they would vote - they were just concerned that everyone who wanted to got the chance to vote.

I haven't seen tellers for years. I live in a solid red seat, literally hell would freeze over before it changed hands

There are tellers at most elections, but not all stations as they often don’t have enough volunteers. Some can be quite good, others can be an utter pain in the arse.

youre not obliged to give your number and they should not pressurise you but some do.

Well I'm 60 and have never seen a teller either. I don't take my polling card with me and have no idea what my number is.

I was a Tory teller back in 1987, out in the villages, nearly everyone was happy to share their number and have a chat. Back at local HQ the numbers were crossed off the list and vehicles sent out to bring in the supporters who hadn't been down to vote. I think the idea was to improve turnout as we were in a true blue rural community within a safe Tory seat so it wasn't going to change the outcome. Tonight will be very interesting to see if that seat falls to Labour.

Nobody outside my polling station just now.

3 labour tellers outside ours.
I nearly swore and told them go away and l wasn't voting labour! Their faces were like Thunder.

I’ve never seen one, either - is this more of a town/city thing? I’ve always voted at the same village hall polling station, until recently.

Haha I remember those cars coming round in the evenings in the 80s/90s with a megaphone out the window urging people to vote/bully into voting labour.

Well I've been voting for over 30 years in several constituencies and never come across a teller, or even heard of the concept until this thread! I'd have been a bit perplexed too OP.

The first year I ever voted, my mum told me there might be people outside but they were nothing to do with the official business and I didn’t have to tell them anything. I wouldn’t have realised that if she hadn’t said!

No, I don’t think it should be allowed. It’s pointless anyway!

Why be so aggressive?

Just because you dislike the party is no reason to be rude/hostile. I just say 'no thanks' and go about my business.

I’m R&D too - keeping everything crossed!!

It is very much not pointless - it is part of the process of getting the vote out.

You don't have to tell them as you are aware.

Don’t tell him your name Pike.

Sounds pretty amoral to give lifts to people to the polling station to press gang them into voting.

How? No-one is forced to accept a lift, or to vote for any particular party, or to vote at all - anyone is free to spoil their paper, or leave it blank.

Oh seriously?

It is not press-ganging, it is helping supporters exercise their right to vote.

Yes if pressure is applied it is wrong, but do you not understand that many people want to vote?

I did Polling Station duty a few years ago and the actual Tory candidate came in and tried to shake everyone's hand. He got thrown out.

Edited to add, @Jutemat It's not press-ganging into voting for anyone, you could accept the lift and vote Monster Raving Looney if you wanted. They don't stand over your shoulder at the polling booth, they go and pick up the next lot up while you're voting and take you home when they drop them off.