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!

Do you mean polling booth OP, or polling station?

They are not allowed inside the actual room (it's down to discretion the presiding officer if they are allowed e.g. in the porch etc - depends of the layout of the building).

They are definitely not allowed to be hanging around the booths.

I agree we had very aggressive one once we thought we had too and it was part of the process.
Today we had all three.

They only do it in seats that matter electorally. If you’ve never seen one, don’t worry it just means you’re in a constituency where your vote doesn’t really impact the big picture

It's always Lib Dems outside our polling station. Rarely see anyone from Labour or Tory. Today I just blanked them and they didn't bother me. I had my dcs with me though

Oh and my dad once knocked on someone's door to remind them to vote and she said she couldn't because her kids were in bed, so he offered to baby-sit while she went to the polling station.
She took him up on it!
Different times.

From the Electoral Commission:

[Tellers may] display a coloured rosette or badge displaying the name of the candidate, party and/or emblem or description; the rosette/badge should not bear a slogan and must not be oversized

Yes I always enjoyed it. People tended to get on well from all the parties. Swapping tales of campaigning and comparing how exhausted we were.

Please do report any tellers behaving inappropriately. Tellers Dos and Don'ts:

www.electoralcommission.org.uk/sites/default/files/2024-03/Tellers%20dos%20and%20donts%20generic%20EA220.pdf

As I said earlier in the thread, I've voted lots, in every local and national election and referendum since the early 1990s and have never come across tellers.

As you’re aware, now - they’re tellers. Voted in many elections now but never had one outside mine, either voting or when I’ve worked poll stations. You don’t have to tell them anything, just like you don’t have to tell doorknockers how you’re voting

The tellers are all volunteers so it’s hit and miss as to where they are.

You might find in a safe seat they don’t bother, and if it’s more hotly contested this time around tellers are more common.

I’ve not voted yet as just got in from work and I’ve already had Green party and Labour knocking on my door asking if I’m voting, didn’t ask about DH as he voted at 7.30 this morning.

Labour were doing the same outside ours. It is generally a night of no one explaining anything and assuming you know what to do and why you are being asked for stuff, inside and outside the polling station. Took my teenager in so she won't be clueless when she is old enough to vote.

You might as well tell them or they might come knocking later to remind you to vote which is irritating if you've already voted.

I have had both Labour and Greens knocking as it is a key seat.

How does asking for your voter number breach voter confidentiality? She wasn't asking how you intended to vote

I would have asked her how as a woman she could be in the same party as Boris Johnson. And pointed out that the traitor should only be spared hanging because we don't thankfully have the death penalty in this country.

We had a teller for the LDs outside our polling station today.

Even if I'm holding it I say I don't have my poll card (for the reference number) you're not obliged to and noone has ever phoned me about my vote (30+ years, always vote in person)

Obviously this can happen. No reason it shouldn’t. Good government groups and senior citizen centers often organize lifts to the polls, chairs and water for the lines, for everyone who wants to vote. The groups in the US urging what is called “motor voter” which is easy automatic registration or universal vote by mail (which has massively increased engagement in the states where it has been trued) are explicitly committed to encouraging lots of people to vote, not just party members.

Ive given lifts to neighbours—I don’t ask who they are voting for.

Possibly. Labour safe seat for as long as I can remember. Although they got a bit of a rattle in the locals.

Me too. Hopefully Jake the Fake will run off to Angelsey with his tail between his legs

I've been voting for the best part of 40 years and I've never been asked for my voter number!

Not true, it's down to resources. In marginals you may have fewer party activists than in very strong seats, so your ability to have tellers is less in a marginal than in a safe seat. You need enough activists on the day to have tellers and it is only useful if you have decent recent voting intention information - which can be predicted now without canvassing (knocking your door/calling and asking you).

Its quite possible some people will not see tellers at their polling station over several elections.

Perhaps - though the fact that two parties think you’re a possible voter makes me think you’re just really nice! 😂