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Original poster

Polling station drama llamas.

102 replies

Peppatina · 23/06/2016 12:36

I can't be the only one enjoying a spot of polling station drama can I?

Two heavily tattooed men very angry that they have had a postal vote come through but no voting slip and they want to vote. Poor helper frantically trying to get hold of head office.

A polish couple also very irate at being told they are not eligible to vote and storming off.

Anyone else got any polling station drama to share?

(Just trying to distract myself from the anxious wait now!)

OP posts:

YourPerception · 23/06/2016 12:38

I feel sorry for the staff.

ArcticMumkey · 23/06/2016 12:42

My DH is working at a polling station and says they are getting lots of aggressive people demanding pens. Same people saying it's all 'fixed' and their ballots will be amended

Original poster

Peppatina · 23/06/2016 12:44

Yep they did seem very ready for it to be 10pm!

I don't know if it was just me but I felt there was a lot of tension in the room, much more so than general elections.

OP posts:

Original poster

Peppatina · 23/06/2016 12:46

Oh dear Arctic, I really hope the tension doesn't spill over in to any aggression to staff.

I have had a few Facebook messages reminding me to take a pen.

Might be a bit useless in my case, all I have are those erasable ones

OP posts:

MrsDeathOfRats · 23/06/2016 12:47

No real drama to report as wasn't in there for long! My polling station is always very quick and empty during the day. Don't go after 6pm though!!

The staff did seem a bit weary and it did feel more tense then normal.
There were many people standing out front that sort of stared at me and Dd as we went in. And none of them were English. All chatting loudly and they seemed annoyed. (Didn't understand what was being said as wasn't spoken in English)

Northumberlandlass · 23/06/2016 12:49

I usually work at a polling station, I'm not today & I'm missing it!

Hassled · 23/06/2016 12:49

I saw that taking a pen bollocks on FB too - why, because in the gap between the voting closing and the votes being counted there will be teams of conspirators with giant rubbers furiously erasing crosses? It's utter nonsense. When and where exactly will that happen? The Electoral Commission keeps a close eye on everything that goes on and are by their nature impartial.

lazymongoose · 23/06/2016 12:52

Not sure all pencils are the same but the ones in our station were a beast of one, nobody will be rubbing that out

Mookbark · 23/06/2016 12:53

I was the only one there when I voted on my way to work this morning and I wasn't a drama llama . I was only there about 30 seconds. Two people came in as I left, maybe they made up for my lack of dramatics.

Northumberlandlass · 23/06/2016 12:53

Anyone has the right to check the ballot box seal....you mark your vote, you put it in a sealed box and no one opens it until they get counted.
You count at long tables. Any representatives can stand & watch every part of the process from when the ballot boxes are opened until the votes have been counted & figures passed to Returning Officer. I just don't understand WHERE people think their votes will be tampered with!!
There are so many rules & regulations surrounding voting. I'm not sure everyone appreciates that!

fourmummy · 23/06/2016 12:54

Mine was in the tiniest room I've ever been in. GE room was massive (same polling station). Significant?

PlatoTheGreat · 23/06/2016 12:56

I'm not sure why on earth they would use pencils when ots clear its open to abuse (not saying it will but that it can poentiky happen)
Fur the same reason, I know people who have a postal vote who haven't sent it but decided to bring it to a polling station as they didn't trust anyone not to 'loose' the vote.

People seem to have become very negative and tense around this election...,

MrsHathaway · 23/06/2016 12:56

I think you can hand your postal vote in at the polling station if you didn't get it to a postbox.

At our polling station today a teenager was in tears because she was convinced she had registered to vote (for the first time) but she wasn't on the list. Don't know if she felt more embarrassed or disenfranchised.

NerrSnerr · 23/06/2016 12:58

When I went this morning it was only me and the lady who runs the local library baby group. Neither of us caused any drama. My husband will vote tonight so he may cause a stink (he won't though because he is really shy)

Muskey · 23/06/2016 12:59

No drama at all very relaxed atmosphere no one demanding pens

Cheeseinthetrap · 23/06/2016 13:01

Not much drama, just a little old lady with a leave sign right outside the polling station in the bloody rain and a volunteer trying to get her to leave, it was all very British, soft voices, cup of teas were mentioned, sadly no yelling.

Owllady · 23/06/2016 13:02

MrsHathaway you can take your postal vote to a polling station if you haven't posted it and it will still count :)

We vote via post so I miss out on any drama

Original poster

Peppatina · 23/06/2016 13:02

Maybe it's just my area then.

It does tend to be 'interesting'.

OP posts:

Northumberlandlass · 23/06/2016 13:03

It CAN'T 'potentially' happen....the boxes are sealed, checked & checked and then open in front of witnesses!

You can take a postal vote into any polling station. There are separate admin envelopes for them!

TotalConfucius · 23/06/2016 13:03

The biggest drama we have had so far involved two mums turning up for playgroup (accompanied by toddlers of course) to find the hall seconded by polling station.
'Oh how ridiculous' said one
'Bugger it, let's go for a spin round the park then' said the other.

Although someone is sitting on the bench outside Vaping. That won't end well.

SpaghettiMeatballs · 23/06/2016 13:03

Very, very relaxed. Ladies chatted to DS (2) for ages and let him post my vote in the box.

No drama at all.

LazyJournalistsQuoteMN · 23/06/2016 13:06

Apparently, when we vote, it is usually a lead pencil is used because if the papers got wet or faded, lead will still be visible whereas ink would fade.
I can't vote, but the outcome is very important to a lot of people and could affect their lives and both their and their dc's future. I'm not surprised there is so much emotion being expressed, although there's no need for aggression.

Hesalovernotabiter · 23/06/2016 13:07

Went to vote at 11.30, it was all very relaxed and chatty, the ladies making a fuss of my toddler etc. One of the ladies received a text from her son who was working at a neighbouring polling station- they were competing to see who made it to 200 voters first 😊 They said based on numbers across the two polling stations they had triple the number as they would have had at this point for a general election. Admittedly hugely unscientific but very interesting.

They then made my bloody day and asked if it was the first time I had voted

LunaLoveg00d · 23/06/2016 13:07

No drama here either. Very sedate and calm. Mind you, it's just over a month since the Scottish parliament elections so it's not really a novelty.

I worked a Scottish election in a polling station once and it was very non-dramatic, most interesting things were the little old ladies wanting a chat and people turning up at the wrong polling station and having to be sent to the one along the road.

Emochild · 23/06/2016 13:08

I was the only person there at 9.30 when I went -school is open so I waited for the school run mums to leave

However there were 6 security staff and 2 pcsos outside which was fairly intimidating

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