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Brexit
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:
SurelyYoureJokingMrFeynman · 23/06/2016 13:37

Battalion war diaries are written in pencil, presumably for the same reasons of durability.

And I can vouch for the fact that water-damaged ink documents (1851 census springs to mind) can be illegible.

Some modern inks perform OK when wet, though. Biro should be OK. Naice pen... not sure I'd want it to be caught in a downpour moving boxes or have a glass of water knocked over on it.

SlimCheesy2 · 23/06/2016 13:40

Our officials did look really tired though. Long day ahead of them.

Pretty I have not scrutineered for 20 years, but way back then the scrutineers are not paid (usually volunteers from local political parties) but the officials are as they are employed by the Electoral Commission.

LurcioAgain · 23/06/2016 13:40

Bumped into a friend as we were doing the school drop-off - vote - run thing - we chatted quite amicably, got our ballot papers and went and voted for opposing sides. No drama at all.

Dizzydodo · 23/06/2016 13:41

prettydumb they get paid. I'm doing the count tonight (thanks to the poster who said that makes me a hero Grin) and I've worked as a poll clerk at previous elections. It's very interesting, but I wouldn't do it for free!

OhYouBadBadKitten · 23/06/2016 13:42

all very calm and sedate at ours :) much busier than normal.

LunaLoveg00d · 23/06/2016 13:42

Very funny article on the pencil drama:

newsthump.com/2016/06/23/massive-eu-referendum-conspiracy-foiled-after-voter-uses-a-pen/

Seeline · 23/06/2016 13:42

pretty dumb yes polling station staff and counters get paid - years ago when I worked at the Council, the rates were very good. It was seen as one of the few perks of local government Smile

Eigg · 23/06/2016 13:47

No drama with us. Lots of smiley cross party remainers outside and not a Leave candidate to be seen.

Nice little queue inside.

Happily used the nice pencil provided. Smile

CaroleService · 23/06/2016 13:48

Mumsnet experts: can I take my dh's postal vote in, all sealed up, or does it have to be him?? He forgot to post it, basically

Thank you!

RedToothBrush · 23/06/2016 13:57

One for the Remain Tin Foil hat club:

Polling Station 'looked like an EDL rally'

PausingFlatly · 23/06/2016 13:58

You can definitely take your DH's sealed postal vote in for him, Carole.

I always have my postal vote taken for me, as I have mobility probs.

Lolimax · 23/06/2016 13:58

Off later to vote. Taking DS to vote for the first time (he turned 18 in Jan). A day of firsts- he's having a tattoo as I write. I know he'll ask me what to vote! (In son or you're walking home)

BeautyQueenFromMars · 23/06/2016 14:06

My husband caused a huge drama this morning, a little after 8. He misheard what the polling clerk said to him, and gave his surname twice instead of confirming his first name. Everyone had a little chuckle - that's the two of us and the three clerks - and then we voted and left. Outrageous, it was. Grin

WhirlwindHugs · 23/06/2016 14:13

DH voted later than me and said there are now a bunch of blokes in union jack shirts hanging around outside Hmm

Northumberlandlass · 23/06/2016 14:15

Last GE I was paid £195 for day as a Presiding Officer (expected to be there at 6am to set up Polling Station, put out signs etc, responsible for that Polling Station and everyone in it, then take down all signs, tidy up, complete A LOT of paperwork, close at 10pm and take Ballot Box to allocated point). You will also receive 40p per mile for petrol, £25 to attend a training session prior to the day.

The Count is less than that, not sure how much as I don't do it anymore. But the count is a flat fee, regardless of whether or not a re-count is needed!

Iamliftzilla · 23/06/2016 14:16

I don't want to be a drama lama so I though if check with yiu all.... I dropped DHs postal vote in at the polling station this morning. They wouldn't let me post it into the ballot box instead they put it to one side with the used cards. Now is this correct as previously I posted his form with mine as I put my vote into the ballot box? They told he I wasn't allowed to put it in the ballot box but they would have it separately.

IamliftZilla · 23/06/2016 14:17

DH is paid £250 to be a presiding officer here.

kelper · 23/06/2016 14:18

No drama here sadly, although I did get into a conversation about where I'd been on holiday because my arms were tanned! Sadly no-where, I just overheat really quickly so can usually be found with bare arms from about 10 degrees upwards. My legs aren't the same colour. He said he'd take my word for it!
They all said it had been rather busy so far this morning (This was at about 10.30) So I think they were a bit taken aback by the interest!

Northumberlandlass · 23/06/2016 14:21

No, you can't put it in the Ballot Box as everything that goes into the box has to be double checked with the Voting List so all numbers tally. If you put your DH's postal vote actually in the box, there would be one vote too many, compared to the ballot papers issued. Does that make sense?
It would cause chaos at the count!!

Iam - where is your DH? I'm going to offer to work there!

Northumberlandlass · 23/06/2016 14:22

It wouldn't have been put with the used cards, there is specific envelope provided for postal votes. When dropping off the ballot box later, they will hand over the envelope containing postal votes.

Titsalinabumsquash · 23/06/2016 14:25

Police got called to a near by one because a lady was filming everything so it can't be tampered with Hmm

DS caused uproar at the GE one because both DP and I though the other one had him and he got out the pushchair and slid under the booth of one lady and up her skirt, she demanded something be done because it was private and he might tell someone her vote.... He was 2 at the time and we both apologised over and over. We won't be taking the children again.

BishopBrennansArse · 23/06/2016 14:27

The only drama I saw today wasn't at a polling station it was at a particularly dangerous junction with pedestrian crossing over a dual carriageway at the back of DS1's school.

Bunch of leave campaigners waving about and trying to catch drivers' attention.

Bloody dangerous. A man was killed there a few weeks back and that wasn't the first fatality there.

Dizzydodo · 23/06/2016 14:28

northumberlandlass it is an hourly rate for the count here, a fairly generous rate this time due to unsocial hours, I counted the police and crime commissioner votes in the day and that was less per hour but you still get paid what you work not a flat fee like the polling station staff.

RoseDog · 23/06/2016 14:29

Our polling station has 2 boxes for the votes, I nearly put mine in the wrong box, the man behind the desk almost had a heart attack...what does it bloody matter!!

Iamliftzilla · 23/06/2016 14:29

Thank you northumberlandlass that's reasuring. I can only assume and hope they move it to the postal vote envelope later.

Iam he is working in hampshire. the money to one side, getting to run a busy city polling station is definitely one of the high point of an otherwise normal local government job. Although they haven't got nearly enough pens - no one wants the pencils!