So those people sitting outside the Polling station...

[ciderhouserules]

What are they doing? There was one today (festooned in Yellow rosettes and ribbons) who asked me for my Polling card. I asked why and he said 'just to record that you've turned up'. I just walked away.

The fact that I've voted is recorded by the Polling clerk inside the Polling station, who crosses off my Name and Polling number on the list.

So what do the people sitting outside record from me?

They are Tellers and work for one of the parties, but have no official role in the election. You are under no obligation to speak to them if you don’t want to.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teller_(elections)

They're called 'tellers' and they're there on behalf of candidates.

Thus is from the Electoral Commission.

"Tellers are people who stand outside polling places and record the elector numbers of electors who have voted [sic].

They can then identify likely supporters who have not voted and encourage them to vote before the close of poll.

Tellers have no legal status and voters can refuse to give information to them. The (Acting) Returning Officer is in charge of the conduct of the election. If they are concerned by the activities of tellers, they can ask tellers to comply with agreed behaviour or leave the polling place."

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

They can ask for your details. You can refuse. I haven't seen one for years, but when I did, I tried to refuse politely. I'm older and crankier now so who knows what might happen.

They're there for whichever party's rosette they wear.

Are you in a seat that's likely to have a tight result?

If they've canvassed the area then they'll have identified the people who might support them. If, by later today, they've got potential voters who've not yet cast their ballots then they might be called at their door and reminded the election's on and would a lift to the polling place be any use.

We had a teacher at school back in the seventies who told us about this stuff under the general heading of civics.

He also told a tale of an elderly lady of strong Labour persuasion who'd accept a lift from the Tory and tie the car/driver up for an hour by faffing round at home, in the polling place and then asking if they minded stopping at the corner shop for her fags and a bottle of milk stout!!

They represent different political parties and really they just want to know if you’ve voted or about to vote.Where numbers get close they will sometimes pick you up in a car to get you to the polling station.Mum always waits until they do that.😁

It’s all part of the arcane pageant of voting. I don’t mind telling them, they are part of the political system. Not my idea of a fun way to spend a day, but I admire their commitment.

X posts Bromptotoo😃

Per PP, the parties have access to the electoral registers and if they’ve canvassed you before they’ll likely know which way you’re voting. If you tell them your poll number (though you’re under no obligation to) then they’ll tick you off their lists. Basically, if they think you’re likely to vote for them and they haven’t ticked your name off they’ll probably come round after work to check if you’ve had a chance to vote.

That’s only really the case when they have a good local ground game, enough volunteers and have been doorknocking all year round every year regardless of election season. If they haven’t, then they’re just there for show.

If you haven't been to vote, sometimes people from one of the parties knocks on your door to remind you to vote. I'm presuming this is how they find out if you've been yet.

My parents are in their 70s and have already had the tories and labour on their doorstep asking if they need a lift to the polling station today!

You can comfortably refuse to tell them anything, I usually do.

They were outside my polling station. I did notice they didn't ask me for my details 🤔 they were asking other people (older generation). This explanation is interesting.

I always refuse to provide any details unless they are from the party that I'm voting for. None of their business otherwise, and I have no wish to help them with their data collection.

I'm always curious though about how the data that political parties collect from this kind of activity and from canvassing etc fits in with GDPR. What is the lawful basis for them holding the information that they hold - does anyone know?

The one outside ours was Lib Dem, I was happy to talk to him as I was voting for them anyway.

If there are reps from more than one party I suspect they work together!!

I can't believe this is even allowed, tbh - especially right outside the polling station.

At the very least, they should have to introduce themselves as associated with one of the parties/candidates and make it very clear that they are wanting to see your polling card for their political gain, rather than as a neutral agent working with the official voting process or seeking to help you. Personally, if they must be there, I'd make them wear a sandwich board emblazoned with their party and/or their name and 'candidate'.

I'm sure they'd protest "But I'm wearing a rosette!", but people don't always notice this and/or realise that it's a sign of one or other party - especially now it isn't just red or blue, but various hues of easily-mistaken colours. Them wearing a rosette is the equivalent of companies putting legally-mandated information that they would rather you not see in teeny, tiny little print.

I'll bet a lot of young first-time voters wouldn't have a clue that they aren't a necessary part of the standard electoral process - why ever would they? It's thoroughly dishonest of them to approach you and ask if you know/can show them your voter number, when they know full well that you only need to give your name and address - to the actual officials inside - and you never need to know your voter ID number yourself at all.

You might be right, but again, I'm curious about the lawful basis that they have for processing and sharing my information.

Not saying that there isn't one, but I don't understand what it is.

Consent, I imagine?

I never share it with them. Partly because I just want to get going.

We had some UKIP tellers putting pressure on people one year when I was running a polling station, I remember having to go and have words!

They are volunteers, not paid. My parents used to do it.

YOU know that, but how many other people don't - especially first-time voters or those with learning difficulties or other vulnerabilities?

You go to vote, taking your polling card with you, as you've been told that it can save time if you have it. Then, you get to the polling station and somebody outside the door, in smart clothes, approaches you and asks to see your polling card.

How on earth would you possibly instinctively know that you can decline to show it to them - and that they are seeking to politically gain from your personal information, rather than being an official neutral steward who is a standard part of the voting process?

It's the political equivalent of somebody hanging around at the door of the GP's surgery in a sharp suit and holding a clipboard, stopping you as you go in and asking you to confirm your name, address and the purpose of your visit - as they have a 'miracle natural cure' that they are selling and want to get your details for marketing it to you, by acting in a way that many people would assume meant they legitimately worked for the surgery.

They are annoying. I don't think they should be there. None of their business. Get a postal vote next time!

I'm not an expert on GDPR but if all they're doing is using a copy of the electoral register and ticking people off I doubt there's any breach.

Interestingly had nobody at out polling station at all, think the incumbent (con) has given up

Considering that they don't usually tell you who they are, why they are asking for your details or what they will do with that information - whilst hanging about in a manner that a great many people would naturally assume meant they were part of the official neutral process - I think they would be on phenomenally thin ground, legally-speaking, if they were challenged on it.

I have done this in the past and it’s a case of dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t. Lots of people mention that there wasn’t even anyone to represent the party at the polling station if there is nobody there and if there is you get abuse because people don’t like the party you represent, you can’t win.

It’s because the local candidate can’t be everywhere at once so there is a party member who will stand in for them to answer any questions people may have or to help with lifts etc. Most people don’t love doing it but they are perhaps passionate about the party or candidate and want to help. You aren’t under any obligation to talk to them but no need to be rude to them. Just say no thanks an move on.

Hmm. I wondered that with regard to the tellers. Perhaps recording whether or not someone has shown up to vote doesn't count as personal data. (Though I sort of think it should!)

But when they canvas door to door, I'm pretty sure that they keep a record of who says they will vote for them, who says not a chance etc. Don't they?

I have never consented to any party storing my information so I am assuming that there must be some other justification that they can use, but I'm just curious.

I get really angry about this, irrespective of party affiliation (although the Lib Dems are easily the pushiest). Last time I voted in the GE, the LibDem supporter virtually insisted on seeing my polling card, I’m afraid I lost my rag and told her that she had no right to approach any voter on Polling Day. People have died to achieve support the secret ballot, and this sort of thing is whittling away at that principle.

I complained about her to the Polling Officer. he said that they hated having them outside, but there was nothing they could legally do about it.