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?

There is an argument, though, that people who aren't really bothered one way or the other - and who, left to their own devices, would choose not to use their vote - are just needlessly diluting the vote of those who do care very much.

Maybe it's a bit like when tiny children get excited about their crayons and insist that mummy or daddy must tell them which their 'favourite' is - you just pick one at random and say any old thing to humour them, but you don't actually have any preference or care at all.

How do you know that people whom you have down as 'supporters' - but who have nevertheless not been staunch enough in their support to actually bother to go and show it at the ballot box, nor to request a lift there if needed - do go ahead and vote the way you hoped?

What if they were quite happy, thank you very much, not taking part - but when you turn up and hassle them, they just go to get you off their backs and deliberately spoil their ballot or even vote for your rival as a sign of their annoyance?

Personally, I think that, as long as people who need a lift/assistance to vote know how to ask for it if they want to, the democratic and honourable thing to do is to allow those who clearly don't really want to participate to be free of hassle and pressure to do so. True free democracy includes the right to choose to abstain. The country was wall-to-wall non-stop election coverage - it's not like anybody didn't know it was election day.

I found that I never had time to look at people's names - once I had the number and was jotting it down, they had gone inside.

@Politicians247UnderwearExtinguishingService

Personally, I think that, as long as people who need a lift/assistance to vote know how to ask for it if they want to, the democratic and honourable thing to do is to allow those who clearly don't really want to participate to be free of hassle and pressure to do so. True free democracy includes the right to choose to abstain. The country was wall-to-wall non-stop election coverage - it's not like anybody didn't know it was election day

Where would you draw the line with that though? No adverts, no stunts, no battle buses, no celebrity endorsements…just give people plain printed copies of the party manifestos and let them make up their own mind?

I think the evidence suggests that canvassing and “get out the vote” activity does make a difference. I think it can particularly help reach people who are disconnected from politics (and often they are the ones whose lives are most buffeted by political decisions). I spoke to people on polling day who didn’t realise it was happening today or didn’t understand what the election was for (“are we voting for the prime minister?”). People might have an idea what’s happening nationally but no idea of the local picture (in a two way marginal, convincing people to who are wavering e.g. LD/Lab but really wanted the Tories out that there’s only one sensible way to vote can make a lot of difference).

You do obviously get a few people grumbling about being disturbed at home but I think I hear more grumbling that “no-ones every bothered to knock at my door before” - I think it helps people feel like their vote is important.

I couldn’t vote this year because I was in bed with Covid. Total silence from all the parties though so ‘Give us your number or we’ll knock on your door’ would have been an empty threat.

Yes, I think this is the rub. They have no interest at all in getting in touch to see if you need help in all of the years between elections.

If you're ill, disabled, elderly, vulnerable - not bothered in the least. When they want your vote, though, they care deeply about your welfare or circumstances that may prevent that - just for that one single day, mind.

It's like the politician equivalent of never bothering to visit your elderly parents, never phoning, never helping, never asking how they're doing... but being round there like a shot as soon as they've gone and there may be an inheritance to be had.

Yes.

I think that applies to a lot of people, but this time round I was grateful that not having my poll number ticked off their list didn’t generate a visit. I was far too busy sleeping.

A couple of lovely friends offered to do any shopping I needed & I was never so bad that I couldn’t stick a bowl of soup in the microwave, so they wouldn’t have been able to help much.

I agree though that it would be good if they paid a bit more attention to people who do need help.

It sounds like you want political parties to be operating as some kind of social care service?

Speaking for myself here but I am helping people in my community between elections, but via organisations that are actually set up to perform that function.

Doorknocking is held regularly throughout the parliamentary cycle to listen to issues constituents are raising and feed that back to the local party / MP. Obviously not with the same kind of intensity that happens during elections, but it’s still part of the day-to-day work.

A big part of the reason I joined a political party and am active in local campaigning is because the state is failing to deliver social care and welfare services, leaving people high and dry and volunteers trying to patch over the cracks. I’m only too aware of the problems, I want to try to get the right people elected who can solve them!

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No, I'm not expecting them to provide regular social care services - although it would be nice if these were fully available as required, thanks to their actions in power.

It sounds like you are one of those rare political party people who DO care and treat it as a duty to serve, rather than just as power and/or an income; but an awful lot don't seem to view it that way.

Maybe it's because we're in a safe seat - our outgoing MP was a member of the cabinet and has still been replaced by another (parachuted in) for the same party - but we never get any correspondence or public presence suggesting that the MP or their party is interested in us at all.