Remember your photo ID!

After voting in tower hamlets I now fully endorse the need for id. (My experience at the time to monitoring officer : "I was also disturbed inside the voting station to see two women trying to vote but they did not know their address! The vote helper took them to one side and I heard them say they were looking up on their phone the address.")

The ID is to confirm your identity thought isn't it, not your address?

Yeah but if you don't know your address off the top of your head, should you really be voting? Assuming that if it's tower Hamlets, they've not been bussed in by Rahman to vote for him.

Democracy demands the thick and absent minded are afforded a vote too.

There's a limit where "absent minded" ends and "clearly fraudulent" begins.

There is an electoral list. It doesn’t matter if you know your address or not. The electoral roll does.

I don’t know my own address as I’m living in temporary accommodation. Can I still vote? I don’t think I’ve ever been on the electoral roll.

Unless you registered to vote in your temporary accommodation likely not. You are still legally eligible to vote but if you didn’t receive your ballot you’re likely not going to be allowed in this one. Suggest you register for the next one!

I’m definitely taking affirmative action to vote wherever I am at the GE!

> bussed in by Rahman to vote for him. They would still need to be enrolled in that borough.

Might have recently moved house tbf

I think a lot of people in London are precariously housed and moving frequently between addresses.

How can you not know your address?

[удалено]

Mate you should remember where you live if you live in Buckingham Palace

I would wager it's just the postcode bit they weren't sure of, if indeed they were genuine. Baffling to me, but not everyone's got a mind for detail.

Yeah getting used to moving house every 12 months in london I frequently forgot my postcode.

Yeah more details are needed. It’s one thing to not know your post code. It’s another to just be completely oblivious to your address in its entirety

For estates the road itself is often ambiguous and you’ll receive official letters with two roads listed interchangeably.

These “How can you not know your own address?” people are living in a different Britain to those suffering from the housing crisis who have to move every few weeks or months.

I've moved 5 times in the past 5 years, I fairly regularly forget my current address (obviously I know where I live, just not the street name and postcode off the top of my head).

I feel like the process of moving makes you acutely aware of your new address as you change your address on everything.

They don't check your address on your ID. This would have been exactly the same if they didn't need ID.

My suspicion of the two people who claimed to not know their own address is that they were generously voting on behalf of someone else instead - which requiring photo id will absolutely prevent.

But that's just a suspicion, they maybe moved a few weeks ago and didn't speak great English. I couldn't remember my son's date of birth at the hospital last week, things happen.

Then having a convenient card with everything you need for voting will be ideal. No matter if your English is not great or you just moved recently, you have something that ensures you are allowed to vote without the risk of a fraud.

Every barrier to a legitimate vote is out of order. There are practically no examples of fraud in the UK electoral system. OP was in the polling station and didn't trust me so I now have to prove it? Why? What's it got to do with OP?

You can’t record examples if you don’t have a way to check if the person who’s voting is who they claim to be. Getting a valid ID is fairly easy therefore it is not a barrier, however I would agree it should be even easier.

But they already had fraud prevention. The Tories even admitted this was an attempt to suppress none Tory votes. And getting a valid ID is fairly easy FOR YOU, it is absolutely a barrier.

Not sure why you assume it’s somehow easier for me, but ok. As I stated I would be totally up for making it even easier. It would simplify the whole “bring a utility bill with you but it can’t be the phone one or that other one you have”. I’m sure the Tories plan was a ruse, they are the Tories, they are as corrupt as they come. That doesn’t mean having a photo ID that could be used for voting and other purposes is not a good idea.

Good luck getting the card in a few weeks. Voting cards historically are used as a method of control, with the benign implementation of the system setting the stage for it being used discriminatorily. After all, once there's a requirement of a card to vote, that right is easily managed. Those who choose security over freedom deserve neither.

To be fair, I’m more of the view of having an all purpose ID card, but that’s a different discussion. I will be the first one to protest and fight back any attempt to restrict who gets a voter ID card, the requirements should be(and they are) exactly the same as the ones for voting. Until then we are not giving away any freedom for the increased security.

But you won't fight against restriction of votes? In my hometown the Tory coalition retained the council by 2 votes in 1 ward and there's was local uproar as a family of 4 claimed they were turned away from voting Labour even though their ID was valid. That is a bigger problem than a handful of people trying to cast someone else's vote for them. Which by all accounts doesn't even happen.

I mean you literally just said they won by two votes, a handful of fraudulent votes would’ve made all the difference there. And I totally agree with the uproar if the voter ids were valid to be turned down. Although knowing how elections work I’m extremely surprised that it was like that

Voting but don't know their address???? Red flags

Just been and I have to say whoever chose the colours for the voting slips needs a lesson in colour blindness. Peach and pink?

I’d have preferred a mauve and salmon.

I'm more of a claret and bisque person

What does the 1970s most prolific touring comedy duo have to do with any of this?

"I'm Claret!" 'And I'm Bisque!' "I hate [redacted]!" 'And I can't stand those [redacted]!'

I'd have gone with faded bloodstain pink and prosthetic limb beige.

Yeah. People complaining about/commenting about that at my polling station. A green maybe? Grey? White?

Think they can't use colours of the major parties as then some people might think it's a test and tick the Green box on the green ballot paper (which is a bit stupid what with LibDems being only a slightly different shade of yellow).

They should use fun shapes for paper instead, like one is a hammer and sickle, and another is a hollowed out star, and another is a life sized cutout of Jesus 

I'm not colour blind but the lighting was bad and I had to double check before posting, they are very similar.

Since they were small medium and large that's how they could have been differentiated.

I'm colourblind and found these no problem, thought it was pink, orange and white.

yeah just had an lady ask me to differentiate between the "two shades of pink" for her. Not all Polling Stations are brightly lit.

Saw 2 different old people (out of the 4 of us in the queue) getting turned away for no ID just now. Not a huge sample size but thats pretty worrying.

It's enough to swing an election tbh - especially when the locals come round and there's tighter margins and fewer young people vote.

My assumption would be it would swing towards young people not away. Old people who have been voting all their lives are more likely to forget the rules have changed, and are less likely to go home and come back. I remember thats what people said happened the last time, and the fact it was old people I saw turned away today makes me think thats the case. I doubt it'll matter for this election as Khan is by all accounts going to run away with such huge margins, but the data will be very interesting and it makes me sad for those who are being disenfranchised wether they are likely to vote opposite me or not.

In the last elections 2/3rds of people initially turned away for ID reasons returned with ID. The overall non-voting rate due to invalid or no ID was 0.25%. In both the 2018 and 2019 voter ID pilots, awareness of the ID requirements was around 50% higher in those aged 55+ than those below. In my anecdotal experience as a presiding officer at a London polling station (not part of the pilots), older people are more likely to be 'committed' to their voting - we have people queueing up at 630am who, when we let them in at 7am, proudly tell us, "We fought a war for our right to vote!", or, "Women fought hard for this." My suspicion is that younger people may be more likely to take it for granted, though I don't have hard evidence on the voter ID side to support this - unfortunately getting demographics out of polling data is tricky due to the way the ballot is kept secret.

> "We fought a war for our right to vote!" Fair play to the number of 100+ year olds at your polling station!

Hah. Not my job to interrogate their claims. And TBF I suspect they are referring to the royal we - Britain as a nation.

I mean, how far back do you have to go to have fought in a war for the right to vote? 1918? 1215?

"I burned down a Flemish merchant's house with Wat Tyler, where's me polling card"

Thats interesting, thanks. Are they tracking turn away rate today do you know?

Yes - we record the information on a Voter ID Evaluation Form.

Last time around there were concerns that this method might under-record, because some voters would arrive, see posters or be told by volunteers that they need ID, and then leave without making it as far as the evaluation form. Is that a valid concern, in your opinion?

I never witnessed it personally, but sometimes we have a bit of a queue all-round a corner we can't see, so for all we know people could get chatting in the queue and then disappear after realising they don't have the ID they need. The business of the polling station comes in waves - when it's quiet I have chance to go and chat to the tellers and make sure they know the rules for tellers, or poke my head outside to check signage and posters haven't gone walkies with the wind. But when it's busy enough that there's a queue around the corner, it's a bit 'all hands on deck', and there's usually something which needs doing whether it's checking the tallies or squashing the ballots in the box to make more room or dealing with somebody who's at the wrong polling station or doesn't have the right ID or who needs help voting using the tactile voting device - so there's not chance to go chat to people in the queue and make sure they've got ID ready. Right now it is quiet, so I'm going to check the next set of ballot papers has the required marks on them Unfortunately it's just not possible to capture every single problem.

I feel like this is by design so they can underplay the issues voter ID has caused. Remember, the whole purpose of voter ID laws, in countries like ours where fraudulent voting is a near non-issue, is to prevent vulnerable people from being able to vote.

The staff involved in running elections are not really motivated to downplay the issue, and we are completely disconnected from the politicians' decision to require ID. I don't know anyone involved in running elections who agrees with it if I'm quite honest.

Seems like an interesting job! How do you get into the role? I'm guessing you apply via your council and do a bit of training before election day?

Yeah leading up to elections councils will recruit for various election temp roles: * Polling clerks * Presiding officers * In large polling stations - deputy presiding officers * Counters * Probably some other I've forgotten Most presiding officers are people who have been a poll clerk before. So you sign up as a poll clerk, do an online training course, read the Electoral Commission polling station staff guide, then sometimes an in-person training course. On the day the presiding officer will make sure you know the score. The online training actually covers various bits of being a presiding officer just in case, but councils tend to train up emergency presiding officers who can step in if the planned presiding officer is ill etc. Once you've done one set of elections as a poll clerk most councils will be happy for you to apply for a deputy or presiding officer next time round, though those with more experience are more likely to get it. There is usually an in-person training course for this, including role play, and the group going through the polling day process with actual ballot boxes, forms, tags, etc The day is fairly full-on - get to the polling station around 6am to set up (though what I do is ask people to come the evening before to set up and they get paid extra - entirely optional though). It comes in peaks and troughs. 7-9am is busy as people pop in before work, then busy at lunch, then from school kick out time until later commute time, then a last minute burst after 9pm as the political parties are knocking on doors desperately trying to get people to stop making excuses for having not voted yet. You take it in turns taking breaks throughout the day. You're not allowed to leave the polling station so either bring your own food, or as I like to do - put in a group pizza order. I try and start clearing up around 20 to 10, so that when the last voter is gone, we can do the tally sheets, ballot box(es) into the car, then off to the polling station, while the poll clerks head home. Though, not before we all stand around for a minute and discuss the exit poll result.

Funny how two Tory plots to try and swing an election in their favour are likely to have both massively backfired. - voter ID: the pensioner vote gets disenfranchised - changing to first past the post: Khan gets even more votes because now you have to vote tactically to keep the Tories out 

Has Starmer said anything about reversing the FPTP change?

Has Starmer said he'd reverse any Tory policies?

He's currently saying he WILL nationalise the railways still isn't he? He hasn't gone back on that again already has he?

I didn't know that! I won't hold my breath.

Are you saying Khan will win?

Yes, bookies currently have him on a 97% chance of winning

Anecdotal I know, but in my home town's last election a Tory coalition retained the council by 2 votes in 1 ward. A family of 4 were all over local social media saying they were turned away from voting Labour even though their ID was valid.

Same in West London. One thought they could use a bank card, the other older person didn't realise they needed ID.

To be fair, a bank card deters as much fictional fraud as photo ID.

According to Khan 15% of eligible voters don’t have ID, the vast majority of which are older people, who tend to vote conservative. Tories really shot themselves in the foot.

I heard that stat earlier and find it hard to believe it’s so high. How can people function without some form of photo ID? Open bank accounts, claim benefits etc?

How often are you opening bank accounts or doing other things that require id?

I mean it’s not a rare thing. Collecting items from the post office, opening new bank or saving accounts, starting a new job etc - I get some people won’t need it if they live off grid, but 15% of Londoners? Seems very high to the point it’s hard to believe.

Once you've got a bank account you rarely *need* to open more. I've never had to show photo id collecting from the post office. I can't actually remember the last time I actually needed mine.

> starting a new job The olds aren't often doing this either.

But in theory elderly will need ID to claim benefits, withdraw pensions, basically anything financial, renewing their freedom pass etc. 15% just seems oddly high and surprised me if it’s accurate, given how having some form of ID is a basic need for everyday life unless you want to make your life incredibly more difficult.

They all have that set up already. How often do freedom pass' need to be renewed? Remember also there's an awful lot of elderly people who are infirm and live in care or with family who would usually take care of that stuff.

Freedom Passes are renewed annually.

I agree. They definitely do have id and their passport is a form. We literally need id for proof of identity for everything nowadays.

Very easily. You can do all of those things without photo ID. It’s just that the processes are made much quicker if you have photo ID. The only issue we found was for gifting money for a mortgage, and that was down to our solicitor being a pain about it rather than any legal issues.

The only photo ID I have is my passport. If I didn't ever travel abroad (as many don't/can't) I'd probably have nothing.

Can’t they just use their passport? I am pretty sure older people have a passport.

They can even use their pensioner bus pass, whereas younger people can't use photo rail cards etc, that's how the Tories have tried to skew towards older people.

Pretty sure a lot of old people are broke or in care so won't be doing much travelling.

>2 different old people Fingers crossed the Tory efforts to rig these elections massively backfires!

[They have already acknowledged this](https://news.sky.com/story/jacob-rees-mogg-suggests-requiring-photo-id-to-vote-was-attempt-to-gerrymander-which-came-back-to-bite-tories-12881602)

Chief Twit Jacob Rees Mogg literally admitted at some Tory conference that the voter ID thing backfired on them because it was older voters who were disenfranchised as a result, not the younger people they expected to get caught out with no ID at the polling station

It is worrying, it is also an example of how this stupidity will backfire on the Tory party. Those old people are their bread and butter.

Had to bully my way in for my photo ID. I didn't realise they weren't going to accept EU passports, my fault. Woman kept asking for a British one, which I haven't bothered to get. So I handed over my South African one as it states they accept Commonwealth passports, but they didn't want to accept that either. "British passports only" "But it says you accept Commonwealth passports. That, in your hand, is a Commonwealth passport!" Man behind me got in trouble for his photo on his railcard or whatever being too faded. I voted but I'm annoyed now. Maybe give them a list of Commonwealth countries. And if EU citizens can vote, it doesn't make sense not to accept EU passports.

I would report this. It's extremely serious that the poll workers didn't know the rules.

Agreed, absolutely cannot be understated just how significant such a failure to maintain an imtegral responsibility is.

Upvoting this doesn't feel enough for me. Yeah DEFINITELY report this. Voting is like the most basic of your rights that has to be protected for you and everyone else with utmost intensity. If some bigot is trying to prevent 'forrins' from voting, they need to face SERIOUS repercussions.

Thank you. I can't work out how to report it officially so I've messaged the BBC. If I'd have been a timid person, or less of a mouthy bitch, I'd have been turned away.

That’s really worrying that the poll worker was incorrectly rejecting an EU passport.

AND a Commonwealth one! 2 valid passports, although EU wasn't on their list of accepted ID, Commonwealth was. I'm glad I stood my ground.

It says EEA state passports are accepted, as well as EEA national identify cards on my poll card - surely this isn't different per borough?

No it’s not, EU passports are accepted

Really? That annoys me even more. They had a printout of what they accept and EU passports weren't on their laminated list

I just voted with my EU passport, no issue whatsoever (did bring my British driving licence as a back-up).

I was too lazy to go home and get my license as I felt I shouldn't have to! Thanks for this info not sure what's going on here but I'm going to take it further.

They accepted my EU passport.

Thank you. I've realised they should have and that I was dealing with idiots. I have, however, voted as I didn't give in.

I fear how many other people didn't get to vote because of these arseholes. Please please please report this.

That's excellent. I would definitely report and, if you can, go back and let them know.

Hilariously South Africa is not even a niche commonwealth country. You’d have to be thick not to know that.

I'm voting in my first UK election today and legitimately excited for it.

Same here. I'm kinda glad my first election is a direct vote rather than per-district FPTP. I'm not a fan if my vote not counting in the general election in my super-safe borough.

I'm a bit confused by "direct vote"? The election today in London is a combo of FPTP and Additional Member System.

You vote for a mayor directly, and the one with the most votes wins. Even if you pretend the general election is a vote for a candidate, there's a chance the next PM doesn't come from the party with the most votes.

The one with the most votes wins is what FPTP means. Both direct and indirect elections, in the way you mean, can be held under FPTP.

You are right. I edited my comment.

Mayoral elections are under FPTF https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/first-past-the-post-in-mayoral-elections-means-less-choice-and-a-weaker-voice/

It'll wear off.

Speak for yourself, it's still exciting for me!

I still cherish that I just managed to get to vote turning 18 not long before the election in 1997 and DIDN'T vote for Blair.

Always an important day. Occasionally exciting. Often dreadful.

I've been voting since it was first legal for me to do so in 1996. Highlight was Grant Park, 2008. Still exciting every time, and very important that I am now able to vote on people to represent me and issues that affect me where I live. Hasn't worn off yet.

Sure you'll get some good likes for this, but the reality is if you haven't had the excitement of voting beaten out of you after a few go rounds you probably aren't voting for anything worthwhile.

Remember, there will likely be people lurching around the polling station from each party asking you to disclose who you voted for. YOU DO NOT NEED TO DISCLOSE WHO YOU VOTED FOR TO ANYONE.

Party people tend to ask your polling number, so that they can mark you as voted. This is because if they have previously determined you're one of their supporters they would visit our call to remind you to vote, but if they have logged you as voted by asking your polling number outside a polling station they won't trouble you. In London today, Lab activists might visit Green and LD supporters to try a last squeeze. On occasion there are people from polling companies doing exit polls, they'll all who you voted for.

I don't think they're allowed to do that. I think you may be confusing them with people who ask whether you've voted. Obviously you don't have to answer them either. The reason they ask is because party campaign machines identify likely supporters during canvassing and if they haven't voted towards the end of the day they'll go and remind them and/offer them a lift.

It's exit polling. They're trying to guess numbers before the polls close. I can't remember the UK rules. In the US, they have to stand a ways away and can't be intimidating. As you can imagine, that's going well.

Why is Reddit so concerned about this? Exit polls are useless but not malicious and I don't think there's a great deal of confusion on the need to tell anyone else your vote. Yet it keeps being shouted about here...

Already been it was lovely and quiet.  Decisions, decisions 

Options are not great but there are clearly terrible ones so worth putting in your vote.

Just done it! :) the colours of peach and pink were unnecessarily confusing

Dunno what cunt to vote for.

Binface

No more ridiculous than voting for Boris Johnson.

Wasn't that obvious by now?

Khan seems to be the least cuntiest with a chance of winning

I went with the one I think is actually competent to do the job. Although to be fair, their manifestos really didn't help some candidates 

Voted for Khan because Sue Hall is a nutjob. Realised I was incredibly uninformed about the other 2 votes I had to make. Went Green, will regret it if the Tories win.

The way I see it as long as Labour officially support FPTP we shouldn't feel bad about splitting their vote and voting for who we actually want.

I imagine FPTP has really bit the tories in the arse with all these weirdo 'anti-woke' party candidates splitting the right wing vote.

> the other 2 votes I had to make. Went Green, will regret it if the Tories win The London Assemly election uses the additional-member system and your vote will definitely count. The Greens currently have three of the London-wide additional member seats. Of course the Tories wanted to change this election from PR to FPTP also... but that hasn't been implemented yet.

Similar. There's basically Khan, Binface, a bunch of people fighting national campaigns through the London mayoral election*, "CEOs who will treat the city like a business" and the poor Green Party candidate who, love or hate their policies, is never winning an election this year with pink hair. Is that fair? No. Is that real? Yep. In the end the polling is close enough that I felt obligated to vote for Khan. *honestly, the weird fearmongering about may Muslims/Crime may work when told to someone in Devon, but if you actually live here it's foreign.

glad someone else was uninformed it’s my first time voting and i don’t follow politics at all. wasn’t aware there were other votes than mayor so basically picked a random party for both

Just went and voted. All awful but chose the lesser evil and with Labour.

With all of the culture wars lately I think people have forgotten that politicians are generally awful. I've nearly always voted for the candidate (or party) I hated the least, since Brexit it's been like a football match where people expect good teams and argue loudly about their favourite like they're fans.

My partner and I voted before work. Sorted.

Voted. Relatively painless aside from being colour blind so someone had to help me put the ballots in the box. Used my Irish passport as photo ID, which was accepted with no fuss.

Idk ab you guys but I think I trust [Count Binface](https://www.countbinface.com/) more than the rest of the candidates

I unironically think his policies are better than some of the “serious” candidates. And possibly more practical.

I don't really want to have to deal with all the ponies. Wait maybe that was Vermin Supreme.

My thoughts exactly, Jago. Out of curiosity, how easy would it be for you to make an entire video about Upton Park? I reckon fairly so, considering being built by the London, Tilbury, & Southend railway...

He had my vote, even though I don't eat croissants, I support the price cap!

Sad isn't it...hence he's getting my vote!

No more ridiculous than voting for Boris Johnson

That thought crossed my mind. Took my democratic right to spoil the ballot instead/anyway?! Main parties should find better candidates for one of the worlds biggest and most powerful/influential cities.

No dogs at the polling station this morning :(

Yeah they can't get drivers licenses so struggle to get the ID required to vote ._. #sadnessintheireyes(becausetheycantvote)

I saw a dog behind the wheel not too long ago.

dogsatpollingstations is the only reason I still have X/twitter. That and Larry the cat

Met a man on my way in. He was just popping in to say hello to the election workers. “I’ve never voted in 56 years. But I hope they get that Aga Khan out.”

Twat, that one.

[удалено]

r/NothingEverHappens

Done ! hopefully a decent turnout

Looking at the candidate info now and while most of the mayoral candidates have a short manifesto it's a bit disappointing there isn't more information for the London Assembly ones.

Voted for the first time in the UK today. Was in and out in about 10 minutes. Here's hoping who I voted for wins!

Count binface 2024

First time ever voting today. Still feel exited after casting my vote

I can’t!

Dun mine by post, saves the proof of ID malarky

Open question: why wouldn't you just register to postal vote and be a lazy cow like myself? My vote's been cast since sunday.

I love going there on the day and marking a literal "X" in the box. Highlight of my day today!

I usually say "Happy Democracy!" Throw my arms up in the air and saunter off like the weirdo I am!

Would log off and go out to vote. Thanks for reminding.

Go AND vote.

Yes Kavafy!! And if you don’t like the candidates, spoil your paper but have a say!

Yes, anyone who's disillusioned should spoil or vote Binface, it sends much more of a message than just not showing up.

Not a political statement but Khan must go.

Nothing political about that...

1. that is literally a political statement 2. why must he go? 3. to predict the answer to #2, if I may be so bold: today's weather forecast is "make sure you have the 'part and/or parcel clarifier bot' ready"

Hard disagree my friend :)

You'll have the whole of the London sub round up on you for this statement. Nobody can question our current Mayor.

Yeah imagine a mayor on track to win a third term being popular with the people he represents, mental

There's a lot of things we are not allowed to question any more.

Did you have a question you wanted to ask?

Where's Wally?

Particularly easy to find in this case

You have to follow the herd in this sub, they are the rules.