MSE News: You don't need a polling card to vote

DarkConvict

fly_dragon_fly wrote: »

great i wish i'd seen this earlier i didn't vote because i thought i couldn't as i misplaced my card grrr

If you had a chance to read the card / paperwork it does state it is not required but would speed the process up.

Unfortunately as seen tonight many people have turned up without their cards and slowed the process, this has led to queues of upto 3 hours and voters missing the 10pm deadline.

rev_henry

So it's actually Martin's fault for telling people not to bother with polling cards that so many people were turned away!

heaven_scent

Its worth noting too that those officious people outside the polling station who demand your name and number are from the political parties and you DO NOT have to tell them anything. However, it may save a knock on the door later if they tick you off as having voted!

squirrelchops

I was glad I read this Thursday as my card hadn't come through so I didn't think I could vote.

Also at work yesterday someone hadn't voted as they thought you had to have the card. She was gutted when we said you didn't need it. I bet many people historically haven't voted as they haven't had their card. Therefore spreading the word that you can vote is surely a good message for everyone to know.

anotherginger

i worked as a poll clerk on thursday and can say that although people without poll cards did slow up the process, and main problem was with people who had turned up to vote who hadn't registered, couldn't vote, wouldn't leave the queue and tried to demand a ballot paper.

we also had many people in the queue who had gone to the wrong polling station (it's written on your poll card!) expecting that they could vote anywhere.

and people who wanted someone to have a political rant at... a poll clerk doesn't care who you vote for, what your opinions are, and won't tell you who to vote for.