'You need less ID to vote than to park or bank' blog discussion

dzug1

barrymoney wrote: »

I suppose its a bit odd that you can vote without the polling card... must be a reason for it (??).

They can go astray, people forget them, they are no proof whatsoever of ID.
And there is no actual requirement on the electoral authorities to issue polling cards at all.

donquine

Old_Wrinkly wrote: »

I thought they were supposed to ask you for your name, not give it to you. I suppose you were either the sole occupant or the only one left to vote, but I don't think that was quite in accordance with the rules.

Only female left, so it was obvious it was me. But it felt too easy... I mean, my name and address is on the electoral role, so any member of the public could pull that and beat me to the polling station... and if I decided not to vote or couldn't due to some emergency, no one would ever find out. I guess that's another reason why we should all make every effort to vote!

I really do think ID should be shown.

Nile

So there is an irony that in the most important consumer decision we make (see MSE voting guide), frankly anyone could’ve walked in, said they were me and placed my vote.


But you're so [STRIKE]loud, fast talking and totally unique,[/STRIKE] well known Martin.............how could anyone be fooled by an imposter.:D

Unless of course the other Martin Lewis (the news reader) lives near you?;)

Regarding security at the polling station............I've seen a porta-loo next to a polling station with a padlock on it..............the loo gets more security than our vote.:eek::rotfl:

emweaver

Old_Wrinkly wrote: »

Clearly this shouldn't have happened - for a variety of reasons.
Even if she had been given a standard ballot slip (and I'm not doubting you, of course - just playing devil's advocate), she is entitled to have a replacement - in case she put the mark against the wrong name, or unintentionally spoiled it.
Unless the clerks are saying that they saw her put a ballot paper into the box, then she should have been entitled to one.

last election i wasn t allowed to vote i messed up my ballot paper they said i couldnt have another

Crabman

Bizarre happening at my local polling station. Proxy vote for my sister was not initially issued, but when I voiced concern and took out phone to give the local city councillor a call they magically changed their mind. They even scowled at me! :rotfl:

Not that I'm suggesting impropriety but why their decision changed upon my call to local councillor I'm not sure...

Bargainetta

[Am I the only person that finds this lack of ID a huge and refreshing change. If I want to buy a weekly train pass for just one stop I need a passport photo which will cost me almost as much as the ticket itself. Crazy! The voting system when done in person seems to work so why fix it? Postal votes may well be another story.]

fiendishly

so, did anyone get to the polling station and find that their vote had already been cast by persons unknown?:question::question:

not_loaded

The abuse of votes rarely happens because of the detection being so easy. Once the real voter turns up, the issue is ‘on the table’. Clearly, you’d be wasting your time fiddling just the one vote, so you’d have to be into it in a big way, say, dozens or hundreds of votes. By logical extension, the likelihood of discovery would then increase. As soon as irregularities of any consequence appeared the poll would have to be rerun.

emweaver wrote: »

last election i wasn t allowed to vote i messed up my ballot paper they said i couldnt have another

If you made a simple mistake, you can return the paper to them and have a fresh one. Not quite sure what you mean by messed up? There are rules and regs to how they and you can behave in the polling station.

whiterose11

My MALE friend managed to vote using his sisters polling card when he was sixteen. It said MISS KATIE KEYSE not easily mistaken for a boys name. its disgusting!!!:mad:

Crabman

not_loaded wrote: »

The abuse of votes rarely happens because of the detection being so easy. Once the real voter turns up, the issue is ‘on the table’.

This is why I am slightly suspicious of phone calls late on election day asking, "Hello, have you voted for Mr Blobby? No? Will you be voting?"

It gives all the information necessary for a 9:55pm spot of impersonation.

P.S: We don't have a candidate called Mr Blobby, but if we did, I would vote for him