Preparedness for when

jk0

Here's an odd thing regarding voting:

The other day I received a proxy vote. This was correctly addressed with postcode to my house, but to someone else.

It was a proxy for another person I'd never heard of. I rang the helpline, and told them I thought someone was trying some sort of fiddle, and shredded the slip.

I've been trying to think why this happened if it wasn't a mistake. Could someone have been trying to prevent someone from voting by setting up an imaginary proxy at my address?

Also, why are there still proxy votes? If I was disabled, I wouldn't trust someone else to vote for who I said. I'd have a postal vote.

moneyistooshorttomention

I seem to recall there was some sort of scandal re proxy votes before now and/or voting at Polling Stations in person and a number of people turned up to cast their vote - only to be told (wrongly) that they had already voted.

Meant someone else had stolen their vote basically as I recall.

Are you in a marginal constitutuency? ie one where just a few stolen votes all voting for the same candidate could mean a different person got in instead of the one that is "supposed to".

ivyleaf

jkO how strange! And as it seems to have come to your address by mistake, presumably someone will have missed out?

We've had 1 Conservative leaflet, one UKIP, one Green and 2 Labour, one of the latter pointing out that local children's social services have been classed as inadequate under the current Conservative MP's watch.

This has usually been a Conservative area, except in 1997 when Labour got in. Their MP turned out to be very much a yes-man and always toed the party line (as does the Conservative MP we've had since.). They (Labour)'ve got someone different now though, who actually runs a local business, whatever next?

Frugalsod

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

I seem to recall there was some sort of scandal re proxy votes before now and/or voting at Polling Stations in person and a number of people turned up to cast their vote - only to be told (wrongly) that they had already voted.

Meant someone else had stolen their vote basically as I recall.

Are you in a marginal constitutuency? ie one where just a few stolen votes all voting for the same candidate could mean a different person got in instead of the one that is "supposed to".

Such election fraud is exceptionally rare and only works in very low vote areas like for council posts. It would not work in even a marginal constituency because there are so many more votes and to ensure the candidate was picked would require a lot more proxy votes and that would significantly increase chances of detection.

Even postal votes have lots of security and I have already returned my postal vote.

thriftwizard

We're in a very marginal seat; old LibDem MP (who was an excellent, hardworking representative, whether I agreed with her policies or not) retiring, and a new young keen candidate taking over. But last time it was a close-run thing, so the Tories have been out in force, tackling the probable Lib Dem voters head on, almost arguing people to tears in the street. BUT they're hitting the wrong target - every third poster is a UKIP one, and those ones used to be blue.

Mind you, if the Greens had actually done any campaigning round here, they could have eaten significantly at the Lib Dem vote, from what I'm hearing when I talk to people. But they haven't...

greenbee

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Hi GREENBEE I'm being abandoned for a few days by the guy with the wheels and I'm going to have a concerted 'rhubarb fest' and make multi rhubarb based things to go into the freezer. The stuff doesn't freeze at all well on its own but made into crumbles, cooked and then frozen it works well. He'll be taking quite a lot up to DD though as she always has many willing takers for the surplus. It's a long lasting crop though and I'm sure there will still be plenty for you when you are home again and free to meet up for coffee!!! Jam jars, yes please I'd love some. See you when you're back and have a couple of hours free to meet us. The willow slips have been a great success and most of them have taken and are growing away well. We might need to fill in a couple of gaps in the teepee in the autumn if you're likely to have some spares then? Lyn xxx.

There will definitely be spares Lyn! It probably needs repollarding, and I might use some bits to fill gaps in the hedge. And I'll save my jam jars for you. I'm around for a bit in the second half of May, but travelling for most of June.

[Deleted User]

Super, I'm off at the end of May but only for a weekend for DD1s last concert of the year, let us know when you're free and we'll come and meet you. The willow whips would be much appreciated later in the autumn, most of them have taken really well but the odd one isn't showing signs of coming into leaf. Look forward to seeing you again, Lyn xxx.

boultdj

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

You should see how much I've got of the 'desperation jam' I made at about this time in the rhubarb season last year!!! We have a 16 foot row of the stuff on the allotment and it's growing like a forest and He Who Knows does so hate to let any go to waste. My 'just enough for a couple of days dear' seems to produce vast bagfuls that would feed an army, a hungry army, for a week!!! I like rhubarb, don't think I don't, but I KNOW there is such a thing as too much!!!

It makes a very nice rose coloured wine.....

moneyistooshorttomention

thriftwizard wrote: »

We're in a very marginal seat; old LibDem MP (who was an excellent, hardworking representative, whether I agreed with her policies or not) retiring, and a new young keen candidate taking over. But last time it was a close-run thing, so the Tories have been out in force, tackling the probable Lib Dem voters head on, almost arguing people to tears in the street. BUT they're hitting the wrong target - every third poster is a UKIP one, and those ones used to be blue.

Mind you, if the Greens had actually done any campaigning round here, they could have eaten significantly at the Lib Dem vote, from what I'm hearing when I talk to people. But they haven't...

That surprises me in some ways actually. Personally, I tend to think I'd only put a poster up for someone that was a "popular" candidate (so that means the ones I wouldn't vote for then in this area:rotfl:) or a Green Party candidate. Any other candidate and I wouldn't put a poster up....;). They'll all be absolutely certain about my not voting for a couple of candidates that richly deserve a non-vote....but they cant tell just who I actually will be voting for. I wish the Greens would drop just one policy that's all....just one measly little policy...and I could vote for them (again)....and its one that is nothing whatsoever to do with the environment.

jk0

If I remember rightly, wasn't it a lot of Asian voters who's votes were stolen?

The Proxy vote I received was for an Asian name, and the Proxy had a British name. It seemed very odd to me in view of Asians being such private people.