Polling stations

[Juz]

Hi everyone,

Probably a stupid question, but I'm in the dar as I have always ignored politics.

The people who sit outside polling stations asking for your card number.........

Who are they and why are they doing it.

I did ask them but they gave me the 'oh it's nothing to worry about, it's just stats', so I said i wouldn't worry and didn't bother telling them my details.

What's it all about.

Also, how come I could vote for upto 3 people?

Juz

[aclivity]

exit pollsters?

they may want to count the number of people who vote. You don't have to tell them anything.

[Clare Gledhill]

They are almost certainly 'tellers'.

When political parties run campaigns, they first 'canvass' support by knocking on doors. They record the answers and then cross off who has voted by getting numbers on the day.

If they can identify that one of their supporters has not voted, they will remind them by phoning or calling round.

Giving your number tells them nothing but the favt that you have voted so political parties sometimes share this info. They should only approach you on the way out - trying to talk to you on the way in is in breach of the RotP avt as it could be seen as harassment.

In some places, there is no campaign, no canvassing but they keep the tradition on telling going to have a presence at the polling station.

The reason you got three votes is almost certainly because you live in a large ward which has three councillors - you vote for any three you choose.

[Juz]

Originally Posted by Gledders

They should only approach you on the way out - trying to talk to you on the way in is in breach of the RotP avt as it could be seen as harassment.

I was most definitely asked on the way in.

What's RotP avt?

Juz

[Bogwoppit]

I was amased to see that labour couldn' be arsed with my Ward. They must feel very safe!

I am afraid I had to grow a Goatee smoke a pipe and wear Jebus Creepers today.. Oh the shame..

[Lou]

Originally Posted by Bogwoppit

I am afraid I had to grow a Goatee smoke a pipe and wear Jebus Creepers today.. Oh the shame..

Legalise ??

Sorry. It was the only semi-valid use of this most annoying smiley I could think of.

[BigG]

I believe that these people are also collating info, trying to see who's winning. i.e if they ask 1 exiter out of three and record the results, they can build a fairly decent picture of who the probable winner will be.

When asked I politely tell them to bugger off.

I'll never forget the day that the conservative party came to my house to "pick me up" as their records showed that I hadn't voted yet and the polls were closing in a couple of hours. I politely told them to bugger off.

[Juz]

Originally Posted by BigG

I believe that these people are also collating info, trying to see who's winning. i.e if they ask 1 exiter out of three and record the results, they can build a fairly decent picture of who the probable winner will be.

That I can understand, but I was asked on my way in for information - card number and my address.

Juz

[Gavin Yates]

Originally Posted by Juz

I was most definitely asked on the way in.

What's RotP avt?

Juz

The Representation of the People Act is the legislation that covers elections.

[dry suit diver]

I got asked on the way in, all they asked was polling number didn't ask affiliation to any party or how I intended to vote.

On way out they just smiled and wished me a good evening, very very nice people but they were not wearing a red rosette

My 4 year old enjoyed crossing the 3 boxes I told her to.