Missed voters

[vim_fuego]

Why do you have to decend to insults?

You choose to be obtuse assuming everything is on my doorstep. 30 mins melts away when you haven't been at work for 13+ hours. Don't hand it out if you don't want it back.

 

[propersplitbrainme]

15 hours is plenty of time for the average citizen to find a window of opportunity to go and vote in. I suppose, like Vim, a lot thought that an opportunity would present itself during an otherwise busy day but unfortunately ended up cocking it up and leaving it too late. Vim seems quite philosophical about it and realises that, with 20:20 hindsight it would have been better to have elected to do a postal vote, whilst others will kick up a fuss and look to blame someone else for their own lack of foresight and planning.

 

[Ex-Splitter and Proud]

15 hours is plenty of time for the average citizen to find a window of opportunity to go and vote in. I suppose, like Vim, a lot thought that an opportunity would present itself during an otherwise busy day but unfortunately ended up cocking it up and leaving it too late. Vim seems quite philosophical about it and realises that, with 20:20 hindsight it would have been better to have elected to do a postal vote, whilst others will kick up a fuss and look to blame someone else for their own lack of foresight and planning.

What is that old saying...????DT_Xtremez_06:

Oh yes --- Prior Planning Prevents P155 Poor PerformanceDT_Xtremez_42:

 

[Sospan]

What is that old saying...????DT_Xtremez_06:

Oh yes --- Prior Planning Prevents P155 Poor PerformanceDT_Xtremez_42:

Indeed, most of us sensible types that thought we might be busy elected for a postal vote. Do they teach them anything at Cranwell?

 

[Mightierthan]

Why do the polling stations open until 2200 if, as most of you seem to suggest, people should organize their time better and vote well before then?

They open until 2200 so that people can, if they choose, turn up anytime before then and vote.

If someone turns up at one minute before closing, that person is allowed to vote. I believe the law states that as long as people turn up by 2200 the polling station can remain open so they can vote. Some polling stations, it appears, were not aware of that and turned people away incorrectly.

 

[metimmee]

As I said before, I think you are all being a little hasty in condemning the voting public. Read some of these stories. Folk turning up 8/9pm to vote, ie in good time, and still not being able to.

 

[Kryten]

As I said before, I think you are all being a little hasty in condemning the voting public. Read some of these stories. Folk turning up 8/9pm to vote, ie in good time, and still not being able to.

I dont agree - whats wrong with getting up early in time to vote at 0700, rather than leave it until last thing at night?

Its one day every five years; people should start thinking and stop moaning when they leave it to the last minute and then can't get in because everyone else is doing exactly the same....

 

[Ex-Splitter and Proud]

As I said before, I think you are all being a little hasty in condemning the voting public. Read some of these stories. Folk turning up 8/9pm to vote, ie in good time, and still not being able to.

Nah, metimmee.... people who can't manage their time or organise an alternative don't deserve a vote. DT_Xtremez_42:

 

[metimmee]

I dont agree - whats wrong with getting up early in time to vote at 0700, rather than leave it until last thing at night?

Its one day every five years; people should start thinking and stop moaning when they leave it to the last minute and then can't get in because everyone else is doing exactly the same....

FFS 120 minutes before closing is hardly the last minute! If I chose to go at 20 00, I wouldn’t expect to queue till 22 00.

The problems haven’t been limited to queuing. There have been reports of insufficient ballot papers being printed and constituency lists being out of date….there is no valid excuse for these occurrences.

I think we can agree that next time around, voters in those constituencies might vote a little earlier.

 

[Kryten]

FFS 120 minutes before closing is hardly the last minute! If I chose to go at 20 00, I wouldn’t expect to queue till 22 00.

The problems haven’t been limited to queuing. There have been reports of insufficient ballot papers being printed and constituency lists being out of date….there is no valid excuse for these occurrences.

I think we can agree that next time around, voters in those constituencies might vote a little earlier.

I would agree with your last point, but 120 minutes in a 15 hr window is (to me, anyway,) leaving it until the last - especially as it is highly likely (and was borne out by yesterdays events) that so many people felt that it was so important it could be left until two hours or so before polling closed...

 

[Little Tronk]

Why do the polling stations open until 2200 if, as most of you seem to suggest, people should organize their time better and vote well before then?

They open until 2200 so that people can, if they choose, turn up anytime before then and vote.

If someone turns up at one minute before closing, that person is allowed to vote. I believe the law states that as long as people turn up by 2200 the polling station can remain open so they can vote. Some polling stations, it appears, were not aware of that and turned people away incorrectly.

That is the case if people are INSIDE the Polling Station and have their BALLOT paper in their HAND then they are entitled to remain as long as it takes. You CANNOT enter the Polling Station after 22.00.

 

[Little Tronk]

In each Polling Station there is only ONE register that EVERYONE has to be ticked of from. Therefore if everyone turns up in a 2-3 Hr window they ALL have to be ticked of that ONE register - no amount of staff can speed up that process.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing but 15 Hrs is a large window - Sorry, no excuses ESPECIALLY if, as some people appeared on the news, they are desperate to vote!

 

[metimmee]

In each Polling Station there is only ONE register that EVERYONE has to be ticked of from. Therefore if everyone turns up in a 2-3 Hr window they ALL have to be ticked of that ONE register - no amount of staff can speed up that process.

Sublists A-D, E-H etc..

 

[Little Tronk]

Sublists A-D, E-H etc..

But that is still only ONE list!

 

[monobrow]

But that is still only ONE list!

No it's not, and it allows multiple people to be handed their ballot paper if the staffing levels mean that it is viable.

 

[Ex-Bay]

I was in my local polling station at shop opening time and there was only me there.
Last time there were two clerks with the register. This time only one. Could this be some cut-backs (sorry - 'efficiency saving' ?).

But I noticed that the Electoral Commission has opened it's communications for folk who feel hard done by.

Now we see what hole-in-the-corner arrangements will be made. . .

 

[metimmee]

But that is still only ONE list!

You said initially that you cant speed it up because there was only one list per polling station, implying that there is a single queue and that it is beyond the wit of man to speed it up in some way. Its not impossible to speed things up as per my example, sub lists, multiple queues, more booths; polling places are scalable, IF the polling stations are resourced and organised…...or folk could just turn up early.

 

[Kryten]

You said initially that you cant speed it up because there was only one list per polling station, implying that there is a single queue and that it is beyond the wit of man to speed it up in some way. Its not impossible to speed things up as per my example, sub lists, multiple queues, more booths; polling places are scalable, IF the polling stations are resourced and organised…...or folk could just turn up early.

I'd agree with you on that....

 

[Ex-Splitter and Proud]

...or folk could just turn up early.

Yep - that'd do it!DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[Ex-Splitter and Proud]

Here's a possible alternative - Saturday voting:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/


Mind you, I guess there'd still be whingeing from those who couldn't manage to get to the polling stations on time
DT_Xtremez_42:


Interesting view on compulsory attendance and also having staggered voting. That might just workDT_Xtremez_35: