Your Vote Is Not Confidential.

10ClarionSt | 13:20 Fri 03rd May 2024 | News

21 Answers

When I went to exercise my franchise yesterday, there were 2 guys at the table. The guy on the left asked for my ID and address. He looked it up and said to the guy next to him, 215. The guy next to him entered 215 in a box next a long number, on a sheet full of bempty boxes and numbers. He then gave me my voting papers. There was a long number on the back of them that matched the one on the sheet where he'd written 215.

This is clearly not a confidential vote. I know what people will say: this is just a measure that is used in case anyone makes a claim of election fraud, and checks can be made if verification is needed. I get that, but it's still not confidential is it? How do we know that no-one checks this stuff? We don't do we?

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ToraToraTora

who ever said it was?

naomi24

As far as I'm aware that's how it's always been done. Your vote was never really your secret.

New Judge

Similarly with a postal vote - your voting paper has a serial number which matches one shown on the accompanying letter (and which the Local Authority obviously has filed against your name)

ichkeria

You can register as an "anonymous elector" apparently. I would not be too happy about this state of affairs if it was in Russia but I don't think I'll be getting a knock on the door at midnight any time soon ...

zebo

I recall going with my Mother and Aunt to the Polling Station and when they were in the booths I heard my Aunt call Oh, Alice, I've left my reading glasses at home. Mother called to her, Ours is the third one down! That's how secret the ballot is!

10ClarionSt

Question Author

Thanks for the replies folks. That's funny zebo. I can imagine one or two people I know doing that!

Canary42

It is a secret vote. I challenge you 10ClarionSt to find out how I voted.

carolegif

I folded my paper over when I popped it into the box, and the lady official said that the counters didn't like that and were cross as it took time! If I hadn't, my vote wouldn't have been private!

Canary42

I always folded my paper.

bhg481

Zebo @ 13:29. You remind me of when our daughter went to vote for the first time. We explained to her what all the canditates stood for etc and went down to the polling station to show her the ropes. I went into the booth, voted and came out and then she went in. Suddenly out of the booth "Dad, who did you say I had to vote for?". The expression on the face of the official was priceless.

ToraToraTora

13:42 I think I know😁

Canary42

LOL

jourdain2

Way back when in the 1960s I helped a friend, whose mum was involved with one of the local parties, on 'sitting around welcoming duty'. I was too young to vote myself, but worked out easily that it would be possible to discover who voted for what because of the system. 'Twas ever thus and I don't suppose the system has ever been abused.

fiveleaves

Anyone know what dispensations are made for blind people in voting?

I read a tweet where one lady complained she was made to state her preference out loud

ichkeria

From RNIB website:

If you have difficulty completing the standard print ballot paper, you can use a tactile voting device to help mark your vote in the correct place. Under the Electoral Commission guidance, each polling station is required to provide a tactile device for people with sight loss.

The tactile voting device has a sticky backing, which attaches on top of your ballot paper. It has numbered lift up flaps (the numbers are raised and in braille) directly over the boxes where you mark your vote.

You will need to use the large print ballot form or ask someone (a companion or polling station staff) to read out the list of candidates to you. The candidates are in alphabetical order. You will need to remember the number of the candidate you wish to vote for, then lift the flap with the same number and mark your cross (X) in the box.

You can then detach the tactile device and fold your ballot paper in half before posting it in the ballot box.

Peter Pedant

Yes - no it has always been like this - there IS an audit trail which CAN be followed. It is a long stretch to say " and so they must be !"

The other way is that all disputed votes are shown to the candidates so they can decide who has voted for whom if any.

so an X put near a labour box MAY be taken as a Labour vote

Brian Redhead ( if you remember him, god dont these journos give themselves airs!) did this. His vote was predicted in public and the lickle soldier went ape-shut. (Tory) - then it was found he had written an essay on god knows what on the ballot paper and this meant it was shown to all the candidates

However, Redhead claimed to be more of a Tory wet, not a socialist, and stated that he had cast a personal vote for Macclesfield's Conservative MP, Nicholas

Peter Pedant

Another case was a doctor who postal voted for all his NHS patients in a nursing home ( twit) - and clearly there has to be an audit trail for any trial - ( convicted)