UK General Election 2024

[Vexed]

Interesting experience going to vote just now (after settling on Lib Dems), it took about a minute and the presiding officer to come over for them to decide that my 18th birthday in May meant I could vote....

 

[jfollows]

Just a thought: Since 06 00 this morning we have been in 'Purdah'....the period during which the mainstream media are forbidden to discuss the details of the election campaign, the different parties' proposed policies, etc. Does that prohibition also apply to internet fora such as this one?

Clearly not.

The regulation is on broadcasters regulated by Ofcom (https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofco...in-a-general-election--what-you-need-to-know/) "discussion and analysis of election and referendum issues must finish when the poll opens".

Going further would end up crossing a line against free speech. The thought police would be popping up and telling people off for talking about it in the street.

There is no restriction on parties campagning or further restrictions on print or digital media, the latter being the closest category applicable to this forum.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

For the first time ever, I experienced a queue at the polling station this morning ( 08.30 )... that is indicative of a particularly high turnout. If that's replicated across the country, the results could take longer than usual to be declared.

 

[Tester]

Question from down under.

Do your polling stations have democracy sausages?

No - very much an Australian thing!

With first past the post voting is a much quicker operation, with less scope for the social side.

 

[railfan99]

They need to be received by 10pm. That is when the poll closes. Any received after that won't be counted. The first results will be declared around an hour after polls close.

Not generous! Where I live, a long way from the UK, our Electoral Commissions count a postal vote if received by Friday week i.e. 13 days after our Saturday elections.

So in England, one can't vote on the day using a postal vote and pop it in the post at Minehead for conveyance to Skegness. You'd have to vote maybe three or four days before the Thursday.

 

[Donny Dave]

The poll on this thread has had six members stating that they are voting Conservative. Would any of those six (at the time of writing) be able to explain their reasoning?

Simple. Despite all the media reports suggesting the economy is tanking, I don't believe the government is responsible for much of it.

As I've stated previously, Rishi has been dealt a s**t sandwich by the 3 previous Prime Ministers, and while he isn't a great PM, he is doing a reasonable job in those circumstances.

For those arguing about the lack of growth and high interest rates, please remember, that the historical (average) growth rate for developed countries is something like 1.3%. Also, interest rates now are only about average. The stupidly low rates of 2008-2022 were a massive anomaly, but one that has lulled a generation of people who now believe that was the true cost of borrowing, and today's rates are excessive.

 

[jfollows]

Not generous! Where I live, a long way from the UK, our Electoral Commissions count a postal vote if received by Friday week i.e. 13 days after our Saturday elections.

So in England, one can't vote on the day using a postal vote and pop it in the post at Minehead for conveyance to Skegness. You'd have to vote maybe three or four days before the Thursday.

If you allowed it you'd also have to undo election results because of it. Not going to happen.

In case of serious discrepancies because of a failure of the postal voting system, a re-election could be required in a specific constituency, as happened - for different reasons - in Winchester not too long ago, I believe.

EDIT On 20 November 1997 a by-election took place in Winchester following the general election on 1 May 1997 in which Mark Oaten was initially declared winner by 2 votes. In the by-election he won by 21,556 votes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_Winchester_by-election says:

Oaten was unseated on an electoral petition on 6 October 1997. The High Courtheld that 54 votes declared void for want of the official mark would have changed the result if counted. The court could not be sure they were not the product of a mistake, therefore deemed that the result was uncertain. They allowed the petition and declared the election void. The writ for the new election was moved on 28 October 1997.[3]

 

[JamesT]

Clearly not.

The regulation is on broadcasters regulated by Ofcom (https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofco...in-a-general-election--what-you-need-to-know/) "discussion and analysis of election and referendum issues must finish when the poll opens".

Going further would end up crossing a line against free speech. The thought police would be popping up and telling people off for talking about it in the street.

There is no restriction on parties campagning or further restrictions on print or digital media, the latter being the closest category applicable to this forum.

The one bit that is probably relevant to the forum: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/campaigning-your-vote/polling-day

It is against the law for anyone, including broadcasters, to publish the results of any opinion poll on polling day until polling stations close.

 

[D6130]

Clearly not.

The regulation is on broadcasters regulated by Ofcom (https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-ofco...in-a-general-election--what-you-need-to-know/) "discussion and analysis of election and referendum issues must finish when the poll opens".

Going further would end up crossing a line against free speech. The thought police would be popping up and telling people off for talking about it in the street.

There is no restriction on parties campagning or further restrictions on print or digital media, the latter being the closest category applicable to this forum.

Thank goodness for that....and thanks for the clarification!

 

[gg1]

Question from down under.

Do your polling stations have democracy sausages?

No, but having just googled them I full support their introduction

You might see the occasional sausage dog but that's about it.

 

[skyhigh]

Just been to drop off my postal vote in person. There was a small queue of people waiting and a Lib Dem member outside politely asking for addresses so that you could be crossed off their list (presumably of households to try and raise later in the day). Not a sign of any Tory. In 2019 they had a majority of 18%, this time, it looks as if they've given up.

 

[Peterthegreat]

The one bit that is probably relevant to the forum: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/campaigning-your-vote/polling-day

I assume that is any opinion poll taken on polling day rather than any historic polls.

 

[DarloRich]

Does that prohibition also apply to internet fora such as this one?

no. take a look at social media! Amateurs like us are allowed to discuss things. Professionals are not.

Question from down under.

Do your polling stations have democracy sausages?

We do have dogs at polling stations as a thing! As you can see from the rules above the media are keen to fill space until 2200. Cute dog pictures always go down well.

The poll on this thread has had six members stating that they are voting Conservative. Would any of those six (at the time of writing) be able to explain their reasoning?

some are too blind to see

 

[Thirteen]

I do think a few years of stability is what people want. The fact we have had five PMs in 14 years is nuts.

 

[jfollows]

I assume that is any opinion poll taken on polling day rather than any historic polls.

I imagine so.
I have done one for Opinium today, for example. They won’t announce until 10pm.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Interestingly I've noticed (or rather not noticed) that the usual posters in windows are conspicuous by their absence this year. In previous years (I live in a Labour constituency) many windows have had "Vote Labour" posters with some promoting other parties. This year absolutely nothing.

 

[DarloRich]

I do think a few years of stability is what people want. The fact we have had five PMs in 14 years is nuts.

we need some boring, mature, adult leadership

Interestingly I've noticed (or rather not noticed) that the usual posters in windows are conspicuous by their absence this year. In previous years (I live in a Labour constituency) many windows have had "Vote Labour" posters with some promoting other parties. This year absolutely nothing.

I have put 3 labour posters up so am trying to balance that out!

 

[spyinthesky]

For the first time ever, I experienced a queue at the polling station this morning ( 08.30 )... that is indicative of a particularly high turnout. If that's replicated across the country, the results could take longer than usual to be declared.

Quite the opposite for me, I have never seen it so quiet for a General election (11:30 about my normal time)

 

[MotCO]

Interestingly I've noticed (or rather not noticed) that the usual posters in windows are conspicuous by their absence this year. In previous years (I live in a Labour constituency) many windows have had "Vote Labour" posters with some promoting other parties. This year absolutely nothing.

This may be related to the fact that votes seem to be anti-Tory rather than pro-Labour. I saw one comment which said that the opinion polls show that about 50% of the population were going to vote for parties other than Labour or Tory - hardly a ringing endorsement for either.

 

[WesternLancer]

Interestingly I've noticed (or rather not noticed) that the usual posters in windows are conspicuous by their absence this year. In previous years (I live in a Labour constituency) many windows have had "Vote Labour" posters with some promoting other parties. This year absolutely nothing.

3 posters on my street in different houses - but I agree the practice is in decline - I think people are less keen to advertise their politics in the same way as used to be the case perhaps.

Might be a clue that the polls are wrong too

 

[Cowley]

Well we’ve just been and voted in our local delightful village hall. It’s going to be very tight in our constituency I think, so it feels like it really matters this time for a number of reasons.

I do think a few years of stability is what people want. The fact we have had five PMs in 14 years is nuts.

I was just saying to Mrs C that it’s hard to get your head around how much water’s passed under the bridge since the last time we voted in a GE , Boris and his BS, Covid, Partygate, The bonkers Truss, chippy Sunak etc etc.

To finally get a say in what happens next felt really good.

 

[DarloRich]

I assume that is any opinion poll taken on polling day rather than any historic polls.

Yes - the grand exit poll released to great fanfare at 22:00 ish

 

[birchesgreen]

This may be related to the fact that votes seem to be anti-Tory rather than pro-Labour. I saw one comment which said that the opinion polls show that about 50% of the population were going to vote for parties other than Labour or Tory - hardly a ringing endorsement for either.

I've only seen 2 posters the whole campaign (and i travel around a fair bit), a Lib Dem one and a Labour one... in my own porch window.

 

[WesternLancer]

I've only seen 2 posters the whole campaign (and i travel around a fair bit), a Lib Dem one and a Labour one... in my own porch window.

It does seem to vary by locality - I was in a safe tory seat the other week - but lots of garden stakes on verges / property boundaries, you would have thought it was a contest between the Greens and the Lib Dems to see the posters but I think it would be a long shot for either of them to win there

 

[Bald Rick]

The poll on this thread has had six members stating that they are voting Conservative. Would any of those six (at the time of writing) be able to explain their reasoning?

I‘m interested in the 12 members who said they were voting Reform. Genuinely interested why.

 

[railfan99]

I‘m interested in the 12 members who said they were voting Reform. Genuinely interested why.

On a Eurailpass, I visited Clacton in 2023, so was amused to see in today's 'Telegraph' a photo of Mr Farage speaking with Clacton Pier, where I walked to, behind him.

Not often a foreigner can relate to an election in what's a relatively obscure neck of the woods. I liked the heritage station at Clacton, and there were reasonable numbers using rail.

 

[nw1]

3 posters on my street in different houses - but I agree the practice is in decline - I think people are less keen to advertise their politics in the same way as used to be the case perhaps.

Might be a clue that the polls are wrong too

Mind you the only thing it might say about the polls is that turnout might be low, not that any one party will do better or worse than the other.

 

[Peterthegreat]

I‘m interested in the 12 members who said they were voting Reform. Genuinely interested why.

Agreed.

 

[nw1]

Quite the opposite for me, I have never seen it so quiet for a General election (11:30 about my normal time)

Maybe that's the political colours of Bulford? Normally a strong Tory area (I guess), perhaps the Tories are staying at home while the other parties don't have much support in that area.

 

[Gloster]

Mind you the only thing it might say about the polls is that turnout might be low, not that any one party will do better or worse than the other.

Yes, I think this is going to be a victory for apathy with a strong showing for ‘too embarrassed to reveal to pollsters who they are really going to vote for’.