What method do you prefer to use to vote?

[AlterEgo]

A quick poll and discussion about how you prefer to vote. I like going to the polling station in person - it has a sense of mild occasion about it.

 

[jfollows]

I don’t want the hassle and in the past I might have been absent from home on polling day although that’s increasingly unlikely today. I just voted by post now. Good because I know I won’t change my mind. Bad if I might do so. So post every time for me.

 

[Oldgaloot]

I prefer to vote in person. I can change my mind up to the very last minute but that's not the point. Casting your ballot is one of the more important decisions you can make and I think it should be done in person on the day.

Writing this has caused me to wonder how many other advanced democracies have postal voting, and if they regard it as a good thing?

 

[DarloRich]

In person. I found postal voting sterile and quite dull. Like doing your bills!

 

[brad465]

A joke I've heard about election voting is that "it's the only time someone with a particular restraining order is allowed within 100 metres of their local school."

 

[jfollows]

I prefer to vote in person. I can change my mind up to the very last minute but that's not the point. Casting your ballot is one of the more important decisions you can make and I think it should be done in person on the day.

Writing this has caused me to wonder how many other advanced democracies have postal voting, and if they regard it as a good thing?

Well, the USA does, of course it differs by state, Republicans have tried to make it harder for likely Democrats to vote by post recently (for example, by closing or restricting places in likely Democrat-voting areas at which postal votes can be deposited).

 

[Ralph Ayres]

I much prefer voting in person; there's something quite uplifting about being part of quite a steady stream of people walking to/from the polling station, even if any one of them could be balancing out my vote. I also like to be able to delay my decision until the last moment though this time it's hard to see how anything could make me change my mind. For the first time ever though due to a health issue that may floor me on the day, I've applied for a postal vote. I'm not going to post it, but if I can't make it in person then the rules say (yes, I'm sure!) that my wife can on my behalf take it in its sealed envelope and hand it in to be counted.

 

[507021]

In person, I find it more satisfying.

 

[Jan Mayen]

Apart from when I did poll clerk duty, always in person.

Can never deide wether it's better to vote early, before work so it's done or later, then go to the nearby pub afterwards. Usually the former, as I'm worried I might get delayed (I often work late).

 

[Welly]

Back in 2019, I had to go first thing that dark December morning to my polling station and vote in person. I then picked up my rag from the shop and commented to the checkout lady about the inevitable headlines,"Too late, I have already cast my vote!"

 

[D6130]

Theoretically, I would always prefer to vote in person but - because my wife and I spend six months, in two stretches of three months, at our house in Italy - a postal vote is essential for us. This year, we were unfortunately unable to vote in May's local elections as the postal voting forms arrived after our departure for Italy. We may have been in the same boat had the General Election had been called for the autumn....but, thanks to William Hill Rishi Sunak's decision to call the election on 4th July, we shall be able to vote after all. My wife returned to the UK a couple of weeks ago for various events with which she is involved, but I shall be returning on 29th June - five days before the election. Our postal voting forms arrived a couple of days after her return and she posted hers the following morning. I'm looking forward to filling mine in and then taking it to the polling station in person.

 

[bahnause]

Writing this has caused me to wonder how many other advanced democracies have postal voting, and if they regard it as a good thing?

Postal voting has been possible in Switzerland since the 1970s and is now the standard. Around 94% of voters do so by mail. The voting documents with the relevant information on the proposals are sent by mail. The envelope can be reused free of charge to return the filled out ballot papers.

The opportunity to participate in voting is a cornerstone of democracy. Any simplification of this is to be welcomed; any restriction, whether in terms of time or place where voting is possible or other artificial requirements such as additional registration or specific identification documents, is seen as anti-democratic.

 

[OuterDistant]

Despite being someone who's done everything where possible online - in person.

While you're just scrawling a cross in a box, what you're doing has the potential to have far reaching consequences.

 

[nw1]

I've put "in person" as my preferred method, but this year I'm unable to, due to being abroad on election day for the first time ever since I first voted in 1992.

It's a shame I'm unable to do the whole election day thing at home this year, as I'd have enjoyed it much more than the 2019 s**tshow (in which I turned the radio off at 9.59pm and went to bed early!)

 

[sor]

in person. I had a postal vote during covid but have now switched back. My main gripe about the way the UK does postal voting is that it hinges on your signature, and for those of us with inconsistent signatures there is always the risk that your vote is arbitrarily rejected (and you won't be told until long after the election). I understand in the US, or at least in some states, you get the opportunity to fix this (eg by visiting a council office with photo ID to prove it really is you)

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

in person. I had a postal vote during covid but have now switched back. My main gripe about the way the UK does postal voting is that it hinges on your signature, and for those of us with inconsistent signatures there is always the risk that your vote is arbitrarily rejected (and you won't be told until long after the election). I understand in the US, or at least in some states, you get the opportunity to fix this (eg by visiting a council office with photo ID to prove it really is you)

Just out of interest, how do they determine whether the signature really is yours? Do they have something to compare it against?

I've just completed my postal vote using my signature which is nothing fancy, just my name written out in print - but then that's what I've used for everything. Hoping it doesn't cause me any issues.

Apologies if I'm being naive or missing something here.

 

[sor]

Just out of interest, how do they determine whether the signature really is yours? Do they have something to compare it against?

I've just completed my postal vote using my signature which is nothing fancy, just my name written out in print - but then that's what I've used for everything. Hoping it doesn't cause me any issues.

Apologies if I'm being naive or missing something here.

they keep the signature you used to sign the application form for a postal vote, that's why it'll tell you to not write outside the box. if it matches (and i believe they're fairly generous) then it will be fine

 

[lxfe_mxtterz]

they keep the signature you used to sign the application form for a postal vote, that's why it'll tell you to not write outside the box. if it matches (and i believe they're fairly generous) then it will be fine

Oh, of course(!!) Thanks - I'd completely forgotten about doing a signature for my postal vote application form.

 

[OhNoAPacer]

My preferred option of I don't have a preferred option seems not to be an option.

 

[johntea]

The polling station for my local area for July is a council building rather than the primary school that has been used forever, although it perhaps makes sense as they're only across the street from each other and it means they don't have to close school for a day!

 

[birchesgreen]

I like in person, i like the old skool nature of putting a cross on a piece of paper with one of those funky black pencils.

 

[Bantamzen]

I personally don't have a preference, this time out I'm postal voting because I won't be at home on election day. But in person or by post the impact is exactly the same, we are one of an average of around 73,000 voters in our constituencies, so our votes equal approximately 0.0014% of the overall result (depending on turnouts of course). So honestly these days voting for me just feels like another household job, any sense of occasion is long in the past for me.

 

[Ivor]

This year is the first time I’ve registered for a postal vote, lost the will with this Government (can’t say I have confidence in any of them) so won’t give my time to even walk to the polling station but can’t abandon voting even though thought I could but currently undecided where my vote will go.

 

[Whistler40145]

I do Postal Voting, simply the Polling Station isn't nearby, don't drive and it annoys me being asked if I'm going to vote for a party, I politely said that's between me and the Cross in the box

 

[zero]

It's not an option but I would prefer electronic voting.

 

[nr758123]

I would prefer to vote in person at a polling station. I did so consistently, with no problems, over a period of 30 years.

I now vote by post because I don't possess photo ID and it was less hassle to apply for a postal vote than to apply for approved photo ID.

 

[renegademaster]

I have had enough lost or delayed letters to be able to trust my postal ballot to make it in time, so in person

 

[Trackman]

I have had enough lost or delayed letters to be able to trust my postal ballot to make it in time, so in person

You could try the proxy option. I've always voted in person unless I'm going away or whatever, in that case I would apply for a proxy to vote for me. Never used postal votes.

 

[Huntergreed]

Definitely prefer in person where possible, as it allows for a much later decision deadline and a more “authentic” experience than postal.

This year I’m having to use postal as I’m travelling on election day, but I definitely prefer to use in person where possible. If not possible, I would always choose postal over proxy.

 

[bavvo]

I peronally prefer voting in person, as I like the experience, however, I feel if anyone wants a postal vote that would be fine, and shouldn't be made difficult or restricted.