Local Elections on Thursday. - Page 3

Less · 03-05-2007, 14:57

Well as you all know I recently moved from one house to another just two streets away, but I crossed a border so I no longer live in Accrington West, I live in Accrington Central.

This gave me a great deal of pleasure because the thought of being able to cast my vote against a man that doesn't speak English, not only as his first language but in any comprehensible way at all was something I was looking forward to.

However it didn't quite work out like that with my move being so recent I had to go to my old polling station and put an X against the guy opposing one of his friends.

Less (nee Britcliffe)

andrewb · 03-05-2007, 15:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

just a thought, no polling cards arrived at our house this time, but a card arrived yesterday stating( YOU Dont need your polling card to vote, just turn up and give your full name and address. ) as i know 3/4 people on our street that dont vote, surely it would be easy for anyone to go and vote giving this info? if enough did so then the vote could be rigged.

It'd be hard because they would recognise you, which brings to rise the question of veils and if you have to lift them to prove your identity while voting?

cashman · 03-05-2007, 16:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyfr

It'd be hard because they would recognise you, which brings to rise the question of veils and if you have to lift them to prove your identity while voting?

wouldnt be hard at all cyfr, you just get mates from another ward to cast the votes, easy if your determined,

Gayle · 03-05-2007, 20:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambutty

Well I’ve done my duty in the farce that they call a secret ballot.

My polling card had a number on it.
The list of voters for that area had my name against that number.
The voting slip had a number on the back and a numbered counterfoil.
The clerk wrote my polling list number against a list of voting slip numbers.
Thus it would be possible to relate a person’s vote to a particular person.

Not very secret is it?

Why all these inter-related numbers? We are told that it is to help to prevent voting fraud. Well maybe it does and maybe it doesn’t but it does compromise secrecy and that makes the secret ballot in the UK an out and out farce.

In this day and age with the advent of computers and text recognition software it would be possible for a database to be compiled of who votes for whom. Who knows if this has already been done but what’s the betting that some time in the not too distant future there will be a database of voters votes.

Well I can say, categorically, that the candidates are not notified about how people vote. Parties do have a fairly good idea of who votes for them by going around and visiting people and talking to them, so when it comes to elections and knocking up they pretty much know who to contact but don't always get it spot on.

As for the numbers, there has to be some way of verifying each person, they have to ensure that there is no cheating and this is the best way to do it.

However, that said, last year I did identify three ways in which an unscrupulous candidate could cheat or manipulate the vote.

cashman · 03-05-2007, 20:31

its good that last year you identified 3 ways gayle, but the question is have they took any notice? would hope so, but the cynical git in me suspects not.

Gayle · 03-05-2007, 20:33

Cashy, I'm sure that there are other candidates how have identified the same three areas, possibly more, and are unscrupulous enough to use them. I didn't and wouldn't, nor would I want to give anyone any ideas.

cashman · 03-05-2007, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayle

Cashy, I'm sure that there are other candidates how have identified the same three areas, possibly more, and are unscrupulous enough to use them. I didn't and wouldn't, nor would I want to give anyone any ideas.

yeh it was probably not the best move i ever made (earlier post) just get really bugged when i think of folk cheating.

Gayle · 03-05-2007, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

yeh it was probably not the best move i ever made (earlier post) just get really bugged when i think of folk cheating.

I also get really bugged when people cheat.

davo69 · 03-05-2007, 21:02

i got a card from royal mail mist a parcel being deliverd.went to pick it up but had no form of id on me so i could not pick up.so why when you go to vote you just take your card?