The winner will probably be a low poll turnout

We went at 11am and there was just me and my husband the clerks said there had been barely anyone in and looked bored out of their minds. The church hall was also freezing so felt sorry for them. Many people around here are retired.

When we voted mid morning it was busy, and a friend who was working at the polling station said it had been really busy all morning

MaizieD

I actually agree with you about postal votes, Chestnut. I think they are wide open to fraud. Voter ID was an absolutely pointless imposition in comparison with the weakness of postal voting.

Also, for this particular election there have been so many problems with postal vote forms being sent out very late, and the unreliability of our once superb postal system, that I think there may be problems in some counts, especially where the result is very close.

I did a postal vote this year for the first time. I received the paper and was able to return it in good time, although obviously I don't know that it hasn't been tampered with or destroyed. I'm not worrying about that though, as the same could happen to votes cast in person. Maybe the system should be that we get a receipt, either by email or post.

I think that if they abolish postal voting they should have to abolish voter ID, too.

Someone has drawn my attention to Reform "Contract".

Page 21 says:

Commence Reform of the Postal Voting
System. Postal voting has allowed electoral fraud. We will
stop postal voting except for the elderly, disabled or
those who can’t leave their homes.

Farage was strolling around Claction today ... having voted by post.

news.sky.com/video/general-election-nigel-farage-in-clacton-on-sea-on-polling-day-13163542

Clacton

I voted about 3.30 and was the only person in there, then 3 people came in behind me. I did the address, name part and stood there with my ID in my hand. I asked who wanted to check it and the woman in front of me said “i do apologise, I should have asked you for it.

Son went about 4pm and was the only one there and likewise for husband who went at 8.30.

Turnout is likely to be about 60%. Lowest since 2001.

Over 69% turnout here.

Doodledog

MaizieD

I actually agree with you about postal votes, Chestnut. I think they are wide open to fraud. Voter ID was an absolutely pointless imposition in comparison with the weakness of postal voting.

Also, for this particular election there have been so many problems with postal vote forms being sent out very late, and the unreliability of our once superb postal system, that I think there may be problems in some counts, especially where the result is very close.

I did a postal vote this year for the first time. I received the paper and was able to return it in good time, although obviously I don't know that it hasn't been tampered with or destroyed. I'm not worrying about that though, as the same could happen to votes cast in person. Maybe the system should be that we get a receipt, either by email or post.

I think that if they abolish postal voting they should have to abolish voter ID, too.

I don't think postal voting should be abolished.

It is vital for some people who are physically unable to get to a polling station and for many who may go overseas for more than just a short holiday, perhaps visiting family overseas.

I realise that it can be abused in some instances but don't think that is the norm.

More important is finding out why some eligible voters just can't be bothered to vote at all.

I was a poll clerk in a little village.

I can assure you the i/d was properly checked by me each time, even though I knew many of the voters. Every single person arrived with i/d, although one or two didn’t meet the criteria, i.e. not on the accepted list.

We were fairly brisk overall.

Not a low turnout where I was working.

I was right. Voter turnout was 60%, lowest since 1885 www.firstpost.com/world/2024-uk-general-elections-results-live-july-4-conservatives-tories-labour-polls-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer-13789456.html

So 40%, despite all going on, couldn't be bothered to vote.

I wonder how many non-voters are in the 18-25 age group, and I wonder how many 16-18 year olds will vote when thy get the vote.

I always feel that you are so highly organised Monica that you would have made a great master criminal.Is it too late for a career change?😃

Classic ADHD procrastination, I am so busy organising myself to make sure everything is in good order and I have no distractions, before I get stuck in to what I really should be doing, nothing ever gets done.

My brother is exactly the same. I have always thought of it as a form of extreme perfectionism but what you have described fits him better. He had a diagnosis undertaken privately recently.

Only 60% M0nica that's pretty shocking isn't it.

I wonder what’s going on in Basildon and East Thurrock, which is one of the undeclared seats? There are only 5 seats outstanding, with recounts and the Scottish Isles accounting for the others, but it says for this seat ‘Counting was paused at Basildon South and East Thurrock earlier this morning and will resume at 2pm for a full recount.’ Sounds like something dodgy has happened.

It's shocking but not really surprising... I think people have become quite apathetic and ground down with this last government.. Labour will have their work cut out to try to redress the dire situation we find ourselves faced with

Does that voter turn out of 60% include the postal votes as well?
If only 60% overall voted, that’s poor indeed, but if it’s not including postal voting, then it’s meaningless - voting % could be considerably higher than 60%.

I'm pretty sure it will include the postal vote as well Ziplok.

Casdon

I wonder what’s going on in Basildon and East Thurrock, which is one of the undeclared seats? There are only 5 seats outstanding, with recounts and the Scottish Isles accounting for the others, but it says for this seat ‘Counting was paused at Basildon South and East Thurrock earlier this morning and will resume at 2pm for a full recount.’ Sounds like something dodgy has happened.

I'm sure Baildon held conservative,because it was one of the surprising things to me.

I just thought the man must be really good, and that's why they voted to keep him.

Voter turnout was 60%, despite all going on, lowest since 1885
So 40%, despite all going on, couldn’t be bothered to vote

Some couldn’t be bothered, others were expressing their disillusionment with the political situation.

Smileless2012

Only 60% M0nica that's pretty shocking isn't it.

Yes, it is shocking.

Voting where we are was lower than 60%. Possibly because it’s always been Labour and people thought it wasn’t worthwhile.

Rekarie

I agree with MOnica. It will be a low turn out. I know people who aren't bothering. My elderly neighbour is 82, she's always voted. Not this time. And no , I've not given her the Suffragette earful either. It's up to her.

And I'm aware that just because I know someone who isn't voting doesn't speak for the country. I just have the impression that this election is neither here nor there for many of us.

Not much is going to change for the average person in the street.

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

People are disillusioned.

There's messing up, but there is also taking the complete pi.... micky, and that's what conservatives did with their shenanigans.

In recent elections I have gone early to our community centre to vote. Around nine a.m. it’s quiet. It’s in a small cul de sac. I had intended to do the same yesterday on my way out for a walk, but my back went out and not only could I not walk, I couldn’t get into my car either. I waited until evening and decided to give it a go. The cul de sac was rammed with cars and I couldn’t get in! I parked nearby and tried to walk but was in so much pain I gave up! It was stupid to even try really. First time in fifty six years that I haven’t managed to cast my vote.