<![CDATA[I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote.]]>I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote.

I have made several observations:

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/ac47bb86-cb63-497d-8ddb-b6976578688b/i-ve-spend-most-of-my-time-outside-polling-telling-today-taking-down-poll-card-numbers-so-we-don-t-need-to-chase-people-up-to-go-vote.RSS for NodeFri, 15 May 2026 01:51:50 GMTThu, 07 May 2026 22:06:25 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote. on Thu, 07 May 2026 22:24:50 GMT]]>@derickr My favourite Labour councillor was the one who dropped in on the tellers from time to time and handed out chocolate bars to all of us, of all parties.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/users/TimWardCam/statuses/116535636137140771https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/users/TimWardCam/statuses/116535636137140771Thu, 07 May 2026 22:24:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote. on Thu, 07 May 2026 22:23:02 GMT]]>@TimWardCam I didn't see tellers from any other party. Maybe a sign that we're doing well enough in that ward to win it! (Queen's Park in Brent). Fingers crossed.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535629096118051https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535629096118051Thu, 07 May 2026 22:23:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote. on Thu, 07 May 2026 22:19:28 GMT]]>@derickr I just do data entry these days. Only twelve hours work, which I can do sitting down at home in the warm (whenever there's a hot spell in spring it never seems to include polling day).

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/users/TimWardCam/statuses/116535615050561597https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/users/TimWardCam/statuses/116535615050561597Thu, 07 May 2026 22:19:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote. on Thu, 07 May 2026 22:17:56 GMT]]>@derickr We once had a lady turn up as a passenger in a car and send a message in to the presiding officer asking whether he could bring a ballot out to her, as she couldn't walk into the polling station.

The PO asked us tellers if we objected to this! - I've no idea what the legal status of this was, other than that the tellers had no formal role at all. Of course we (of all parties) said it was OK with us.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/users/TimWardCam/statuses/116535609058719431https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/users/TimWardCam/statuses/116535609058719431Thu, 07 May 2026 22:17:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote. on Thu, 07 May 2026 22:15:59 GMT]]>@TimWardCam Yes. Me too. Four years ago. But the council now thankfully counts the next day! (and I did go to the gym first thing today too 💪).

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535601346957092https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535601346957092Thu, 07 May 2026 22:15:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote. on Thu, 07 May 2026 22:14:48 GMT]]>@TimWardCam No, although somebody did ask whether she could bring her dog into the station (yes)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535596724469749https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535596724469749Thu, 07 May 2026 22:14:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote. on Thu, 07 May 2026 22:12:09 GMT]]>@derickr Wimp! I don't do this any more, but I used to do the Good Mornings, then work polling day, then go straight to the count, for a working day of around 22 hours (5am to 3am). Or longer for general elections.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/users/TimWardCam/statuses/116535586309901883https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/users/TimWardCam/statuses/116535586309901883Thu, 07 May 2026 22:12:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote. on Thu, 07 May 2026 22:10:04 GMT]]>@derickr Did anyone ask you to mind their baby (not just their dog and bike) when they went in to vote?

It's not very common, it's only happened to me once.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/users/TimWardCam/statuses/116535578070089322https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/users/TimWardCam/statuses/116535578070089322Thu, 07 May 2026 22:10:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote. on Thu, 07 May 2026 22:08:40 GMT]]>There were people in a hurry, using it as a social outing, and as a community thing to do.

I was cold outside, and now totally knackered. Time for bed, with the count starting at 9am tomorrow.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535572576170739https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535572576170739Thu, 07 May 2026 22:08:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote. on Thu, 07 May 2026 22:08:06 GMT]]>I saw:

- dogs at polling stations
- bikes at polling stations
- a cat at a polling station
- runners using it as a pit stop
- parents with a new baby
- fathers and mothers taking their children to "show democracy"
- a father taking his daughter for her first vote and taking selfies outside with big thumbs up

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535570337725394https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535570337725394Thu, 07 May 2026 22:08:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote. on Thu, 07 May 2026 22:07:38 GMT]]>I've answered questions:

- what do I need to bring?
- where is my polling station?
- until when can I vote?
- where are the other parties?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535568513132837https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535568513132837Thu, 07 May 2026 22:07:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote. on Thu, 07 May 2026 22:07:20 GMT]]>- Accessibility isn't always good enough
- The longest queue was like ten people.
- Voters living closest to the polling station show up the latest (some at 2140!)
- It's better to ask people for their poll number coming out of the station.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535567364491216https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535567364491216Thu, 07 May 2026 22:07:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote. on Thu, 07 May 2026 22:07:01 GMT]]>- Not everyone brought their ID, and had to come back (and did)
- Several people were at the wrong polling station.
- Telling needs to be explained a lot, especially for people that are new to voting in the UK
- A polling station in a gym really brings younger people out to vote, as they can pop in before or after a class or swim.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535566135207157https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://phpc.social/users/derickr/statuses/116535566135207157Thu, 07 May 2026 22:07:01 GMT