Fun and games with ballot papers

[Serial_Apologist]

In cinemas now but also on...

ITV 10.45pm tonight: John Pilger's documentary The Dirty War on the NHS.
Even the kow-towing Guardian doesn't solicit articles from John Pilger anymore - one of the UK's last independent journalists worthy of that description. He does have a Twitter account though.

But... the BBC made a big thing about Corbyn's charge that the NHS would be sold off to American pharma conglomerates being fake news - and the BBC never lies, does it!

Two hours (all but) does look a bit hubristic even by Pilger standards, but I'll probably watch this online.

[LMcD]

Sorry, but the juxtaposition of granny flat with industrial freezer gave me cold shivers...I do hope unnecessarily.

I'm happy to deny the rumour that I've been approached by the team behind 'Midsomer Murders' with a view to working up a Brexit-related story line involving the discovery of a frozen body stuffed with sausages and wrapped in bacon.

[cloughie]

I'm happy to deny the rumour that I've been approached by the team behind 'Midsomer Murders' with a view to working up a Brexit-related story line involving the discovery of a frozen body stuffed with sausages and wrapped in bacon.

Dial F for Felixstowe?

[LMcD]

Dial F for Felixstowe?

Or Framlingham/Falkenham/Felsham/Finningham ......

[ahinton]

Back on topic: my postal ballot papers arrived today. Well done Waltham Forest Council! Or should I say: Well done Cameron/May/Johnson for starving councils of the funds and staff to get these things sent out in time!

Sorry to hear this. Much as I favour postal voting over visiting polling booths, it remains a mystery to me why, as we approach the third decades of the 21st century (less than 13 months away), we still can't vote electronically.

[Stanfordian]

Sorry to hear this. Much as I favour postal voting over visiting polling booths, it remains a mystery to me why, as we approach the third decades of the 21st century (less than 13 months away), we still can't vote electronically.

I'm amazed that on Polling day I can turn up without a polling card or any checks on my identity other than asking for my name and address.

[Serial_Apologist]

I'm amazed that on Polling day I can turn up without a polling card or any checks on my identity other than asking for my name and address.

All that is needed now is charm, Stan.

[Andy Freude]

I'm amazed that on Polling day I can turn up without a polling card or any checks on my identity other than asking for my name and address.

There are a fairly limited number of cases where you could perpetrate a fraud without it being uncovered at some point. You have to ensure that, for example, your father/brother/son/neighbour won't turn up later and discover someone has already voted in his name. As long as the few obviously fraudulent votes haven't affected the result of the election there would be no reason to do anything other than log the event. Even if you did have a polling card with you, that wouldn't prove your identity.

If there was evidence of significant fraud, and if that had possibly affected the outcome, the election would be rerun, and a police investigation would ensue. The fraudulent ballot paper can be found via its number (it does take time, but only the papers from that polling station have to be checked), so you'd better wear gloves next time!

[Serial_Apologist]

There are a fairly limited number of cases where you could perpetrate a fraud without it being uncovered at some point. You have to ensure that, for example, your father/brother/son/neighbour won't turn up later and discover someone has already voted in his name. As long as the few obviously fraudulent votes haven't affected the result of the election there would be no reason to do anything other than log the event. Even if you did have a polling card with you, that wouldn't prove your identity.

If there was evidence of significant fraud, and if that had possibly affected the outcome, the election would be rerun, and a police investigation would ensue. The fraudulent ballot paper can be found via its number (it does take time, but only the papers from that polling station have to be checked), so you'd better wear gloves next time!

Handy advice......... or, even, Andy advice.

[Stanfordian]

There are a fairly limited number of cases where you could perpetrate a fraud without it being uncovered at some point. You have to ensure that, for example, your father/brother/son/neighbour won't turn up later and discover someone has already voted in his name. As long as the few obviously fraudulent votes haven't affected the result of the election there would be no reason to do anything other than log the event. Even if you did have a polling card with you, that wouldn't prove your identity.

If there was evidence of significant fraud, and if that had possibly affected the outcome, the election would be rerun, and a police investigation would ensue. The fraudulent ballot paper can be found via its number (it does take time, but only the papers from that polling station have to be checked), so you'd better wear gloves next time!

My point is how we can vote so easily without showing ID. I'm collecting some currency later today from the post office and I have to show passport or driving licence plus the card I paid for it with.

[CGR]

I'm amazed that on Polling day I can turn up without a polling card or any checks on my identity other than asking for my name and address.

So am I. We need a system of voter ID and tighter controls over postal voting too. Vote fraud is an increasing concern.

[Bryn]

Something else I am sure is close to your heart:

https://www.change.org/p/government-parliament-let-touring-musicians-travel-support-musicians-working-in-the-eu-post-brexit-workingintheeu

[Pulcinella]

Something else I am sure is close to your heart:

https://www.change.org/p/government-...workingintheeu

Signed!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Signed!

Ditto.

Thanks, Bryn

[Andy Freude]

So am I. We need a system of voter ID and tighter controls over postal voting too. Vote fraud is an increasing concern.

I'm not sure what evidence you have that it is an 'increasing concern'. Who is concerned?

"Thankfully electoral fraud is very rare in the UK. Where voter fraud has occurred, it has been isolated and therefore is best tackled locally.

Out of 44.4 million votes cast in 2017, there was one conviction resulting from the 28 allegations of in-person voter fraud – that’s 0.000063%. Adding a major barrier to democratic engagement off the back of this would be a sledgehammer to crack a nut." (Electoral Reform Society).

https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/campaigns/upgrading-our-democracy/voter-id/

"In 2018, there was no evidence of large-scale electoral fraud.

Of the 266 cases that were investigated by the police, one led to a conviction, and two suspects accepted police cautions.

In 2017, there was one conviction and eight suspects accepted police cautions." (Electoral Commission)

https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/our-views-and-research/our-research/electoral-fraud-data

"Extensive research reveals that fraud is very rare. Yet repeated, false allegations of fraud can make it harder for millions of eligible Americans to participate in elections."

https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/ensure-every-american-can-vote/vote-suppression/myth-voter-fraud

Calls for these tighter restrictions come from the right, in the UK and the US (where there is similarly little evidence of fraud), to make it more difficult for certain sections of the public to vote, notably the less well-educated, people with poor language skills and those who are in many areas of life "less well-off" and who are less likely to support candidates of the right. President Trump in the US has this same view.