We are past midnight, so all campaigning is over. The polling stations open at 7:00 (and close at 22:00). So it's time for the voting thread.
It's trickier this year because of voter ID requirements but gov.uk have all the details. However, note this: "You can still use your ID even if it has expired." So an out-of-date passport, for example, will work as long as the name is the same and the photo still looks like you. Don't forget that there are other polling stations rules.
There have been problems in some areas with people getting their postal vote on time but if you haven't got yours and you aren't on your holidays, it's not too late. Details on what to do.
Tactical voting can make a difference in some places and there are a number of sites to help with this. They'll largely be similar but check a couple before committing:
- Get Voting - which also has ID info and a boundary checker
- tactical.vote
- StopTheTories.vote
- Win As One has broader aims to change the voting system
If you want your vote to count you can try SwapMyVote.uk.
Other things you can do:
- Offer lifts to people so they can get out and vote - contact your party of choice
If you have any other resources then throw them in below. If you have any questions then ask away and, hopefully, someone can rummage the answer up for you. edit: If I've cocked up, then let me know.
NB: we aren't endorsing any links, so you will have to use your best judgement on who you trust with your details.
I fired off the dirtiest vote today. I'm not a huge fan of Starmer but I hate the Tories much more, and they recently changed the rules so if you've been abroad for more than 15 years you're allowed to vote again.
So I sent a 100% tactical fuck-you vote from overseas via proxy, motivated by nothing more than wanting to join in kicking the shit out of the Tories while they're already down.
Greasy as hell but I regret nothing lol
The tories have been incumbent for 116 years in my neck of the woods (the previous one was a whig). The surveys say that is likely to end this time. I am sooo looking forward to that.
Wife's birthday tomorrow, and she wants rid of the Tories as a present. Fortunately, that's what I was going to get her anyway.
Best husband ever for organising this whole business. It becomes clear now that the Tory disarray is part of some massive years-long plan that would dwarf Palpatine's Grand Plan.
With TERFs voting Tory or Reform because if trans rights and Reform support being so high amongst young men I'm already done with asking people if they've voted as they aren't shy about disappointing you. Back in the day no-one but the most ardent Nazi would tell you they voted BNP.
Catching up on James O'Brien episodes today and he mentions a poll that asked both sides what are the issues important to them.
In both Labour and the Tory results, transgender issues aren't shown. It's the media trying to whip up people in a frenzy.
It's definitely a Tory press angle for pushing the Culture War but it has cut through to some degree - the recent Guardian article heard from a number of women voting Tory or Reform because if trans rights. We just had someone post that Starmer can't define what a woman is.
The positive news. Voting reform is very unlikely to win more than 7 seats. But will split the right wing vote from Tories. Letting Lib Dems or even Labour win seats from the Tories.
They are where fptp works for the left for a change.
While Id def prefer a situation where a seat cannot be taken, with >60% wanting any other MP. Here it helps. While maybe convincing more voters, FPTP is shit.
I've always worked factory jobs and have grown used to people showing their true colours at voting time. This year I'm in a different workplace that seems a bit more left leaning, but a few at the table at break time said they couldn't vote for Labour because they would take us back into the EU (I corrected them and told them that's a Tory bullshit and Starmer has outright rejected the idea).
They said that's fine but they still can't vote Labour and they were thinking about voting Reform.
My first instinct was to go on a rant about that mealy-mouthed frog-faced removed with a french name that wants to stop foreigners crossing our border. Ask the removed how Brexit went, twat!
Instead I said "Hey great, go for it, if you ain't voting Tory I don't give a flying fuck who you're voting for, it's not a Tory vote and that's all that matters to me."
I would get all thrombo at the last workplace with it's Boris-lovers, I've grown.
I had to walk away from a young lad (first time voting) going:."yeah but Andrew Tate hasn't been convicted yet".
Eugh, well done! We were all stupid little fuckers in the past at some point. God I was so full of my own self importance in my 20s it makes me cringe just thinking about it
The fun part is that, whatever happens in Romania, once that's over, he's going to be sent back here to face more pending charges.
And it didn't escape my notice that Farage was name-checking Tate during the campaign. It'll be nice to see both of them vanish from public view.
And it didn’t escape my notice that Farage was name-checking Tate during the campaign.
It was also not an accident - those on the right are well aware that there's an increasing split in the vote with men more likely to vote for the right and it gets more pronounced in younger cohorts. As Tate appeals most to younger men it is a clear attempt to target them.
I took my eldest in with me to show how it all works, what the people to, what voting is, why it's important, why it's secret etc.
He looked entirely disinterested. Fair enough, but I was hoping it would take another thirty years before he got to that stage!
FWIW, here in the U.S., we've been taking our kids in to vote with us since they were toddlers. This was deliberate so they would be comfortable with how the process works.
Our oldest, when he turned 18, registered to vote. For his first primary election we had a remote zoom call and walked him through where to get as much objective info about what was on the ballot and make decisions. We've never pressed them towards a particular ideology. He started off looking disinterested too, but now that he's an adult, he's actually looking forward to his first major election.
These things take time. As parents, I feel it's our responsibility to teach them the nuts and bolts of civic literacy.
I've already postal voted.... but work doesn't know that. Should I leave early claiming I need to line up to vote and go off to the pub instead? Lovely weather for it.
England expects that every man will do his duty... and naff off down the boozer given half the excuse.
Febrile atmosphere here, febrile.
Hoping that we can be rid of the tories today. More distant hope is for a change to the voting system...
Labour aren't going to change the voting system. Unfortunately we have to wait for another hung parliament and then some more before we get representation.
I agree about a change to the voting system. I think proportional representation would be better.
Hello everyone, please vote. Here's my tiny little bit of useful information. Even though voting closes at 10pm, if your in a queue leading up to to that time, you will still be allowed to vote.
Fingers crossed.
Just voted for Labour. Need to get out the Tory MP who was sycophantic in her defence of Boris partying.
Turnout.
Id be interested to hear how busy folks found their polling sration. Compared to past elections.
Mine is a hostorical tory safe seat. Predicted to go lib dem.
Turnout at 11am seemed about normal. No real queues 20 or so folks 2 puppies. Past genral elections were about the same. EU ref was notably more people.
In terms of postal votes, it's estimated there will be around 10m in total, a 20% increase on 2019.
Also a sizable % of voters. Given a 66m population.
Interesting that privatised Royal Mail is having issues delivering them on time. I'm sure I am just inventing conspiracies here. As I can't see Tories benefitting from it.
The Tories have already introduced ID for voter fraud that was non existent and taken away most of the power from the Electoral Commission. It wouldn't surprise me. 😆
Only reason I'd be surprised. Elderly voters are more likely to use postal voting than young.
My driving licence had my old address on it but was still accepted as photo ID, In case people were worried about that.
I wondered about that, but then I think expired ID is valid, and your passport doesn't have your address, so I figured it would be fine
Good to hear. As long as it's official photo ID with your name on it and it still looks like you, then it should work.
I want wall-to-wall Schadenfreude streams of each Tory's last day, walking out of Westminster bonus points if Steve Bray is the dj
As a non-european I have some questions!
Firstly, is voting in the UK compulsory?
Secondly, how likely is it that the polls are wrong and the Tories will form government?
And thirdly, how have the Tories suddenly fallen from grace? They've presided over a real shit show for the last decade but kept getting elected. What changed?
