General Election 2015: Polling day dos and don'ts including selfies, tweeting and pets
Selfies: Best Not To Do
There is nothing that specifically bans taking photos.
But the Electoral Commission discourages any photos being taken inside a polling station.
It’s all about maintaining the secrecy of the ballot and it would be illegal to reveal how someone else has voted, which could happen with a sloppy selfie.
The Electoral Commission says: "Due to the potential breach of the law, intentionally or not, we strongly advise against any form of photography taken inside a polling station.
“If a voter would like to highlight their participation in the elections, we suggest this is done outside the polling station before or after they vote."
There are strict penalties for breaches of the law.
At the European elections last year people were warned that they could face a fine of £5,000 or six months in prison if they revealed how someone else voted, even accidentally.
Tweeting:
This is more serious and straight forward.
The Electoral Commission warns against it inside the polling station - even if it's about your own vote.
Once outside you can get on with it.
However, as with selfies, there are strict laws against revealing someone else's vote.
It is a criminal act Under Section 66 of the Representation of the People's Act to communicate information about the way someone has voted or is about to vote, and specifically to "directly or indirectly induce a voter to display his ballot paper after he has marked it so as to make known to any person the name of the candidate for whom he has or has not voted".
Clothing with political slogans
Voters dressed in party T-shirts will not be allowed in polling stations as it may be intimidating.
Political figures in the wider sense may be fine, so you can get away with Che Guevara, Lenin or Russell Brand T-shirts.
It’s all about encouraging people to vote, according to Electoral Commission guidance.
A topless man is okay. But a topless woman would be too distracting, according to the guidelines.
Hoodies and burkas
While polling station officers are on the lookout for people trying to vote twice by impersonating someone else, there's no requirement for voters to show their face.
At the last election Rob Connelly, head of electoral services in Birmingham City Council, said: "If you can't see someone's face we can ask them the statutory questions - things like their name and address. We wouldn't stop someone voting if they're wearing a hoodie or a burka."
The rules have not changed since then, the Electoral Commission says.
Pets Can Not Vote
Dogs cannot vote but they are allowed in as long as they don’t disrupt the vote - and people with guide dogs will obviously have to take them.
Before the 2008 London Mayoral election polling staff were issued with advice stating that dogs had to be in an "accompanying" role rather than "free-range".
If a voter has two or more dogs and will struggle to control them while casting their ballot, polling station staff may be able to hold the dogs' leads. But it’s not a kennel club.
There is no guidance on other animals such as rabbits, ferrets or pot-bellied pigs, so any decision will be at the discretion of presiding officers.
Drinking and voting
You can vote if you are pissed and conduct yourself in an orderly manner
Polling station staff cannot chuck you if you’re drunk or under the influence of drugs.
It’s only if you’re disruptive and out of control that you will they be asked to return when they have sobered up.
Rosettes
These are a no-no.
The only people permitted to wear a rosette are the candidates and their polling agents.
The rosette must be plain and not refer to the candidate or bear a slogan.
Size used to be an issue. While the Electoral Commission doesn't specify dimensions at this election, guidance in 2008 set out a maximum width of "three to four inches".
Talking about the candidates
This is another nope inside the polling station.
Staff will stop people from discussing the merits of different candidates or parties - as it may unsettle other voters.
You’re not to ask someone about where there vote is going as this will break the secrecy of the poll.
If you want to debate the pros and cons of a certain candidate you must do so outside.
Neither can people distribute party leaflets or other literature in the polling station. That has to be done outside.
Sssshhhhhh
Listening to your tunes while waiting to vote is okay, as long as they’re not blasting out from underneath your headphones, which will put everyone else off.
You'll need to take them off when talking to polling station staff as they will want to confirm your name and other details.
Loud mobile phone conversations will not be tolerated either.
Pen or pencil
You don’t have to use the pencil attached to the string in the booth and can use you own pen or pencil.
While a cross is usually called for, you could theoretically mark the box with a tick instead.
The important thing is that your voting intention is clear.
Ooops, I’ve ticked the wrong box. Can I vote again?
As long as you haven't already posted your ballot paper in the box.
Return to the desk and tell staff what has happened.
They'll be able to cancel your ballot paper and issue you with a new one.
I want to take the children to show them how it works. Is that allowed?
Polling station staff are expected to be welcoming to under-18s so they don’t put off the voters of tomorrow.
If there are too many young people in the station, officers can ask them to wait outside.
But you won’t be allowed to let your child mark the X.
Spoilers and messages to politicians
There's a tradition of deliberately spoiling your ballot, with “None of the above" if showing your contempt for the candidates on offer.
They are termed "rejected votes" and are included in the overall turnout. However, if you wish to vote for a candidate you should avoid writing comments in the margin. It might confuse the counters and lead to your vote being put in the rejected pile. And the politicians, of course, will remain blissfully unaware of your words.
Don’t sign on the dotted line
People who sign their ballots where the name is identifiable will not have their vote counted.
It will be rejected because the voter has revealed their identity and breached the rules of a secret ballot.
While signing your ballot paper was fairly common in the 19th Century when candidates would pay people to vote for them.
Under that system it was possible for the candidate to check up later who had voted for them by looking for signatures, and pay out accordingly.
Today, however innocent the motive, a signature renders a ballot "rejected".
I wonder if this this the reason why so many fail to sign the required declaration
within the postal vote pack?
Selfies: Best Not To Do
There is nothing that specifically bans taking photos.
But the Electoral Commission discourages any photos being taken inside a polling station.
It’s all about maintaining the secrecy of the ballot and it would be illegal to reveal how someone else has voted, which could happen with a sloppy selfie.
The Electoral Commission says: "Due to the potential breach of the law, intentionally or not, we strongly advise against any form of photography taken inside a polling station.
“If a voter would like to highlight their participation in the elections, we suggest this is done outside the polling station before or after they vote."
There are strict penalties for breaches of the law.
At the European elections last year people were warned that they could face a fine of £5,000 or six months in prison if they revealed how someone else voted, even accidentally.
Tweeting:
This is more serious and straight forward.
The Electoral Commission warns against it inside the polling station - even if it's about your own vote.
Once outside you can get on with it.
However, as with selfies, there are strict laws against revealing someone else's vote.
It is a criminal act Under Section 66 of the Representation of the People's Act to communicate information about the way someone has voted or is about to vote, and specifically to "directly or indirectly induce a voter to display his ballot paper after he has marked it so as to make known to any person the name of the candidate for whom he has or has not voted".
Clothing with political slogans
Voters dressed in party T-shirts will not be allowed in polling stations as it may be intimidating.
Political figures in the wider sense may be fine, so you can get away with Che Guevara, Lenin or Russell Brand T-shirts.
It’s all about encouraging people to vote, according to Electoral Commission guidance.
A topless man is okay. But a topless woman would be too distracting, according to the guidelines.
Hoodies and burkas
While polling station officers are on the lookout for people trying to vote twice by impersonating someone else, there's no requirement for voters to show their face.
At the last election Rob Connelly, head of electoral services in Birmingham City Council, said: "If you can't see someone's face we can ask them the statutory questions - things like their name and address. We wouldn't stop someone voting if they're wearing a hoodie or a burka."
The rules have not changed since then, the Electoral Commission says.
Pets Can Not Vote
Dogs cannot vote but they are allowed in as long as they don’t disrupt the vote - and people with guide dogs will obviously have to take them.
Before the 2008 London Mayoral election polling staff were issued with advice stating that dogs had to be in an "accompanying" role rather than "free-range".
If a voter has two or more dogs and will struggle to control them while casting their ballot, polling station staff may be able to hold the dogs' leads. But it’s not a kennel club.
There is no guidance on other animals such as rabbits, ferrets or pot-bellied pigs, so any decision will be at the discretion of presiding officers.
Drinking and voting
You can vote if you are pissed and conduct yourself in an orderly manner
Polling station staff cannot chuck you if you’re drunk or under the influence of drugs.
It’s only if you’re disruptive and out of control that you will they be asked to return when they have sobered up.
Rosettes
These are a no-no.
The only people permitted to wear a rosette are the candidates and their polling agents.
The rosette must be plain and not refer to the candidate or bear a slogan.
Size used to be an issue. While the Electoral Commission doesn't specify dimensions at this election, guidance in 2008 set out a maximum width of "three to four inches".
Talking about the candidates
This is another nope inside the polling station.
Staff will stop people from discussing the merits of different candidates or parties - as it may unsettle other voters.
You’re not to ask someone about where there vote is going as this will break the secrecy of the poll.
If you want to debate the pros and cons of a certain candidate you must do so outside.
Neither can people distribute party leaflets or other literature in the polling station. That has to be done outside.
Sssshhhhhh
Listening to your tunes while waiting to vote is okay, as long as they’re not blasting out from underneath your headphones, which will put everyone else off.
You'll need to take them off when talking to polling station staff as they will want to confirm your name and other details.
Loud mobile phone conversations will not be tolerated either.
Pen or pencil
You don’t have to use the pencil attached to the string in the booth and can use you own pen or pencil.
While a cross is usually called for, you could theoretically mark the box with a tick instead.
The important thing is that your voting intention is clear.
Ooops, I’ve ticked the wrong box. Can I vote again?
As long as you haven't already posted your ballot paper in the box.
Return to the desk and tell staff what has happened.
They'll be able to cancel your ballot paper and issue you with a new one.
I want to take the children to show them how it works. Is that allowed?
Polling station staff are expected to be welcoming to under-18s so they don’t put off the voters of tomorrow.
If there are too many young people in the station, officers can ask them to wait outside.
But you won’t be allowed to let your child mark the X.
Spoilers and messages to politicians
There's a tradition of deliberately spoiling your ballot, with “None of the above" if showing your contempt for the candidates on offer.
They are termed "rejected votes" and are included in the overall turnout. However, if you wish to vote for a candidate you should avoid writing comments in the margin. It might confuse the counters and lead to your vote being put in the rejected pile. And the politicians, of course, will remain blissfully unaware of your words.
Don’t sign on the dotted line
People who sign their ballots where the name is identifiable will not have their vote counted.
It will be rejected because the voter has revealed their identity and breached the rules of a secret ballot.
While signing your ballot paper was fairly common in the 19th Century when candidates would pay people to vote for them.
Under that system it was possible for the candidate to check up later who had voted for them by looking for signatures, and pay out accordingly.
Today, however innocent the motive, a signature renders a ballot "rejected".
I wonder if this this the reason why so many fail to sign the required declaration
within the postal vote pack?
