The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #145594   Message #3369838
Posted By: Nigel Parsons
29-Jun-12 - 07:41 PM
Thread Name: BS: Secret ??? Ballots
Subject: RE: BS: Secret ??? Ballots
And, of course, there are places in the UK where representatives of the main parties hang about outside the polling station & ask for your name/polling number as you go in.
The list they create lets the local party activists check whether there is any large concentration of those who would be expected to vote in their favour who have not yet attended.
These 'jobsworths' (thank you Jeremy Taylor) can be easily upset.

I have been approached with the following conversation (or similar)

Attendant: What's your polling number?"
Me: Pardon?
Attendant: Can I ask you for your name, or polling number?
Me: Yes, certainly.
Attendant: What is it?
Me: I'm not saying. This is suppost to be a secret ballot!

They can get quite upset!