@TheRacketBoss Hot coffee, even on a the most dishonest of little old ladies, is probably not a good idea. Even cold water is risky. You know; because of the risk of melting.
Every party does this up and down the country but the only fault is the lady should have declared who she was doing this for the first time of being asked.
Today and everyday when an election at the local school there is always people outside. How are they ? All sounds very nice people and I given them my number and a woman not knowing how I was know the number before I have given it to her, she also remind me of a lady in a soup called Waterloo Road. She had long blond hair and very slim always smiling, I don't think she look evil so me, do you think they are Scientologists or what ?.
The only way this can be called 'electoral law' is if your definition of 'law' is 'Everything the Tories do is illegal'. The Electoral Commission issues guidance to tellers, but this is NOT statuatory. But I suspect you already know this isn't illegal, otherwise you'd have gone to the police/Returning Officer on the day. See the Electoral Commission's website.
'Who am I representing? I'm representing c...'. So YOU cut her off, stopped her saying who she was representing and that is her fault?
@mdcslater I think you'll find I 'cut her off' with a more specific question about who she was working for (how very dare I?) and if it was a political party, and she still managed to avoid saying so. But thank you for playing dittohead to Phil 'Dizzy' Hendren and not watching the whole thing before passing judgement.
This has been reported to the Returning Officer and the Electoral Commission, BTW. Why do you think I collected the evidence of this recurring issue in the first place?
All the parties do this. The liberals do it here at every election. Seems that you are easily offended. All you had o say is 'no thanks' and move on. She is (it seems) an older lady and you were giving her a hard time over nothing. Hardly big brother is it...
you are such a dolt. This woman was clearly unprepared for telling. However, every party does this: tories, labour and lib dems. If you don't want to give your number, then don't. Acting like you have been violated is just some prissy bullshit show.
@bloggerheads I completely agree. She should have a party rosette at the very least. My issue is with you claiming that she and other Tories for years have been trying to hoodwink you for "party purposes".
If I were a teller, I'd put a sign up saying "Party Teller". I would have a copy of the guidelines in my back pocket and I'd encourage people to ask me what I was doing and for whom, and why. I'd demystify the whole thing.
But then I'm not a Tory. The natural response that a tribal Tory gives to any query about their status is a scowl and a "why do you want to know that?" There's something unfathomably cultural at work there and it's a shame: it puts people off voting. Maybe that's the point.
labour supports are sore losers you where hammered, Brown get out of No. 10 the public has spoken. To the person that made this video this happens everywhere. Who knows you could have been filming in a polling station, you just edited it to cut off as you were going in the door. Who's commiting the crime?
@cormfacts22 you have no evidence to back that accusation. I do have evidence of a teller working very hard to maintain the impression that she is is polling station staff and/or what she is doing is part of the polling process. Which is not OK and shouldn't be happening anywhere. (PS - I am no Labour supporter, and this was filmed and released long before anything like a result. But once again I say 'nice try'.)
What she did was wrong, she should have been upfront.
But all parties have tellers. I dont think they should be allowed. Or at least the government should tell ppl EXACTLY what they do etc.
Anyway, all parties have tellers, but they should make out they are staff. And they should make an extra effort to explain who they are to younger voters especially.
Listen to the silence.... from Labour and other parties who have done exactly the same at Polling Stations where they have enough supporters to do it. I always ask, I always decline and never get an argument.
@lonelysymphony I was clear when I said the *local* Tories always do this. I have also made it clear that I'd be interested in evidence of any similar abuses from any other party
@martygoose The rules are there to protect our democracy. I support those rules, as I support our democracy. The parties who send these people out claim to support the same rules, so let's see them make sure their volunteers follow the damn rules.
@bloggerheads To me, that lady is just a Conservative voter who believes in what they have to offer, taking time out of her schedule to help her local Conservative politician. In my opinion it's breaking less rules than massive posters plastered around the city slandering each party. It's the childish side of politics, sure. The bickering, egotistical, self-righteous side of politics.
@alexsmif2002 the rules on this need to tightened up (if not just enforced). No argument from me that something should be done no matter which party does it, and *especially* if abuse is as widespread as it sounds.
In what way is this fraud? Telling is a way for parties to find out how many of their supporters have voted during the day of election. All the main parties do it to try to make sure they get all their voters out. They aren't claiming to be unpartisan officials. You just waded in there without knowing what she was there to do and started giving her a hard time. Why are you going around harassing middle aged women??? Its a shame you have a vote really,
@bloggerheads but they aren't pretending they are part of the voting procedure. They have clipboards, so perhaps that threw you off? If you had waited to let her finish explaining before walking off, then you would have understood better. You have no understanding of the British electoral system. This is a practice that is simply intended to maximise turnout. Yes is does benefit the parties who bother to do it but it is in no way electoral fraud.
@jonboy20 Yes, they are pretending to be part of the voting procedure. Nothing identifying party affiliation, and even evading the matter of party affiliation when questioned, instead claiming to be 'official'. I've voted in three general elections here and local Tories do this all the time, which (as I have explained) is why I filmed them doing it this time.
@polaroidcandy It's against the rules. If you've got evidence of other party volunteers posing as polling station staff, then I'd be equally interested in that.
@bloggerheads Its not against the rules! What rules are you talking about? You've just made them up! Every party does this to try to measure how many of their voters turned out. They dont pretend to be unpartisan officials. You just waded on there without knowing what this person was doing and started giving her a hard time. Why are you harassing middle aged women??? get a clue!!!
Yer that's right man, they have no right to be deceitful like that. She was very clearly lying and probably tricked loads of people who didn't think too much about it.
They're trying to trick voters into thinking this is official electoral commission information when it is actually info for the Conservative Party that they should not be allowed to have. This is electoral fraud.
This happens at every polling station, by every party with a serious campaign in that area. I remember my dad pointing them out to me when I first voted. "See those old ladies over there by the door? If they ask you for your number when you come back out, tell them to fuck off."
labour started this trick years back so they can come round and knock on your door,now all the parties are up to it.......the lib dem tried it on with me yesterday....bloody disgraceful from the lot of them.......it should be outlawed on the simple fact its harrassment
I voted Lib-Dems, nothing personal, everyone is entitled to vote who ever they like, whether they are Labour, Torys, Green, Christian Party, UKIP, BNP or any other party and that sort of thing what they are doing is just not acceptable, oh, the reason why I voted Lib Dems, no big reason, except, I just got tired of the same partys getting themselves in power over again, why not allow another party to lie through their teeth and screw up the country for chance.....LOL
why bother its not as if the tories are going to lose in surrey. she could have stayed in reading the mail and it would be just the same. they want to conserve their privilege and have opposed everything progressive. The clue's in the name folks
Labour were doing this around Hammersmith yesterday - all perfectly legal and above board. No one is able to find out how you voted - it's a way of testing numbers, and seeing how many of their party members have got out and voted. Nothing sinister
@gingashields yes but they use this information to knock on your door at the next election if you havnt voted and try to get you down to the polling station post haste.....and that is just wrong
@jamesjnr67 They can only use information on voting intentions that people give to them - if people don't want to be involved, then they should just keep their voting intentions private. I'm pretty neutral - it's not particularly attractive, as ideally everyone would vote whatever, but I can understand why all the parties do it
Calm down everyone - no one has access to how you voted. Every party does telling though for a very good reason: they have lists of all party members and people who said that they would vote for them, and by collecting the numbers of who's voted, they can then ring up those on their 'likely' list who haven't and encourage them to get out and vote. The reason they take everyone's number is that they can't ask, "How did you vote"
@gingashields What they do with the data is beside the point. They are there to collect it in a party political capacity, and they have no business posing as election officials
@bloggerheads That's certainly true - as I think I replied to one of your comments elsewhere, they should be open about what they're doing. They shouldn't act like there's something to be ashamed of. I think the problem is though that a lot of these guys are just volunteering, and in the chaos of election day, no one has really told them anything: hence why this woman is being very cagey, as presumably she feels like she's being put on the spot, and isn't sure of her position
@gingashields Thing is, it keeps happening. At the very least, some measures need to be taken to make sure that these people are correctly and responsibly instructed/briefed by their respective party handlers. Perhaps this process can start with Eric Pickles responding to this incident and reassuring us with details of the current process. (waits) (suspects it will be in vain)
@gingashields electoral matters are legal matters. They're not complicated but they are serious. If she volunteered to be a teller then it was her responsibility to work out what that involved and what she was required to tell the public, how she was required to behave around a polling station etc.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse and waiting to be told is negligence, especially when the Electoral Commission bend over backwards to provide easy-to-understand materials for everyone involved.
The Lib-Dems were doing this where i live (leyton). Its so they can find out who you voted for so next time they can knock on your door (or something like that). But my mum told me not to give it to them...
All three main parties do this at almost every polling station in every election I've ever been to. You really are are grade A jackass. I've watched some of your vids and you sound like a total twat.
i worked at a poliing st we had to remove tellars because they told people if they gave number it would be quicker to vote, and they pested people we had lots of complaints
i went to a mock auction in the highstreet the other day.screaming ripoff! a security guard told me this was a labour promotional building and that i had made some mistake with the allegation of RIPoff scam!
At East Dorset, the Conservative Lady tried to make out she had to check the card and was evasive when we queried why. She eventually said it was for their poll. Even though I refused, she put her hand on my card as I was walking away and started to call my number out. Rude & reported!
Also she almost told you...and you interupted. Also these people are volunteers, not politicians. And she was slightly evasive but didn't say she was EC. And the other tellers don't always declare (some wear rosettes, in SW Surrey they don't always).
But hey let's not let that get in the way of OMG WTF OHNOES!!!! online DRAMA shall we?
@bloggerheads I would have done the same as that lady had I been greeted by the same jumped-up wannabe rebel trying to get a name for himself on the internet
@bloggerheads Okay I agree that this woman is trying to be (unnecessarily) discrete. Everyone in my area had party badges on and ALL of them collected the number (they were all sitting outside in a row and took the number at once - and shared the numbers between them if one misheard). When we asked, they said it was to check off people who had/hadn't voted towards the end of the day and then persuade them to. Personally I think this particular woman was being silly and there is no need to fuss.
@wardrox Tellers are not permitted to behave as this one did. Your argument is akin to excusing a driving offence on the basis that driving itself is legal.
Nothing illegal or wrong in that m8. All the parties do it. Its purely help them get a better picture of the who is likely to vote in your area so they can better target the next campaign next time.
BTW - AS you were still filming as you entered the polling station - YOU were breaking the law !!!!!
Nothing illegal or wrong in that m8. All the parties do it. Its purely help them get a better picture of the who is likely to vote in your area so they can better target the next campaign next time.
BTW - AS you were still filming as you entered the polling station - YOU were breaking the law !!!!!
@boudicas09 Rubbish. Tellers are not permitted to pass themselves off as part of the polling process, as this one clearly did. As for going inside, if you can see a threshold on screen, I haven't crossed it yet. Look closer.
@bloggerheads Never said you posted up footage of the interior of the polling station but you HAD passed through the first set of Doors and entered the building and you certainly Hadn't stopped filming judging by the speed you were walking.
So IMHO - I believe you have illegally filmed inside of a polling station & edited the end segment out of the film you posted.
I wonder if the police are aware that this has happened?
@cormfacts22 There's no footage I can show you that will convince you I haven't just cut some off the end, so you're just going to have to go on thinking that.
@boudicas09 If I was their I would have called the police on that woman( as it looked dodgy and I have no idea if what she was doing was legal), she was the disingenuous one.
The person your criticizing wouldn't have been filming if it wasn't for her silly games...
Yeah, pretty misleading. She's obviously got someting to hide! By the way haven't you committed an offence by taking a video camera into a polling station? :-)
What a complete non-story. You get Labour and Lib Dem people doing exactly the same thing at any number of Polling Stations too. You just come across as whiny.
Completely unacceptable!! Can't believe people are putting their faith in such a dodgy, conniving party.
I will admit that many the Torrie policies are sound in many respects, but it's not worth us being controlled by the likes of Rupert Murdoch and Lord Ashcroft, as this kind of deception is not beneath them in any way. That is the future I worry about.
Completely unacceptable!! Can't believe people are putting their faith in such a dodgy, conniving party.
I will admit that many the Torrie policies are sound in many respects, but it's not worth us being controlled by the likes of Rupert Murdoch and Lord Ashcroft, as this kind of deception is not beneath them in any way. That is the future I worry about.
They register that you voted and then will use that info to identify you in future elections as someone they know who bothers to vote, you'll be targeted for leafleting or door stepping. It's up to you whether this bothers you or not.
@theawesome6842 Taking numbers is fine. Doing so while trying to give the impression that it is a formal part/requirement of the polling process is not.
Thanks to seeing this video earlier I didn't reveal my number to the Tory teller outside our polling station. The dude inside told me that shed only been there since 6pm so wouldn't have very accurate figures anyway. She was very evasive
She was a teller. They allow the parties and news broadcasters to make predictions about the election. You have no obligation to give them the information. If you don't wan to, simply say 'No thanks' like a normal and polite human being. You should stop being such a miserable idiot about it and using that as a point against the Conservative party. They exist - they always have done. Check it out on the electoral commission's website. Get used to it.
@mitchell904 I know tellers exist for all parties. I know what their job is. I also know that they are not allowed to behave like this, but the local Tories try it on every general election.
@mitchell904 So first time voters who are not aware that this person might be a teller for a party because they've never heard about the, hasn't been told they are collecting this information for a political party, being made to think it's an official process and is being told they have to give their details should just 'Get used to it'. It's incredibly misleading.
@bloggerheads just to check, you DID make a formal written complaint inside the Polling Station with the actual Election Officials, right? And you have given them this link/footage too? Because with the one I encountered, I did make a complaint, there and then, on the official complaints form...
I like the fact that you managed to video tape the whole episode, yet had no facial shots, no picture of the paper, no reason to believe any of this is real. considering the person making the video clearly preplanned the question and knew who to target, you'd be rather naive to take this with anything less than a massive heaping of salt.
@ojcorb hhahahaha, you're trying to tell me you think this guy got an old lady to stand at a polling station and argue with him and then be sarcastic on polling day? While other people are milling around?
This is absolutely disgraceful - a true representation of the lying cheats that David Cameron and the conservatives are! I seriously hope the electoral office hear about this! Has anybody sent it to the BBC yet?
All parties do this. As she says, 'it's the done thing' in the UK. Tellers often pool their information, so it's more than likely that she wasn't Telling for the Conservatives, but *everyone*.
@FatboyGengiz a Tory saying it's "the done thing" doesn't mean much to me. The fact remains that her stationery was from Conservative head office, and she admitted that eventually.
It's contrary to Electoral Commission recommendations to pass yourself off as polling station staff and can get you removed from the station for interfering with free and fair votes.
If you've got time you can always stop suggesting unofficial sources to me and read Appendix C of the Electoral Commission guidelines.
@FatboyGengiz She doesn't know why; that's fine. But she almost certainly knows *who* she's collecting them for: it's written on her sheet. And she should declare that interest instead of being so coy.
And @bloggerheads knows *why* she's collecting the numbers: he doesn't need you to tell him in such a patronising way. What he *needs* is for the Tories to stop being so misleading.
There's nothing illegal in what she's doing. The role of 'tellers' has been commonplace in elections for many years. Their role is to check whether people they have canvassed who said they'd vote for a certain party have shown up at a polling station. The only thing she did wrong was not being more open about on whose behalf she was collecting the information. But, it doesn't directly jeopardise the democratic process or your right to vote AT ALL. So I wouldn't make too much of a fuss about it.
Tellers refusing to admit to party affiliation, strongly implying that they have an official role and demanding ('I have to...') information: bad and illegal.
Had the same problem today, first time voter & knew what a teller was, but the old gentleman in Plymouth made it seem like he was polling staff when he demanded our numbers.
Yes, up until recently we had the same problem - two Tories stationed themselves right outside the Polling Station, looking official and asking us about our voting intentions. Of course, I refused. The whole thing is outrageous! I think they've stopped that now here in East Horsley... at least I hope so as I haven't seen them this time around.
Aha South West Surrey my dad used to stand as a councillor & electoral agent there (Lib Dem) so I know a little about this. Yes tellers can ask you information - you don't need to give it, that's BS - but they usually ask when you leave, not before. They are legal, but they should tell you what party they're from on asking. They are fairly benign and part of the election process - if you support the party give them your details as it stops them knocking on your door twice for example.
The Tory and LibDem tellers (identifiable with perfectly visible rosettes) at a polling station in Ealing this morning informed me that they're asking so that they know which of their declared and/or likely supporters had voted, so that they could more accurately target their "get out and vote" activities later in the day.
@bloggerheads I think I've replied a couple of times to you, sorry! Yes, quite agree - no point being cagey about it. Everything should be open at a polling station, of all places
@jpluscplusm I voted in Ealing this morning too and asked the LD teller (?) at the door point blank if what she was doing was kosher. And she - and the police officer loitering around too - explained that it was "the done thing". I'm used to voting in America where - theoretically - no one promoting any party is supposed to be anywhere near the polls.
By implying that handing over details is a precondition of the process, she is effectively obstructing the polling station - this is grounds for police intervention.
I wouldve spilled my coffee all over it.... part of my political activism on behalf of labour i'd say....
TheRacketBoss 4 months ago
@TheRacketBoss Hot coffee, even on a the most dishonest of little old ladies, is probably not a good idea. Even cold water is risky. You know; because of the risk of melting.
bloggerheads 4 months ago
Every party does this up and down the country but the only fault is the lady should have declared who she was doing this for the first time of being asked.
Norrie754 1 year ago
Today and everyday when an election at the local school there is always people outside. How are they ? All sounds very nice people and I given them my number and a woman not knowing how I was know the number before I have given it to her, she also remind me of a lady in a soup called Waterloo Road. She had long blond hair and very slim always smiling, I don't think she look evil so me, do you think they are Scientologists or what ?.
Richard Bealey
Exeter UK
Richbeatable 1 year ago
well done sir! that told the bastards haha
doucedinpiss 1 year ago
The only way this can be called 'electoral law' is if your definition of 'law' is 'Everything the Tories do is illegal'. The Electoral Commission issues guidance to tellers, but this is NOT statuatory. But I suspect you already know this isn't illegal, otherwise you'd have gone to the police/Returning Officer on the day. See the Electoral Commission's website.
'Who am I representing? I'm representing c...'. So YOU cut her off, stopped her saying who she was representing and that is her fault?
mdcslater 1 year ago
@mdcslater I think you'll find I 'cut her off' with a more specific question about who she was working for (how very dare I?) and if it was a political party, and she still managed to avoid saying so. But thank you for playing dittohead to Phil 'Dizzy' Hendren and not watching the whole thing before passing judgement.
This has been reported to the Returning Officer and the Electoral Commission, BTW. Why do you think I collected the evidence of this recurring issue in the first place?
bloggerheads 1 year ago
All the parties do this. The liberals do it here at every election. Seems that you are easily offended. All you had o say is 'no thanks' and move on. She is (it seems) an older lady and you were giving her a hard time over nothing. Hardly big brother is it...
pennypacker555 1 year ago 6
you are such a dolt. This woman was clearly unprepared for telling. However, every party does this: tories, labour and lib dems. If you don't want to give your number, then don't. Acting like you have been violated is just some prissy bullshit show.
Boratlon 1 year ago 2
@Boratlon If it's simply a mattter of local tellers being unprepared, then it's a recurring problem and the local Tories should address it.
bloggerheads 1 year ago
@bloggerheads I completely agree. She should have a party rosette at the very least. My issue is with you claiming that she and other Tories for years have been trying to hoodwink you for "party purposes".
Boratlon 1 year ago
@Boratlon That was abusive.
HardeyLeone 1 year ago
You can tell she's Tory listen to voice...
js14352 1 year ago 2
If I were a teller, I'd put a sign up saying "Party Teller". I would have a copy of the guidelines in my back pocket and I'd encourage people to ask me what I was doing and for whom, and why. I'd demystify the whole thing.
But then I'm not a Tory. The natural response that a tribal Tory gives to any query about their status is a scowl and a "why do you want to know that?" There's something unfathomably cultural at work there and it's a shame: it puts people off voting. Maybe that's the point.
adecentusername 1 year ago
ach to heych prick...
refusedchaos 1 year ago
labour supports are sore losers you where hammered, Brown get out of No. 10 the public has spoken. To the person that made this video this happens everywhere. Who knows you could have been filming in a polling station, you just edited it to cut off as you were going in the door. Who's commiting the crime?
cormfacts22 1 year ago
@cormfacts22 you have no evidence to back that accusation. I do have evidence of a teller working very hard to maintain the impression that she is is polling station staff and/or what she is doing is part of the polling process. Which is not OK and shouldn't be happening anywhere. (PS - I am no Labour supporter, and this was filmed and released long before anything like a result. But once again I say 'nice try'.)
bloggerheads 1 year ago
@cormfacts22 Yeah you're right, the public HAVE spoken - 63% of people voted to keep Cameron out of no. 10.
Seeing as you're the clever bastard, what do you suggest we do now? Maybe we should sack off all the negotiations and let you make the final call eh?
cezuk 1 year ago
Wat did the lady say as he walked away?
gloop999 1 year ago
What she did was wrong, she should have been upfront.
But all parties have tellers. I dont think they should be allowed. Or at least the government should tell ppl EXACTLY what they do etc.
Anyway, all parties have tellers, but they should make out they are staff. And they should make an extra effort to explain who they are to younger voters especially.
ZiggzHSMrules 1 year ago
congrat's finally more people on youtube are seeing and showing how scummy the conservatives are. this is getting favourited.
smileAssassin92 1 year ago
Listen to the silence.... from Labour and other parties who have done exactly the same at Polling Stations where they have enough supporters to do it. I always ask, I always decline and never get an argument.
ApplemanY1 1 year ago
ah you can always win an argument with a nice polite posh accent
express375 1 year ago
tbh most of them wear a roset.
more to the point WHAT WERE YOU DOING FILMING INTO A POLLING STATION.
i believe that is against election rules.
If the looser of your election were to see this video they could have the result nulled.
muzzaukkk 1 year ago
@muzzaukkk OMG OMG OMG, show me the footage of me filming inside the polling station. And this one did not wear a rosette.
bloggerheads 1 year ago 2
@muzzaukkk They're not in a polling station, they are outside, hence the signs saying 'way in' in the background....bit of a clue there.
puruzy 1 year ago
EVERY political party does this you MUPPET.
It infuriates me that they don't make it clear that they are not officials but to say this is a Tory thing is moronic.
lonelysymphony 1 year ago
@lonelysymphony I was clear when I said the *local* Tories always do this. I have also made it clear that I'd be interested in evidence of any similar abuses from any other party
bloggerheads 1 year ago
Such a pathetic video. Who gets annoyed over this? It's someone with a notepad. Just don't speak to her. Jesus. Like a petulant child.
martygoose 1 year ago
@martygoose The rules are there to protect our democracy. I support those rules, as I support our democracy. The parties who send these people out claim to support the same rules, so let's see them make sure their volunteers follow the damn rules.
bloggerheads 1 year ago
@bloggerheads To me, that lady is just a Conservative voter who believes in what they have to offer, taking time out of her schedule to help her local Conservative politician. In my opinion it's breaking less rules than massive posters plastered around the city slandering each party. It's the childish side of politics, sure. The bickering, egotistical, self-righteous side of politics.
martygoose 1 year ago
@martygoose If you're suggesting she just doesn't know any better, then let's have the parties improve their briefing methods
bloggerheads 1 year ago
The Lib Dems did this in Bristol
alexsmif2002 1 year ago
@alexsmif2002 the rules on this need to tightened up (if not just enforced). No argument from me that something should be done no matter which party does it, and *especially* if abuse is as widespread as it sounds.
bloggerheads 1 year ago
there all corupt as each other
We need people like winston chruchill and geert wilders, real men!
antonyengland25 1 year ago
Shouldn't you be voting in Australia or New Zealand? What's it you how we conduct our elections?!
bmgi102 1 year ago
@bmgi102 Nice one. Cheers.
bloggerheads 1 year ago
Fuckers
ImpartialYNWA 1 year ago
In what way is this fraud? Telling is a way for parties to find out how many of their supporters have voted during the day of election. All the main parties do it to try to make sure they get all their voters out. They aren't claiming to be unpartisan officials. You just waded in there without knowing what she was there to do and started giving her a hard time. Why are you going around harassing middle aged women??? Its a shame you have a vote really,
jonboy20 1 year ago
@jonboy20 Telling is fine. Pretending it is a part of the polling procedure and/or that you are an election official is not.
bloggerheads 1 year ago
@bloggerheads but they aren't pretending they are part of the voting procedure. They have clipboards, so perhaps that threw you off? If you had waited to let her finish explaining before walking off, then you would have understood better. You have no understanding of the British electoral system. This is a practice that is simply intended to maximise turnout. Yes is does benefit the parties who bother to do it but it is in no way electoral fraud.
jonboy20 1 year ago
@jonboy20 Yes, they are pretending to be part of the voting procedure. Nothing identifying party affiliation, and even evading the matter of party affiliation when questioned, instead claiming to be 'official'. I've voted in three general elections here and local Tories do this all the time, which (as I have explained) is why I filmed them doing it this time.
bloggerheads 1 year ago
Labour did it here. They always do it, everyone does it. You're the only one who looks bad in this situation really.
polaroidcandy 1 year ago
@polaroidcandy It's against the rules. If you've got evidence of other party volunteers posing as polling station staff, then I'd be equally interested in that.
bloggerheads 1 year ago
@bloggerheads Its not against the rules! What rules are you talking about? You've just made them up! Every party does this to try to measure how many of their voters turned out. They dont pretend to be unpartisan officials. You just waded on there without knowing what this person was doing and started giving her a hard time. Why are you harassing middle aged women??? get a clue!!!
jonboy20 1 year ago
@jonboy20 "They dont pretend to be unpartisan officials" This one did. And there are rules against that.
The local Tories do it all the time here, which is why I filmed them this time. She intercepted me, I did not approach her.
bloggerheads 1 year ago
Yer that's right man, they have no right to be deceitful like that. She was very clearly lying and probably tricked loads of people who didn't think too much about it.
axeman118 1 year ago
This happened to me too, except there was ONE man asking me with a BRIGHT YELLOW VERY OBVIOUS rosette on.
takentoday 1 year ago
They're trying to trick voters into thinking this is official electoral commission information when it is actually info for the Conservative Party that they should not be allowed to have. This is electoral fraud.
vivilavo 1 year ago
This happens at every polling station, by every party with a serious campaign in that area. I remember my dad pointing them out to me when I first voted. "See those old ladies over there by the door? If they ask you for your number when you come back out, tell them to fuck off."
danielearwicker 1 year ago
cant believe those bastards could be in charge soon, that day the world will end
billze6 1 year ago
Just a bit of advice: Don't EVER say "Simples" like that fucking meerkat off that shitty fucking advert.
aroundtheworlda 1 year ago
If they rigged the second ballot of the Lisbon treaty in Ireland & got away with it (and they did) they now know that they can rig ANY election!
No-one is safe now!
getjiggy21 1 year ago
Labour, Conservative's, Lib Dems, there all scum and the next five years are going to be painfull!
withnielandi 1 year ago 2
This election was rigged.
theshow2k8 1 year ago
labour started this trick years back so they can come round and knock on your door,now all the parties are up to it.......the lib dem tried it on with me yesterday....bloody disgraceful from the lot of them.......it should be outlawed on the simple fact its harrassment
jamesjnr67 1 year ago
I voted Lib-Dems, nothing personal, everyone is entitled to vote who ever they like, whether they are Labour, Torys, Green, Christian Party, UKIP, BNP or any other party and that sort of thing what they are doing is just not acceptable, oh, the reason why I voted Lib Dems, no big reason, except, I just got tired of the same partys getting themselves in power over again, why not allow another party to lie through their teeth and screw up the country for chance.....LOL
markhorneyuk 1 year ago
why bother its not as if the tories are going to lose in surrey. she could have stayed in reading the mail and it would be just the same. they want to conserve their privilege and have opposed everything progressive. The clue's in the name folks
jayeevee 1 year ago
that was flat out awesome
shamelads1289 1 year ago
LABOUR LOST. SUCK IT DOWN IDIOTS.
BabmerChan 1 year ago
A lovely old Lib Dem fella did the same to me in Cleckheaton, but at least he was wearing a rosette.
gingerfreak01 1 year ago
Labour were doing this around Hammersmith yesterday - all perfectly legal and above board. No one is able to find out how you voted - it's a way of testing numbers, and seeing how many of their party members have got out and voted. Nothing sinister
gingashields 1 year ago
@gingashields yes but they use this information to knock on your door at the next election if you havnt voted and try to get you down to the polling station post haste.....and that is just wrong
jamesjnr67 1 year ago
@jamesjnr67 They can only use information on voting intentions that people give to them - if people don't want to be involved, then they should just keep their voting intentions private. I'm pretty neutral - it's not particularly attractive, as ideally everyone would vote whatever, but I can understand why all the parties do it
gingashields 1 year ago
Calm down everyone - no one has access to how you voted. Every party does telling though for a very good reason: they have lists of all party members and people who said that they would vote for them, and by collecting the numbers of who's voted, they can then ring up those on their 'likely' list who haven't and encourage them to get out and vote. The reason they take everyone's number is that they can't ask, "How did you vote"
gingashields 1 year ago
@gingashields What they do with the data is beside the point. They are there to collect it in a party political capacity, and they have no business posing as election officials
bloggerheads 1 year ago
@bloggerheads That's certainly true - as I think I replied to one of your comments elsewhere, they should be open about what they're doing. They shouldn't act like there's something to be ashamed of. I think the problem is though that a lot of these guys are just volunteering, and in the chaos of election day, no one has really told them anything: hence why this woman is being very cagey, as presumably she feels like she's being put on the spot, and isn't sure of her position
gingashields 1 year ago
@gingashields Thing is, it keeps happening. At the very least, some measures need to be taken to make sure that these people are correctly and responsibly instructed/briefed by their respective party handlers. Perhaps this process can start with Eric Pickles responding to this incident and reassuring us with details of the current process. (waits) (suspects it will be in vain)
bloggerheads 1 year ago
@gingashields electoral matters are legal matters. They're not complicated but they are serious. If she volunteered to be a teller then it was her responsibility to work out what that involved and what she was required to tell the public, how she was required to behave around a polling station etc.
Ignorance of the law is no excuse and waiting to be told is negligence, especially when the Electoral Commission bend over backwards to provide easy-to-understand materials for everyone involved.
adecentusername 1 year ago
She was squirming then! good on you bloggerhead
johoyouknow 1 year ago
QUACK QUACK
only1duk 1 year ago
Nice one bloggerheads. sneaky buggers..
wagend 1 year ago
The Lib-Dems were doing this where i live (leyton). Its so they can find out who you voted for so next time they can knock on your door (or something like that). But my mum told me not to give it to them...
All parties do this...
ZiggzHSMrules 1 year ago
@ZiggzHSMrules so bring me some footage of other party tellers pretending to be election officials. simples.
bloggerheads 1 year ago
No wrong you do not have to show ANYONE anything before you go through thats the law
WELLBRAN 1 year ago
All three main parties do this at almost every polling station in every election I've ever been to. You really are are grade A jackass. I've watched some of your vids and you sound like a total twat.
tramtrackharry 1 year ago
i worked at a poliing st we had to remove tellars because they told people if they gave number it would be quicker to vote, and they pested people we had lots of complaints
starsandbows1 1 year ago
i went to a mock auction in the highstreet the other day.screaming ripoff! a security guard told me this was a labour promotional building and that i had made some mistake with the allegation of RIPoff scam!
thecorptube1 1 year ago
You should have grabbed her clip board and put it over her damn head.
100carpetdave 1 year ago
im a conservative but got to admit i dont like this procedure. Best to win on your merits.
liverpoolfrench 1 year ago
That's the Tories all over: posh, condescending, 'we know better than you', and shifty liars to boot. What a horrible woman!
garethgee 1 year ago 2
God help Britain if the Tories get in
mctaggm 1 year ago
That seems a bit off,if you ask me
m4rkyboy 1 year ago
At East Dorset, the Conservative Lady tried to make out she had to check the card and was evasive when we queried why. She eventually said it was for their poll. Even though I refused, she put her hand on my card as I was walking away and started to call my number out. Rude & reported!
n4d1n3g 1 year ago
storm, meet teacup.
Also she almost told you...and you interupted. Also these people are volunteers, not politicians. And she was slightly evasive but didn't say she was EC. And the other tellers don't always declare (some wear rosettes, in SW Surrey they don't always).
But hey let's not let that get in the way of OMG WTF OHNOES!!!! online DRAMA shall we?
timbearcub 1 year ago
The problem is that she is trying to pass herself off as an official polling staff member, when she is representing the Tories.
joshuaissac 1 year ago 14
Round these parts reputable tellers wear party rosettes. Anyone not identifying the party they're working for is being deceitful.
pseudomonad 1 year ago 2
You're in a Tory area, therefore they have issued the cards and are simply checking to see how many of the eligible voters actually voted.
frimleychavbasher 1 year ago
@frimleychavbasher I know what their job is. I also know what the rules are.
bloggerheads 1 year ago
@bloggerheads I would have done the same as that lady had I been greeted by the same jumped-up wannabe rebel trying to get a name for himself on the internet
frimleychavbasher 1 year ago
@frimleychavbasher Rebel? I'm arguing in favour of the established rules and laws.
bloggerheads 1 year ago 4
@bloggerheads You're arguing because you like the sound of your own silly voice
frimleychavbasher 1 year ago
@frimleychavbasher *plonk* troll. blocked.
bloggerheads 1 year ago 3
@frimleychavbasher wow are you rich by any chance? The woman should have identified herself. but then again politics is all about lies isn't it
0cscott 1 year ago
? Labour douche did the same at my polling station today. They all want to do the same. Calm down kiddies.
mattrfox 1 year ago
OMG EVERYONE DOES THIS AT LIKE EVERY POLLING STATION...i.e. ALL PARTIES in my constituency (even the green party lady) do it.
Yzardmaster 1 year ago
@Yzardmaster Fine. Bring me footrage of any of these people passing themselves off as polling station staff.
bloggerheads 1 year ago 2
@bloggerheads Okay I agree that this woman is trying to be (unnecessarily) discrete. Everyone in my area had party badges on and ALL of them collected the number (they were all sitting outside in a row and took the number at once - and shared the numbers between them if one misheard). When we asked, they said it was to check off people who had/hadn't voted towards the end of the day and then persuade them to. Personally I think this particular woman was being silly and there is no need to fuss.
Yzardmaster 1 year ago
@Yzardmaster the local Tory tellers do this all the time, and they deserved to be called on it
bloggerheads 1 year ago
They did this to me too. It's grossly inappropriate.
criggers 1 year ago
I went and Googled. Those people are called tellers and are part of the process. No need to assume it's a Tory conspiracy.
Google for "Tellers in and around polling places"
wardrox 1 year ago
@wardrox Tellers are not permitted to behave as this one did. Your argument is akin to excusing a driving offence on the basis that driving itself is legal.
bloggerheads 1 year ago
Your implication is inaccurate as far as I am aware. May want to correct/research before this video gets more views.
wardrox 1 year ago
Well I suppose she is! I just walk straight pass those people totally ignoring them.
tizerbabe 1 year ago
Nothing illegal or wrong in that m8. All the parties do it. Its purely help them get a better picture of the who is likely to vote in your area so they can better target the next campaign next time.
BTW - AS you were still filming as you entered the polling station - YOU were breaking the law !!!!!
boudicas09 1 year ago
Nothing illegal or wrong in that m8. All the parties do it. Its purely help them get a better picture of the who is likely to vote in your area so they can better target the next campaign next time.
BTW - AS you were still filming as you entered the polling station - YOU were breaking the law !!!!!
boudicas09 1 year ago
@boudicas09 Rubbish. Tellers are not permitted to pass themselves off as part of the polling process, as this one clearly did. As for going inside, if you can see a threshold on screen, I haven't crossed it yet. Look closer.
Nice try, though.
bloggerheads 1 year ago
@bloggerheads Never said you posted up footage of the interior of the polling station but you HAD passed through the first set of Doors and entered the building and you certainly Hadn't stopped filming judging by the speed you were walking.
So IMHO - I believe you have illegally filmed inside of a polling station & edited the end segment out of the film you posted.
I wonder if the police are aware that this has happened?
boudicas09 1 year ago
@boudicas09 1) I don't travel through any doors. Look. Closer. 2) This is a lot of effort for a little biscuit
bloggerheads 1 year ago 6
@bloggerheads WTF you got biscuits??? We got nothing... (leyton) rip off
ZiggzHSMrules 1 year ago
@bloggerheads Yea but you edited to stop as you went in!
cormfacts22 1 year ago
@cormfacts22 There's no footage I can show you that will convince you I haven't just cut some off the end, so you're just going to have to go on thinking that.
bloggerheads 1 year ago
@boudicas09 If I was their I would have called the police on that woman( as it looked dodgy and I have no idea if what she was doing was legal), she was the disingenuous one.
The person your criticizing wouldn't have been filming if it wasn't for her silly games...
ColdNova75 1 year ago
Similar behaviour in Bramley at 6:30pm
toadfish 1 year ago
Yeah, pretty misleading. She's obviously got someting to hide! By the way haven't you committed an offence by taking a video camera into a polling station? :-)
HeavyPlant70 1 year ago
What a complete non-story. You get Labour and Lib Dem people doing exactly the same thing at any number of Polling Stations too. You just come across as whiny.
kenigmatic 1 year ago
Completely unacceptable!! Can't believe people are putting their faith in such a dodgy, conniving party.
I will admit that many the Torrie policies are sound in many respects, but it's not worth us being controlled by the likes of Rupert Murdoch and Lord Ashcroft, as this kind of deception is not beneath them in any way. That is the future I worry about.
ChristmasRights 1 year ago
Completely unacceptable!! Can't believe people are putting their faith in such a dodgy, conniving party.
I will admit that many the Torrie policies are sound in many respects, but it's not worth us being controlled by the likes of Rupert Murdoch and Lord Ashcroft, as this kind of deception is not beneath them in any way. That is the future I worry about.
ChristmasRights 1 year ago
Your Tories are like our Tea Partiers, although they are much better behaved.
SOCOACH50 1 year ago
conservatives wankers
farmerr03 1 year ago
now this is an excuse to vote labour.
kaney1967 1 year ago
They register that you voted and then will use that info to identify you in future elections as someone they know who bothers to vote, you'll be targeted for leafleting or door stepping. It's up to you whether this bothers you or not.
activelypassive 1 year ago
Im sure these people are not allowed to take peoples numbers.
theawesome6842 1 year ago
@theawesome6842 Taking numbers is fine. Doing so while trying to give the impression that it is a formal part/requirement of the polling process is not.
bloggerheads 1 year ago 3
Thanks to seeing this video earlier I didn't reveal my number to the Tory teller outside our polling station. The dude inside told me that shed only been there since 6pm so wouldn't have very accurate figures anyway. She was very evasive
iamstillmikek 1 year ago
All parties do this, she's just a teller. Is this your first election?
oblivionuk 1 year ago
she just got ownnnned :P
hadizaheer 1 year ago
She was a teller. They allow the parties and news broadcasters to make predictions about the election. You have no obligation to give them the information. If you don't wan to, simply say 'No thanks' like a normal and polite human being. You should stop being such a miserable idiot about it and using that as a point against the Conservative party. They exist - they always have done. Check it out on the electoral commission's website. Get used to it.
mitchell904 1 year ago
@mitchell904 I know tellers exist for all parties. I know what their job is. I also know that they are not allowed to behave like this, but the local Tories try it on every general election.
bloggerheads 1 year ago 17
@mitchell904 So first time voters who are not aware that this person might be a teller for a party because they've never heard about the, hasn't been told they are collecting this information for a political party, being made to think it's an official process and is being told they have to give their details should just 'Get used to it'. It's incredibly misleading.
ctrlplusz 1 year ago
Liberal Democrats & Green Party do this in my area too.
chichard41 1 year ago
you gotta love his little hissy-fit at the end! Lib Dem voter no doubts! :D
mynameisrobtoo 1 year ago
@mynameisrobtoo the lib dems are so honest as well. No leaflets posing as magazines or women's magazines...
SteelCaviar 1 year ago
Shit, this happened to me as well today, they got my number. What harm can come out of that though? Can someone explain please
Maltesersownyou 1 year ago
@Maltesersownyou NO harm at all. this video is utterly pointless.
mynameisrobtoo 1 year ago
The Lib Dems round our way are always doing that. Mithering sods the lot of them.
gwane 1 year ago
@bloggerheads just to check, you DID make a formal written complaint inside the Polling Station with the actual Election Officials, right? And you have given them this link/footage too? Because with the one I encountered, I did make a complaint, there and then, on the official complaints form...
Wokstation 1 year ago 2
@Wokstation I made a verbal complaint. I will go back and make sure it is recorded right now, and tell them of the video footage.
bloggerheads 1 year ago 11
I like the fact that you managed to video tape the whole episode, yet had no facial shots, no picture of the paper, no reason to believe any of this is real. considering the person making the video clearly preplanned the question and knew who to target, you'd be rather naive to take this with anything less than a massive heaping of salt.
ojcorb 1 year ago
@ojcorb hhahahaha, you're trying to tell me you think this guy got an old lady to stand at a polling station and argue with him and then be sarcastic on polling day? While other people are milling around?
Which planet are you from mate - Moronsville?.
Carlosfandango67 1 year ago
This is absolutely disgraceful - a true representation of the lying cheats that David Cameron and the conservatives are! I seriously hope the electoral office hear about this! Has anybody sent it to the BBC yet?
davidmoorcroft 1 year ago 5
@davidmoorcroft are you being serious? are you actually that stupid or are you being sarcastic?
SteelCaviar 1 year ago
I think I'm going to pretend that she just forgot her rosette and then got a bit confused. Politics is far less depressing when you're naive.
duncan2k8 1 year ago 9
Should be banned.
Can be classed as intimidating.
May put Labour people off voting if Conservative teller is sniffy.
As I said if it isn't essential - should be banned. Easy enough to do.
sltr1 1 year ago
Why is an australian voting? i thought they are all crims.
044053 1 year ago
All parties do this. As she says, 'it's the done thing' in the UK. Tellers often pool their information, so it's more than likely that she wasn't Telling for the Conservatives, but *everyone*.
Look up Teller (elections) on Wikipedia.
FatboyGengiz 1 year ago
@FatboyGengiz a Tory saying it's "the done thing" doesn't mean much to me. The fact remains that her stationery was from Conservative head office, and she admitted that eventually.
It's contrary to Electoral Commission recommendations to pass yourself off as polling station staff and can get you removed from the station for interfering with free and fair votes.
If you've got time you can always stop suggesting unofficial sources to me and read Appendix C of the Electoral Commission guidelines.
adecentusername 1 year ago 4
Haha - you're an idiot. The old dear doesn't have a clue why she's collecting the numbers.
It's so that they can get their supporters out to vote (arranging transport for elderly voters if they've not voted yet, etc.)
FatboyGengiz 1 year ago
@FatboyGengiz She doesn't know why; that's fine. But she almost certainly knows *who* she's collecting them for: it's written on her sheet. And she should declare that interest instead of being so coy.
And @bloggerheads knows *why* she's collecting the numbers: he doesn't need you to tell him in such a patronising way. What he *needs* is for the Tories to stop being so misleading.
adecentusername 1 year ago
Hi guys, just to inform you, tomorrow is the official TWAT A TORY day.
Fragamuff 1 year ago
Is she wearing a rosette? If so, what she's doing is fine, although highly annoying. If not, report her to the polling station staff.
Peregr1nEU 1 year ago
This happened to me this morning in Redhill, Surrey. Watch out if you're voting there.
benvio 1 year ago
just vote BNP, job done.
neolxs 1 year ago
3.2 If asked, tellers should explain that they are political activists seeking to
determine who has actually voted. No impression should be given that any
information provided will be used for official purposes or that they are
employed by the Returning Officer.
realbluemeat 1 year ago
There's nothing illegal in what she's doing. The role of 'tellers' has been commonplace in elections for many years. Their role is to check whether people they have canvassed who said they'd vote for a certain party have shown up at a polling station. The only thing she did wrong was not being more open about on whose behalf she was collecting the information. But, it doesn't directly jeopardise the democratic process or your right to vote AT ALL. So I wouldn't make too much of a fuss about it.
padr0r 1 year ago
@padr0r if the information is cross referenced with your name, it's personal data under the DPA, and you can request that they stop processing it.
dominicjn789 1 year ago
Point is tellers collection numbers: good
Tellers refusing to admit to party affiliation, strongly implying that they have an official role and demanding ('I have to...') information: bad and illegal.
happygnome 1 year ago 2
Had the same problem today, first time voter & knew what a teller was, but the old gentleman in Plymouth made it seem like he was polling staff when he demanded our numbers.
picadooscollop 1 year ago
Yes, up until recently we had the same problem - two Tories stationed themselves right outside the Polling Station, looking official and asking us about our voting intentions. Of course, I refused. The whole thing is outrageous! I think they've stopped that now here in East Horsley... at least I hope so as I haven't seen them this time around.
NajaMartina 1 year ago
Aha South West Surrey my dad used to stand as a councillor & electoral agent there (Lib Dem) so I know a little about this. Yes tellers can ask you information - you don't need to give it, that's BS - but they usually ask when you leave, not before. They are legal, but they should tell you what party they're from on asking. They are fairly benign and part of the election process - if you support the party give them your details as it stops them knocking on your door twice for example.
timbearcub 1 year ago
Exactly the same thing when I went to vote in Sussex.
svengalie 1 year ago
From the electoral Commission:
Tellers must not:
...
•impede, obstruct or intimidate voters on their way in or out of the polling station
•demand any information relating to a voters elector number, name or address
...
pretty clear.
happygnome 1 year ago 4
The Tory and LibDem tellers (identifiable with perfectly visible rosettes) at a polling station in Ealing this morning informed me that they're asking so that they know which of their declared and/or likely supporters had voted, so that they could more accurately target their "get out and vote" activities later in the day.
jpluscplusm 1 year ago
@jpluscplusm I know what a teller is, but they should not be giving people the impression they are polling station staff.
bloggerheads 1 year ago 10
@bloggerheads I think I've replied a couple of times to you, sorry! Yes, quite agree - no point being cagey about it. Everything should be open at a polling station, of all places
gingashields 1 year ago
@jpluscplusm I voted in Ealing this morning too and asked the LD teller (?) at the door point blank if what she was doing was kosher. And she - and the police officer loitering around too - explained that it was "the done thing". I'm used to voting in America where - theoretically - no one promoting any party is supposed to be anywhere near the polls.
rabbitandcrow 1 year ago
By implying that handing over details is a precondition of the process, she is effectively obstructing the polling station - this is grounds for police intervention.
happygnome 1 year ago 2
We had a similar volunteer at our polling station in Battersea, but he was wearing a blue ribbon. Still, not sure why they would want our numbers.
richardlai 1 year ago