this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2024
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UK Politics

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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 So an out-of-date passport, for example, will work as long as the name is the same and the photo still looks like you.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:

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.

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[–] GreyShuck@feddit.uk 28 points 4 days ago

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.

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 17 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Don't believe their hype. Get voting and make sure they're gone.

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[–] addie@feddit.uk 31 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 18 points 4 days ago

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.

[–] Monzcarro@feddit.uk 14 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Just voted for Labour. Need to get out the Tory MP who was sycophantic in her defence of Boris partying.

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[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 17 points 4 days ago (4 children)

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.

[–] UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk 22 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 9 points 4 days ago

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.

[–] HumanPenguin@feddit.uk 11 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Lifebandit666@feddit.uk 9 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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 cunt with a french name that wants to stop foreigners crossing our border. Ask the cunt 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.

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 10 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I had to walk away from a young lad (first time voting) going:."yeah but Andrew Tate hasn't been convicted yet".

[–] futatorius@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 1 points 1 day ago

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.

[–] Lifebandit666@feddit.uk 8 points 4 days ago

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

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[–] PhobosAnomaly@feddit.uk 16 points 4 days ago (3 children)

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!

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[–] thehatfox@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago (2 children)

13 seats for Reform feels like it would be more than a foot in the door for Faragism if the exit poll is accurate for them. I hope Labour will be able to provide effective counters to this.

Of course it's also possible that with suddenly gaining MPs in double digits, the inexperienced party might keep tripping over itself before it can trip anyone else.

[–] futatorius@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago

Luckily Reform only got 5. That's 5 too many, but better than 13. They're the 7th largest party in the new Parliament (if you count Independents as a party, which is a stretch-- I regard them as the null party).

[–] steeznson@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Chances of at least 2 of them being disqualified/resigning for saying something awful is like 100%. There will be by-elections in no time.

[–] TIN@feddit.uk 20 points 4 days ago (3 children)

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...

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 20 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (9 children)

The problem here is that any government that wins an election is disinclined to change the system that resulted in their victory.

Reform definitely wouldn't do it.

Honestly think that the only way that we will get electoral reform is if Lib Dems become the official opposition and they really push Labour on it. The daft thing being that if they actually introduced electoral reform Labour would practically win every time, albeit with a smaller majority, not that it would make any difference to them.

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[–] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al 13 points 4 days ago
[–] mannycalavera@feddit.uk 18 points 4 days ago (4 children)

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.

[–] Technofrood@feddit.uk 13 points 4 days ago

My polling station is the village pub

[–] Emperor@feddit.uk 12 points 4 days ago

England expects that every man will do his duty... and naff off down the boozer given half the excuse.

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[–] Twig@sopuli.xyz 14 points 4 days ago (1 children)
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[–] HumanPenguin@feddit.uk 12 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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.

[–] UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk 11 points 4 days ago (3 children)

In terms of postal votes, it's estimated there will be around 10m in total, a 20% increase on 2019.

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[–] IrregularChore@lemm.ee 9 points 4 days ago (3 children)

My driving licence had my old address on it but was still accepted as photo ID, In case people were worried about that.

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[–] fine_sandy_bottom@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 4 days ago (7 children)

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?

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[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 4 days ago (2 children)

i still think the shy tory/reform voter factor will be bigger than they think. predicting at best a minority government at worst a hung parliament.

[–] Twig@sopuli.xyz 6 points 4 days ago

A terrifying thought.

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[–] fubarx@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 days ago

Lesson to future generations. Run on 'Hope' and 'Change' whenever you can. Keep it simple. The rest is just noise.

[–] frankPodmore@slrpnk.net 13 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I'm canvassing for Labour all morning, voting in the afternoon, seeing Arcade Fire in the evening. So, it's going to be a good day!

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[–] steeznson@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago (3 children)

Is anyone watching the C4 programme? Nadine Dorries is made out of pure salt right now. Her and Alistair Campbell are scrapping at every opportunity. Chaotic but entertaining.

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[–] sanguinepar@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago
[–] sirico@feddit.uk 7 points 4 days ago

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

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