The Official UK Election Thread! 6th May it is!

[zooterkin]

Apparently there were queues at quite a lot of polling stations. Not here: place was pretty dead when I voted. Anyone had to queue?

I had to wait about 10 minutes; it seemed to take an inordinately long time to sort out someone ahead of me who was casting a proxy vote as well as his own.

 

[Ashles]

People in Sheffield were queueing for three hours and then got turned away; I can understand it if they turned up at 9.50, but if you turn up at 7, straight from work, you really should be able to exercise your franchise.

That's pretty shocking.

 

[Matthew Best]

Hundreds of people were unable to vote at polling stations as they were still queuing when the ballot boxes closed at 10pm.

Voters in Hackney, east London, were turned away from a polling station in Triangle Road after some had been forced to queue for more than an hour and a half, they said.

And police were called to a polling station in Manwood Road, Lewisham, south London, where around 300 people had yet to vote by 10pm, Scotland Yard said. There were reports of similar situations in other parts of the country.

Would-be voters staged a sit-in protest at the building after the ballot boxes closed and police had to be called.

 

[MarkCorrigan]

People in Sheffield were queueing for three hours and then got turned away; I can understand it if they turned up at 9.50, but if you turn up at 7, straight from work, you really should be able to exercise your franchise.

That's a disgrace.

If you turn up with 10-15 minutes to go, well tough, you should have done something else.

On the other hand, Turning up 2-3 hours before and not getting to vote? That really is a disgrace.

 

[Fiona]

It is also really strange. Even with a very high turnout..

 

[Ashles]

Let's be honest, Sunderland just make up their results each time.

 

[MarkCorrigan]

Let's be honest, Sunderland just make up their results each time.

"So it's Labour again...what's a big number? 19000? Sounds good.

Now, the Tories....got to make it believable, but still a whitewash....8000?"

 

[commandlinegamer]

2nd in: Canny result in Washington, Labour win again

 

[Agatha]

Could lead to challenges in some seats. This is the most exciting election I can remember, and I've been voting since 1991.

 

[MarkCorrigan]

Anyone else a little disturbed that the BNP have had more votes than UKIP in both declared constituencies?

ETA: and that the Tories are doing really well in Sunderland?

 

[Fiona]

washington

lib dem 3 182 (?)
con8157
lab 19615
ukip 1267
bnp 1916

Swing of 11% to conservative
new seat, though

 

[commandlinegamer]

Who else thinks Labour would have stood a better chance with Mandy as leader?

 

[Lothian]

washington

lib dem 3 182 (?)
con8157
lab 19615
ukip 1267
bnp 1916

Swing of 11% to conservative
new seat, though

I work in that constituency. 1916 wankers. It must be one of the least diverse places in the country.

 

[MarkCorrigan]

Am I the only person who actually likes Lord Mandelson?

 

[dudalb]

That's a disgrace.

If you turn up with 10-15 minutes to go, well tough, you should have done something else.

On the other hand, Turning up 2-3 hours before and not getting to vote? That really is a disgrace.

Agreed, In the US, polls have a closing time, but if you show up on 7:59 they still have to let you vote.

 

[commandlinegamer]

I work in that constuency. 1916 wankers.

Remembering it is National Mastication Day.

 

[Fiona]

Am I the only person who actually likes Lord Mandelson?

I think so

 

[geni]

Anyone else a little disturbed that the BNP have had more votes than UKIP in both declared constituencies?

Both are labour and UKIP tend to grab tory voters.

 

[jimbob]

Am I the only person who actually likes Lord Mandelson?

Suddenly your choice of avatar makes sense

 

[MarkCorrigan]

Both are labour and UKIP tend to grab tory voters.

True, but I would have thought that the BNP would grab Tory votes as well, given that they are closer politically.

Although I suppose they do target the working class, who tend to be Labour.