Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Fraduantly removed from the electoral role
I turned up at the polling station yesterday morning - clutching my polling card - only to find that I had been removed from the electoral role. After the polling card had been issued, someone (who I have never heard of) had rung the council, removed their name and added theirs. I don't recognise the name of the person at all, and as far as I know they have no connection to my flat or the other to flats in the house.
The staff at the polling station were great, the Civic Centre issued a new number over the phone and I was able to vote. But still a bit freaked out and worried that this happened. I was wondering if it had happened to anyone else or whether it's just a one off and I've been unlucky?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lauren on
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I doubt it is connected but I discovered this week that someone has managed to phone the council and tell them they live in my flat and has been paying my council tax!
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Permalink Reply by Betty Careless on
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I don't think I'd mind so much if they were paying my Council tax as well!
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Permalink Reply by Penguin on
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I've also heard this happening to other people around here. With people regularly going through our bins and being allowed to get away with it in broad daylight its no wonder that this is happening.
Make sure you don't throw away any important documents before shredding them first.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on
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Betty, I can think of several reasons why someone would want to claim a false address on an Electoral Register. But speculation is pointless.
Instead, do please follow this up. Starting with Haringey's Electoral Services.
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I'm going to try and get on to them next week and see if I can the polling sort it. The people at the polling station were really helpful with numbers etc.
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Permalink Reply by Maddy on
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A friend in South London went to vote, with her polling card, and someone had already taken her vote, claiming to be her. You don't necessarily have to show any identification, just give a name and address and they let you vote. Surprised there isn't more widespread fraud.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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With turnouts at 40% I'm sure you wouldn't know.
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Thérèse, You are on the register because someone at your address completed a form sent by the Council showing who lives at your address. Fresh forms are regularly sent out. The form can be posted or responded to by phone. It also gives you the opportunity to ask for a postal vote.
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So no chance of problems there then. I guess it runs on trust eh?
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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You should get a voter registration form to fill in every year asking you to list all the people living at your address who are eligible to vote.
I got a bit huffy yesterday when Gina shouted at me, demanding to see my voting card. Very rude I thought.
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This issue came up on HoL at the 2010 election. Then Clive Carter and I explained what party tellers are doing outside the polling stations and why it's useful to give them your polling number - to prevent the parties bothering you later in the day.
But shouting at people? Of course not. The Electoral Commission has issued helpful guidance about the Party tellers with a list of Do's and Don'ts. At the General Election or the by-elections to come, I suggest that people formally complain if tellers from any party break the rules.
Electoral Commission List of Tellers do’s and don’ts
"There should be no more than one teller at a polling station for each campaigner, agent or candidate at any time. Where a polling place contains more than one polling station with separate entrances, it may be appropriate for there to be tellers at each entrance, but no more than one per per campaigners, agent or candidate"
"Tellers have no legal status and voters have the right to refuse to give them any information"
"Tellers must: (a) Always remain outside the polling station/place; (b) Only enter the polling station to cast their own vote, to vote as a proxy or to assist a voter with disabilities; (c) Always comply with the instructions of the Counting Officer or Returning Officer and Presiding Officer
"Tellers must not: (a) Be able to see or hear what is happening inside the polling station;(b) Impede, obstruct or intimidate voters on their way in or out of the polling station/place
(c) Demand any information relating to a voter’s elector number, name or address; (d) Ask voters to re-enter the polling station to ascertain their elector number; (e) Have discussions with voters that may give rise to allegations of undue influence (e.g. voting intentions, party affiliations or campaigns); (f) Display any campaign material in support of or against any particular referendum
campaigner, party or candidate other than a rosette""Tellers may: (a) Approach voters for information as they enter/leave the polling station/place
(b) Display a coloured rosette displaying the name of the referendum campaigner, candidate or
party. While the rosette must not be oversized, it may carry a description or emblem. "
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