Is Our Vote Really Secret?

[Cloverjo]

I know this was discussed a couple of weeks ago here, but I want to bring it up again. Someone here said he was concerned that his electoral roll number was written on the ballot paper and so it would be possible for people to find out how he voted. He was told that wouldn't happen, by others on the thread.
Today, I received a letter from the candidate that I voted for last time, in which she thanked me for putting my trust in her at the last election. My son voted for her too and he also got a letter. My partner didn't vote for her, and so didn't get a letter. It looks like she knew how my son and I voted, and I'm quite concerned by this, as it is supposed to be a secret ballot. Am I being paranoid or it possible that her party somehow got hold of the ballot papers and found out who voted for whom?

[Bazile]

Did she or her party workers come knocking on the door and you and your son promised that you both would vote for her ?

[Electrochem]

Whilst it is possible, it is highly illegal to do so. The reason the number is put on there is to stop fraudulent voting.

[Cloverjo]

We've had no one knocking on the door. Actually, I think I might be overreacting. Now I've read the letter again, it sounds like a general thanks to constituency for putting her in the seat at the last election. I'm puzzled that my son and I got one but not my partner, though.

[Hypognosis]

Interesting.

The last couple of times I voted, my name was marked on the roll by the person at the desk and a number was written on the corner of my ballot paper. My immediate thought was that this blows away any sense of the vote being secret but I shrugged and let it go. Making a big scene of it is not my… scene.

Sudden afterthought: would a number scribbled in the corner be sufficient for it to register as a "spoilt ballot"? Last I recall, any mark, other than the X counts as spoiled, even if it's just an attempt to get the biro to work.

Good thread idea, Cloverjo.

[Hypognosis]

@Electrochem

Saw your post after submitting mine.

I take your point but surely, if you're assigned just the one polling station to ho to, surely it is sufficient to cross the voters' names off the list, one by one? There should be no need to also mark their ballot paper.

If ALL papers are marked in this fashion, then I can't complain but I can hardly stand to one side and watch to ensure everyone else is treated the same way. I don't have the patience.

In lieu of first-hand experience, I can use AB to compare notes though.

At first glance, it appears we have surrendered the secrecy of the ballot for a mechanism to prevent the rare (?) instances of fraud. Despite which, the Lutfur Rachmans of the world have already worked out ways to circumvent it.

[Arksided]

Wow never heard of this, for me always being register at desk, given ballot paper(s) think it was a Europe thing last time. Into private both watched when I left and put direct into the tombola.

[naomi24]

I've thought this for a long time. Your vote can be traced and, hence, is not secret.

[tonyav]

So aren't the voting ballot papers destroyed after the count then.

[maggiebee]

Is it the same for a postal vote?

[naomi24]

Tony, they are destroyed after 12 months.


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/general-election-2015-explained-voting-10227175.html

[tonyav]

Thanks naomi, wonder why they wait a year though.

[naomi24]

maggiebee, if you're voting by post, I assume a numbered ballot paper is sent to you at your address so they'll know who you are anyway.

[naomi24]

Tony,

http://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,,-1051,00.html

[seadogg]

We get thank you letters via post from the Conservative Party at each election despite the fact that we have never voted Tory. Possibly it's because we tend to be affable to all candidates and canvassers who give their time at elections.

[EDDIE51]

They do not put your roll number on the voting paper!. That would be serious breach of the secret ballot. What they do is mark the ballot paper with an official code that shows the polling station number and date. In every election that I have been to the marking is done in a press that indents the code mark into the paper.
This is to stop anyone bringing in an extra ballot paper and slipping it into the ballot box. There are 1000 s of extra slips printed in case they get 100% turnout, they can not run out of voting slips so they print far more than will be used just in case. Someone who works at the printers could steal a few 100 slips easily so each slip is validated as it is issued.

[askyourgran]

I'm not sure Cloverjo, I have recently moved house and had my mail forwarded to my new address on the other side of the river. I have received three leaflets from one party candidate forwarded to me from my old address but I have never voted for that party, yet I haven't received one from the candidate I supported over there for the past 25 years.

[sunny-dave]

Once and for all ...

"Every ballot paper has a unique serial number and by law, a record is kept of every serial number issued to every voter"

You will see the clerk write the number next to your name on the electoral roll.

This means that your vote could be checked - but in fact anyone doing this for any reason not properly authorised (usually in connection with elctoral fraud) would wind up in prison very promptly.

[naomi24]

Eddie, //Today, to prevent fraud, every ballot paper carries a Serial number as well as a unique official mark. This means that, although the ballot in UK elections is supposed to be secret, it is theoretically possible to trace each vote to the voter who cast it. //

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/general-election-2015-explained-voting-10227175.html

[tonyav]

Thanks naomi.

[EDDIE51]

Did not know about the serial number, thanks for the information.
It is a worrying development. Someone as corrupt as the Tower Hamlets mayor would have no hesitation in checking up on who voted for him!