Postal voting

[andrewducker]

[Poll #1562419]

I think that postal voting has real problems - as I've been discussing over here (worth reading the post that's attached to too, it's very interesting).

The basic problem boils down to this - if you're voting from home then there's nothing to stop someone bribing you to vote X, and then sitting behind you while you click the button/write on the form. Similarly, much more social pressure to conform can be exerted. Whereas, if you're voting in a booth then you can say "Yes, I voted X." when actually you voted "Y", no matter how much social pressure is exerted. See The Times article on that link for an example of that kind of pressure being exerted.

Comments

[missedith01.livejournal.com]

I actually like walking to the polling station, checking out the tory posters just outside, saying hello to the tellers, chatting to the officials, drinking in the smell of the plywood, stealing the stubby pencil ... it's all good fun.

There would always have to be a postal vote or equivalent, for people who can't attend, but I think it should have been retained for people who are unable to attend. Attendance of the vast majority of voters at a specified place where people are vigilant is one of the ways fraud is prevented.