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 So an out-of-date passport, for example, will work as long as the name is the same and the photo still looks like you.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:
- Get Voting - which also has ID info and a boundary checker
- tactical.vote
- StopTheTories.vote
- Win As One has broader aims to change the voting system
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 removed with a french name that wants to stop foreigners crossing our border. Ask the removed 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.
I had to walk away from a young lad (first time voting) going:."yeah but Andrew Tate hasn't been convicted yet".
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
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.
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.