What happens if it's the day of a General Election and there's an extreme weather event? Like right now with Babet or the 1987 storm. Is the election postponed? With trees down, roads flooded, and whatnot, people might not be able to get to polling stations.
Elections and extreme weather?
- Thread starter Quartz
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Permabanned
As far as I'm aware no UK general election has been postponed due to inclement weather. There was a whine from those that count the votes and those that oversee the count that bad weather made their job dangerous for travelling to the centres, but I don't think it came to anything. They wanted the count postponed, I guess the powers that be thought if the voters could manage to get to the polling stations the counters should strive to go and count `em 
Soldato
Anyone who decides not to vote because it’s raining, snowing and other bad weather are pathetic.
I’ve voted every election since 1999, when I turned 18, bar 2. First one I missed was 2005 GE as moved 20 miles 12 days before the election.
The other one was the last EU one as thought what’s the point in this as UK would leave months later.
If people are concerned about the weather, do a postal vote.
Have a postal vote now as I had been on holiday one election
I’ve voted every election since 1999, when I turned 18, bar 2. First one I missed was 2005 GE as moved 20 miles 12 days before the election.
The other one was the last EU one as thought what’s the point in this as UK would leave months later.
If people are concerned about the weather, do a postal vote.
Have a postal vote now as I had been on holiday one election
Soldato
By elections have always had a low turnout.
Other countries have their elections on Sundays. Would the turnout be higher if elections, of all types were on Sundays?
Another thing that annoys my friends plus other people with children is that their children’s schools are used for polling stations and close the schools. So that means booking time off or unpaid to look after the children. Yet the community centre where my friend lives, had nothing on on polling day, yet the school was used.
Stop using schools for polling stations unless voting changes to Sundays.
Other countries have their elections on Sundays. Would the turnout be higher if elections, of all types were on Sundays?
Another thing that annoys my friends plus other people with children is that their children’s schools are used for polling stations and close the schools. So that means booking time off or unpaid to look after the children. Yet the community centre where my friend lives, had nothing on on polling day, yet the school was used.
Stop using schools for polling stations unless voting changes to Sundays.
Soldato
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Someone will make an extreme sport out of it
Soldato
Lowest turnout for a by-election was Manchester Central 2012 with 18.2%.
Average is 38.7%
Average is 38.7%
Commissario
The polling station staff, both workers and volunteers tend to have a lot further to go to get to the counting locations than the average voter who is typically less than 10 minutes walk from their polling station.As far as I'm aware no UK general election has been postponed due to inclement weather. There was a whine from those that count the votes and those that oversee the count that bad weather made their job dangerous for travelling to the centres, but I don't think it came to anything. They wanted the count postponed, I guess the powers that be thought if the voters could manage to get to the polling stations the counters should strive to go and count `em
There is also an element of IIRC you legally cannot start the count without certain people being there.
So it's a lot more complicated than "if voters can reach a polling station why can't the people doing the count", much the same way most schools have fairly small catchment areas that are typically within easy walking distance, but staff might be driving in from several miles away (a friend who is a teacher has a 45 minute drive, his wife is also a teacher and has something like a 20 minute drive in the other direction). which when combined with things like minimum legal staffing levels tends to mean that schools close even if some pupils can get there.
I would imagine if the weather was really bad during an election they'd have no choice but to sit on the count with the boxes secured away and staff/volunteers who could make it watching over them, or at best a very slow count if the "paid" for and absolutely mandatory staff could make it but there were only a fraction of the number of people counting and observing (I strongly suspect the employed officials would make it, even if they had to arrive hours early and prepared to be there for a day or more).
But at least they'd probably try to make it to the count on time, unlike certain candidates.
Soldato
would have to call it off and flip a coin instead
I'm surprised the tories weren't blaming the weather for the by-election whoopings. The glum faces and coping on Gammon Not-News this morning were ball-bouncingly funny.
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Soldato
You should be able to vote online by now.
Soldato
I've always voted in every election I've been entitled to since I turned 18 even right down to local parish council elections etc. Nothing will stop me voting. If you're really bothered about going to vote in extreme weather then register for postal voting. 
Soldato
1997 was the only vote I did in person. 2001, I was 200 miles away on work placement and didn't vote. 2005 onwards have been postal vote.
Ah yes, let's predict a red weather forecast.
*Pop's postal vote in*
Storm Babet: **** off
Soldato
You’ll be surprised how the rain affects trade. Customers who drive to/from my work, don’t go out when it’s raining.
Even the customer who lives opposite my colleague. Her front door is under the car port. So doesn’t get wet when getting shopping from the car.
If people can’t drive in the rain, give up driving!
Even the customer who lives opposite my colleague. Her front door is under the car port. So doesn’t get wet when getting shopping from the car.
If people can’t drive in the rain, give up driving!
Caporegime
Finns ingen dåligt väder bara dåligt kläder!
Swedish expression....
Swedish expression....
Associate
It won't be postponed, but the vote will be impacted.
In short, those who genuinely believe in the principals behind their vote will still vote, whereas those voting because they think they should, or because others told them to, won't.
In practice, this would mean Conservatives, reform uk would lose a few votes, and Labour would lose comparatively lots more.
Enough to change a result based on current polling? Probably not.
In short, those who genuinely believe in the principals behind their vote will still vote, whereas those voting because they think they should, or because others told them to, won't.
In practice, this would mean Conservatives, reform uk would lose a few votes, and Labour would lose comparatively lots more.
Enough to change a result based on current polling? Probably not.