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 So an out-of-date passport, for example, will work as long as the name is the same and the photo still looks like you.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.
As a non-european I have some questions!
Firstly, is voting in the UK compulsory?
Secondly, how likely is it that the polls are wrong and the Tories will form government?
And thirdly, how have the Tories suddenly fallen from grace? They've presided over a real shit show for the last decade but kept getting elected. What changed?
1 - Nope.
2 - That remains to be seen, but the polls have never been too far wrong in the past.
3 - 14 years of mismanagement, no Brexit to use a as single policy election and the rise of Reform.
2: As Starmer and many others predicted, the end result was much tighter than the polls predicted. Lots of shy Tories out there, and a smaller number of people switching from Labour to Green as a protest (as we'd seen in our local council elections).
and some tactical Lib Dem voters.
The polls can possibly be wrong if something is really close, but this basically never happens. Unfortunately, voting isn't compulsory
Polls in the US and Australia in the last decade have been absurdly inaccurate.
Well, right now Kier Starmer is meeting with His Majesty the King where The King will ask him to form a new government
Yes, but he wasn't 14 hours ago when I was wondering how accurate the polls were.