I voted today

[mrsukyankee]

Today is the day to vote for London Mayor and the local Constituency Members of the London Assembly and the London-wide Members (so three votes).

I am registered to vote (you only have to register once and then let them know if you move).  I received a voting card, but you can show up and just let them know your name and address - NO ID NEEDED (hear that USA?).

I received 3 paper ballots.  One for the Mayor, one for our local and one for the London-wide member of the London Assembly. (The London Assembly is an elected group that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the Mayor's annual budget and to reject the Mayor's draft statutory strategies.)

It was interesting.  On the Mayor ballot, I could pick both my first and second choice (you don't have to put a second choice).  You use a pencil and mark an 'X' in a large box.  On the others, you only have one choice and, again, it's an 'X' in a large box.

It wasn't busy (probably 3 people in there voting when I was) and so I was able to go right to the voting station (no curtains, just a bit of privacy).  I imagine that earlier and after work it'd be busy (I went at 10am).  The voting station is open from 7am to 10pm (and you can still vote as long as you are in the queue at 10pm).  Convenient for most, which I approve.

[OscarQ]

May 5, 2016 4:25:31 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

You use a pencil and mark an 'X' in a large box.

Is this how it is for general elections there too?

[mrsukyankee]

May 5, 2016 8:28:59 GMT -5 OscarQ said:

May 5, 2016 4:25:31 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

You use a pencil and mark an 'X' in a large box.

Is this how it is for general elections there too?

Yup.  But you don't vote for Prime Minster.  You vote for one Member of Parliament for your Constituency.  The group that has the biggest number of seats in the Parliament is in charge and chooses the person who will represent them as Prime Minster.  Yup, different.

[OscarQ]

I'm still stuck on the pencil part. So stuck on it. We're obsessed with nonexistent voter fraud in this country and you all are making X's in pencil. How antiquated and charming.

[mrsukyankee]

May 5, 2016 10:59:44 GMT -5 OscarQ said: