Well, it is definitely election season. Theresa May has called a general election for 8th June, the French voted yesterday in their Presidential elections and on 4th May the people of Tees Valley will vote for a combined authority mayor.
It is not the role of this blog to get political, save that we would always encourage everyone who has one to exercise their democratic right to vote. However, it does seem that elections are the thing to talk about this week so here are 12 facts about the UK election system to whet your appetite for the weeks ahead:
- You don’t have to put a ‘x’ on the ballot paper but could put a tick, * or even a smiley face as the Electoral Commission will accept another mark as Long as “the voters intention is clear on the ballot paper”. Don’t sign your name though as this breaks the secret ballot laws.
- At the last election Mhairi Black became the youngest MP in recent times but not the youngest ever as this honour falls to Christopher Monck, Earl of Torrington who in 1666 was returned as an MP in Devon at the age of 13.
- In case you were wondering you can take a pet with you when you vote as long they do not disturb the vote. The general consensus is horses should be tied up outside the polling station!
- The highest turnout in an election since the war was 83.9% in 1950.
- The first woman to be elected to parliament was Constance Markievicz but she did not take her seat. The first woman to do that was Nancy Astor.
- Elections are traditionally held on a Thursday and the last election not to be was held on Tuesday 27th October 1931. Under the Fixed Term Parliament Act 2011 general elections are to be held on the first Thursday in May unless parliament votes otherwise as they have for this year’s election.
- You can have a couple of drinks before you go to vote if you need Dutch courage but if you appear incapable of casting a vote you may need to answer a series of questions to prove your capability.
- The Queen can vote but doesn’t as it is considered unconstitutional for the sovereign or his or her heirs to do so.
- Here in the North East, Sunderland has the speediest counters and is often the first to declare. In a bid to make counting faster they changed from 100g ballot papers to those weighing 80g.
- Some constituency boundaries are changing but the largest in area has been Ross, Skye & Lochaber at 12,000 square kilometres and the smallest Islington North at just 7.35 square kilometres.
- If there was to be a tied result in any constituency the Acting Returning Officer will decide the result by “lot”.
- You are not allowed to discuss your vote in the polling station or tweet about it while there. A selfie may break the laws around the secrecy of the ballot.
