Polling Day

Polling for parliamentary elections takes place on Thursdays. The hours of voting are 7.00 to 22.00, no break is allowed. Each voter goes to a polling station in his/her constituency. Voters have their names checked against the election register before they are given ballot papers. The paper lists the names of candidates in al­phabetical order, with a brief description of the candidates or their political parties. Voting takes place in booths, which are screened to maintain secrecy. Voters mark their ballot papers with a cross in the box opposite the name of the candidate of their choice and then fold the paper to conceal the vote, before placing it in the ballot box. Voters who spoil their ballot papers by mistake can vote using a fresh ballot paper once the first ballot paper is cancelled

After the end of polling the ballot boxes are sealed to prevent further votes from being added. The votes must be counted as soon as possible after the end of polling. The candidates and their agents have the 'right to be present. The number of papers in the box is counted and checked against the ballot paper account. After this, papers are sorted according to the candidates for whom they are marked. Doubtful papers are put aside and the returning officer decides whether they are valid. If the result is close, candidates or their agents may seek a recount; the deci­sion is made by the returning officer. If the number of votes 'is equal, the winner is decided by drawing lots

Let us imagine that the result was as follows:

Adams Con 25,000

Johnson SDP 7,000

Maxwell Lab 19,000

Thomas LibDem . 11,000

The winner is Adams, even though the total of the votes for the other candidates was greater. Adams, then, will represent the constituency in the House of Com­mons. If this type of result is repeated in other constituencies, the make-up of the House of Commons will not necessarily accurately reflect the way that people voted across the country. This voting system is commonly called the first-past-the-post system. It favours a two-party system, particularly when tie parties' support is concentrated geographically, as is the case with the Conservative and Labour par­ties. It doesn't favour parties whose support is spread across constituencies, such as the Liberal Democrats, as they tend to accumulate relatively small numbers of votes in each constituency and consequently do not win many seats.

Exercises

1. Describe how the frist-past-the-post system works.

2. Speak about the polling day.

3. What is a one-member constituency?

4. What is the difference between the House of Lords and the House of Commons as regards the elections?

5. What are the main political parties in Britain?

Debates II.

Do you consider it to be a sound practices that:

- the voting age in Britain is 18;

- voting in elections is voluntary;

- members of the House of Lords are not allowed to vote or stand for

election;

- people can stand for election at the age of 21