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The polling card isn't necessary. Nor is taking ID although it can be useful if the polling agents inside don't believe you are who you say you are.
I voted this morning without my polling card and without having to show ID. Just told them my road name, house number and name. I did remember the number on my polling card which makes it easier for them to find you in their lists.
Also, the one or more people standing outside the polling station (wearing a coloured rosette) are the tellers. They're volunteers from political parties and are there to identify who has voted (by looking at your polling card and writing down the list number) so that later in the day they can round up their known supporters who haven't voted (by visit, text, email, etc) and give them a prod.
You're under no obligation to speak to the tellers or give them any information. I normally say hello but when they ask to see my card (which I rarely take anyway) I tell them no.
Tellingly (no pun intended) the only teller outside my polling station this morning was wearing a blue rosette.
The tellers also, allegedly, use the numbers taken to know who is an active voter and will prioritise active voters in their campaigning. So if you want more door knocks or leaflets through the post then give them your number.
Greenbank-
A polling card or ID shouldn't be necessary. Indeed it wasn't in my case either, name and address was sufficient.
Alas, in the clusterfuck of Barnet, a lot of people weren't on the lists so even those who held a polling card and ID to corroborate it were turned away from voting. In an early statement, they urged people with polling cards to return as they would honour these and later said business as usual as updated lists had been provided.
Of course the trouble with this is that polling clerks usually cross people off the list to prevent the Irish Vevo situation. Now, with multiple lists there's a chance for people to double vote. I think there's definitely going to be a legal challenge to the outcome in Barnet. They may need a do over.
For the record, all of the tellers in my area appear to be Green. I support them but also respect the convention of the ballot so declined to identify myself. I'll probably get a text later.
The_Seldom_Killer
Yep,
I've just done exactly that.
Please note that if you live in Barnet, everything is fucked. They've printed the wrong lists and have been turning people away all morning. Not even taking a polling card or any other form of ID has been sufficient to ensure a vote. Barnet have now issued a statement that anyone who was turned away should return after lunchtime when they've received the up to date lists.