Number
Tellers
To find
out if known supporters are going to the polls and voting the parties
position tellers outside the polling stations who ask voters as they
arrive, or in some areas as they leave, what their poll number is. The
poll number is on the voter’s polling card and although they don’t
have to take it with to the polls in order to vote most people do. This
number is noted down on a pad of paper.
One of
the strangely positive features of UK politics is that the tellers of
all parties co-operate in this function so if someone refuses to give
you their number but lets the teller of another party know, they will
share that information with you as soon as the person leaves. Your tellers
should also co-operate in this manner so if they are inexperienced at
telling, let them know this as the last thing you need is a complaint
from one of the other parties as you just don’t have the time
for it.
The pads
used should have tear off sheets and once in a while the committee room
organiser, probably you, will send someone from the committee room to
pick up the sheets from the teller and return them to the committee
room. In these hi-tech days mobile phones and texting could be used
but the principle is that the poll numbers get back to the committee
room somehow and in good time. The committee room organiser then checks
the numbers on the sheets against the polling numbers of your supporters
on the knock-up sheets and scores out or removes in some way any who
have now voted. During the course of the day your outstanding number
of supporters who have not yet voted should decline.
If you
are truly serious about the election you will want to have a teller
on each polling station from the opening of the polls which is 7am for
General and European elections and 8am for local elections until the
polls close. You therefore need to set up a rota of tellers. A copy
of the rota should be given to the first teller so that they know who
is taking over from them and this should be handed on to each subsequent
teller.
The period
a teller can sit for should only last about two hours as a maximum
and during busy times this may need to be shorter. Tellers should wear
a rosette or something else that identifies that they are acting on
behalf of your candidate. The rosette can be passed from teller to teller
as they hand over. Ask your tellers to report back to the committee
rooms at the end of their shift and offer them some refreshments. This
ensures three things;
1,
your tellers can be thanked for their efforts by the committee room
organiser or the candidate or both; these people have given up their
free time for you so show that you appreciate it;
2,
they can bring their completed number sheets back with them saving
you sending a knocker-up to collect the numbers and,
3,
you can be sure that the next person on the list has arrived.
If you
have worked with limited resourced and not canvassed any part of a polling
district there is little point in have number tellers, however if you
have resources available on Election Day you may want to send a teller
to the polling stations as this gives your party or campaign an equal
presence with the other parties in the view of voters. This is not uncommon
amongst even the major parties as their absence is usually more noticeable
then their presence so sending along a teller, even it is only during
busy times, can be a damage limitation exercise.
Continue to Knocking Up....