What would the effect be if people were prohibited from voting while intoxicated?
Posted by Scrolling2Oblivian@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 22 comments
What might be the social, legal, and practical effects if people were prohibited from voting while intoxicated? It would probably affect voter turnout. Could it raise concerns about civil liberties, discrimination, or unequal enforcement? On the other hand, might supporters argue that it helps ensure voters make decisions with full awareness and judgment? What historical examples, if any, exist of restrictions related to intoxication and voting?
MrMonkeyman79@reddit
How many people are voting whole pissed. And how many of those people make their decision at the polling booth?
Seems completely pointless.
Scrolling2Oblivian@reddit (OP)
One estimate puts the figure at 10%. Drink and drugs, remember
SnooDonuts6494@reddit
It's covered by existing legislation. You can be prevented from voting if you're causing a disruption.
ActionBirbie@reddit
The crux of the question is: What lead you to think this occurs to any measurable level, OP?
Active-Strawberry-37@reddit
Sinn Fein would have got fewer votes in the 1997 general election as it clashed with a Celtic match and they sent taxis to the bars of West Belfast to get people to the polling stations at half time
Tigweg@reddit
Hardly any. Remember, looking stations close at 10pm.
Related funny(ish) story: I have more than once in the last 20 years drunk beer from a coffee mug, sometimes poured from a teapot, because it is illegal to sell alcohol in Thailand on polling days
oliverprose@reddit
Lots of big questions in there that probably do deserve answers in a wider civic duty versus other jobs context, but I suspect the actual effects would be zero or very near - it doesn't strike me that getting drunk and going to the polling station is something that happens, but then again you're likely to find me there at 8am going before travelling to work.
AndyOf77@reddit
I generally go at 7am and I've never seen anybody that is obviously drunk while voting, I do live in Scotland though so I'm not ruling it out🤣
KeyJunket1175@reddit
Is that an actual thing that people do in the UK? Do enough people do it so that it raises this question? And here I thought us eastern europeans are the big alcoholics... WTF.
Artistic_Table5293@reddit
Fun fact,elections in the UK are always held on a Thursday,next one coming up on Thursday 7th May.This is because people were traditionally paid on a Friday, thought to have less money,more likely to be sober and a higher turnout.
InsurancePurple4630@reddit
What's interesting now is Thursday is now more popular to go for a drink than Friday
Artistic_Table5293@reddit
The start of the weekend hurrah.....
AeroHawc@reddit
Very little. Most people go down to the booth when they have a spare minute in the day not while out on the lash.
AndyOf77@reddit
I'd be inclined to agree with this statement.
AndyOf77@reddit
Are you talking about MPs or constituents here lol
Buttercupsarepretty@reddit
It would probably only impact MP's who cast their house votes straight from the bar.
Think-Committee-4394@reddit
🔥so good & so true
trmetroidmaniac@reddit
If I'm pissed the last thing on my mind is casting a ballot.
ahairyhoneymonsta@reddit
Never occurred to me. Might get right on it before the local elections.
dbxp@reddit
It puts the breathalyser company in a very powerful position. I imagine with enough funding you could create one which rejects people of a certain race.
QueenSashimi@reddit
In my experience most people are making their way to polling stations before or after work, many taking their dogs along for the walk, and it's generally a refreshing little democratic outing. Not seen drinking be a part of it personally.
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