I9O THE BRITISH APPROACH TO POLITICS

As he leaves the station, the party workers will ask him what

his number on the Register is; thus lists of those whcfhave voted

are compiled, and sent to party Committee Rooms, where the

workers concentrate on sending messages to known supporters

who have not yet voted. The secrecy of the Ballot is rigidly

preserved; many voters announce their sympathies openly, but

none is obliged to do so. A voter may refuse to answer a canvasser;

he may even promise to vote for Mr. Y., ride to the poll in the

car of one of Mr. Y's friends and there vote for Mr. Z. and no

one will be the wiser. There is a number on his voting paper

but it is not the number against his name in the voting register.

That latter number (the "polling number") will be pencilled by

the Presiding Officer on the counterfoil of his voting paper.

So a comparison of voting-papers, counterfoils and register

would reveal each voter's choice; these documents, however,

are only brought together when it is proved that unqualified

people have secured votes by impersonating someone else,

and a legal scrutiny is demanded. University Constituencies,

where most voting is by post, still have an open Ballot, and the

voter signs his name on the Ballot Paper.

The candidate spends Polling Day touring the constituency,
encouraging his workers. When the poll has dosed, interest
shifts to the Town Hall or other public building where the
votes are counted. This is done under the supervision of the
Returning Officer, while the candidate and the people whom
he has appointed scrutineers, are alert to see that no mistakes
are made, and to argue about spoiled papers. A paper is spoilt
if the voter has put on it other marks than those legally required,
or has marked it so clumsily that his intention is not dear. The
final decision, whether a paper is spoilt, is made by the Returning
Officer or his deputy. If the first count shows only a small majority,
there will be recounts, till, in the early morning, the Returning
Officer declares the final result. Winners and losers make short
speeches to the /crowd assembled outside, and the election is
complete,