UK Election Publitics

The election results may still be in the air, but the UK stance on booze is clear–bring it on, election day and all.

According to the BBC, here’s the official rule:

I’VE BEEN IN THE PUB AND FEEL DRUNK. CAN I VOTE?

Yes. Polling station staff cannot refuse a voter simply because they are drunk or under the influence of drugs. However, if the presiding officer suspects you are incapable of voting you will be asked a series of questions to determine whether you are up to the task of casting your ballot. If the voter cannot answer satisfactorily they will be told to come back when they’ve sobered up.

This is an important rule because there are pub polling stations in the U.K., as noted in The Atlantic.

Our US bars may not be polling stations, but do not fear, dear drinking voters, your boozey ballots can count too, as shown in a 2008 example in New Mexico when a drunk woman made a scene and passed out as she voted:

A little checking determined that it was not illegal to be drunk when casting a ballot, but election laws do prohibit liquor at voting sites and creating a disturbance..Because the woman passed out before inserting her ballot into an electronic tabulator, her vote will be hand-counted.

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