14 Year Old Voted In The UK General Election...

[Obama 2012 1,714]

(NewsCore) - A 14-year-old has described being interviewed by police after he managed to vote in the U.K.'s General Election despite being underage by four years, Sky News reported Sunday.

Alfie McKenzie, from Lancashire, said he was sent a polling card in error but decided to use it to vote against the Conservatives in his area.

The politically-aware teenager said he dressed carefully in order to pass as an adult.

"I dressed as much like a Tory as I could manage: a trench coat, reading glasses, sharp shoes," he wrote in the Observer.

"I gave it my slightly eccentric aristocrat's walk and my best self-righteous Conservative accent, walked into St Hilda's polling station, went straight to the table and was directed to the slip which I was to cross."

The schoolboy said his secret was only discovered when he told a teacher at school who reported him to the police and the local council.

"When the police arrived, I came across way too informed and understanding to claim ignorance; the burly officer's patronizing tone lowered as our interview progressed," he said.

"Fortunately, it seems that I'm not going to be prosecuted."

Alfie said he backed the Liberal Democrats as a tactical vote in the Conservative stronghold of Wyre and Preston North. Tory candidate Ben Wallace won with a majority of 15,844.

"It seems I have become the first 14-year-old to vote in a General Election and, if we're to keep some faith in our voting system and the competence of its managers, hopefully the last," the teenager added.

more

[Heracles 417]

After chatting with the likes of Pike and Cleo, are you really surprised?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

After chatting with the likes of Pike and Cleo, are you really surprised?

That young British students are so politically active and intelligent? Of course I'm not surprised.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There are always aberrations, but I'd be more concerned about the people who showed up at polling stations and weren't able to vote because the ballot papers ran out or because the polling stations didn't have sufficient staff to get everyone through by 10pm.

[Heracles 417]

That young British students are so politically active and intelligent? Of course I'm not surprised.

Much like Aussies and probably Canadians, I highly doubt they are politically active.

I find the even amongst adult, the sort of political coverage and talk show following common in the US is not common at all in either country. I also find the average Joe is just not that interested in politics outside elections there.

Edited May 10, 2010 by Booyah!

[Pooky 3,807]

Much like Aussies and probably Canadians, I highly doubt they are politically active.

I find the even amongst adult, the sort of political coverage and talk show following common in the US is not common at all in either country. I also find the average Joe is just not that interested in politics outside elections there.

They're quite politically active, they just don't shout about it constantly. Whereas in the USA it seems like the electoral cycle is continuous, the UK is content to have an election every 4 - 5 years and for the campaigning to be over and done with in about 4 weeks.

This, of course, leaves plenty of time for more useful TV programming, such as Eastenders, Corrie, Doctor Who and the Teletubbies, most of which actually involve more viewer intelligence than watching Sean Hannity.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

(NewsCore) - A 14-year-old has described being interviewed by police after he managed to vote in the U.K.'s General Election despite being underage by four years, Sky News reported Sunday.

Alfie McKenzie, from Lancashire, said he was sent a polling card in error but decided to use it to vote against the Conservatives in his area.

The politically-aware teenager said he dressed carefully in order to pass as an adult.

"I dressed as much like a Tory as I could manage: a trench coat, reading glasses, sharp shoes," he wrote in the Observer.

"I gave it my slightly eccentric aristocrat's walk and my best self-righteous Conservative accent, walked into St Hilda's polling station, went straight to the table and was directed to the slip which I was to cross."

The schoolboy said his secret was only discovered when he told a teacher at school who reported him to the police and the local council.

"When the police arrived, I came across way too informed and understanding to claim ignorance; the burly officer's patronizing tone lowered as our interview progressed," he said.

"Fortunately, it seems that I'm not going to be prosecuted."

Alfie said he backed the Liberal Democrats as a tactical vote in the Conservative stronghold of Wyre and Preston North. Tory candidate Ben Wallace won with a majority of 15,844.

"It seems I have become the first 14-year-old to vote in a General Election and, if we're to keep some faith in our voting system and the competence of its managers, hopefully the last," the teenager added.

more

At least he was still breathing. Unlike some voters in the US...

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

At least he was still breathing. Unlike some voters in the US...

Accorn? Its gotta nutty taste!