What do you do with your ballot paper on election day in the polling booth?

Okay, let's talk about voting in the UK. The cornerstone of any democratic election is that your vote is secret. This principle is enshrined in law to protect voters from intimidation or coercion. Historically, voting wasn't always private; there were periods where people declared their votes publicly, which obviously could lead to problems. The introduction of the secret ballot was a significant step towards ensuring free and fair elections. So, when you're in the polling booth, behind that little curtain, you have the right to mark your ballot paper in complete privacy. No one is allowed to see how you vote unless you choose to show them afterwards. Filling it in front of the polling officer or reading it aloud would completely defeat the purpose of a secret ballot, potentially exposing you to pressure or influence. The polling officer is there to help with any procedural questions, not to witness your choices. The privacy curtain is there for a reason: to cast a 'vote' of privacy for filling in your ballot.