For one day only…. over 300 polling stations ready for your votes
What’s the connection betweenhundreds of schools,churches,village halls, community centresand even the oddcaravan and portakabin? The answer is that they are all being used as polling stations in the Buckinghamshire County Council elections on May 4.
More than 300 separate venues right across Buckinghamshire will be transformed for the day so local people can cast their all-important votes for who they want to see represent them on the County Council. It’s a huge undertaking, but essential so that local people can easily cast their votes as close as possible to where they live.
And the range of property being used is phenomenal, from the beautiful medieval Nether Winchendon Church,the Girl Guide Headquarters in Gerrards Cross and Chesham Town Hall to Bradenham Cricket Pavilion and the Sea Cadets Hall in High Wycombe – and many more besides.
The work tomake all these arrangements, including the staffing needed at each polling station, falls to the Deputy Returning Officers at eachof Buckinghamshire’s four district councils who together run the elections on behalf of the County Council.
County Returning Officer Gill Quinton said, “It’s important to recognise thatso many of our community buildings and local facilities are transformed for the day to help make it as easy as possible for local people to vote.
“Your localstation will be written on your recently delivered polling card and all will be open from 7am to 10pm on the day. There are some changes to usual polling station arrangements in some areas, so please check your polling card or use the online polling station look up facility available on your District Council website.
We’ve even got it covered if something unforeseen happens to a polling station. We havea library van on standby andeven a gazebo, both of whichcan be used as a temporary facility if needed.”
For further information about polling stations or the election process itself, please contact the relevant district council in your area.