AS Bucks residents prepare to cast their vote during the local elections on May 6, some may be wondering what to expect at the voting booth under Covid.
“Will I need ID?” “How will voters remain at a safe distance?” “Should I bring my own pen?”
The Free Press has attempted to answer some of these questions by talking to Bucks Council.
READ MORE: Everyone you can vote for in the Buckinghamshire Council elections on May 6
Social distancing
“We are putting arrangements in place to help ensure polling stations are safe places to vote”, a Bucks Council spokesman said.
“You can expect many of the measures you’ve become used to over recent months in shops and banks, such as clear signage, hand sanitiser, and face coverings.
“Where possible, dependent on the venue, one-way entrance and exits will be in place.
“Electors will be asked to social distance and that may mean that during busier periods electors may need to wait outside the polling station until some electors have left.”
Masks
“Unless they are exempt, masks will need to be worn by everyone coming into a polling station, including the people staffing it”, a Bucks Council spokesman said.
“If a voter arrives without a mask, there will be masks available for them to use at the polling station.
“Staff will be behind screens and don’t have to wear a mask when behind a screen but may choose to wear one.”
Voter ID
“Under current electoral legislation in the UK, there is no requirement for separate voter ID to be shown when coming into the polling station to vote”, a Bucks Council spokesman said.
“All voters will be asked for their full name and address and this will be checked against the current electoral register.
“Elections are generally very well run in the UK. In 2019, there were only 34 allegations of people pretending to be someone else at the polling station – that is 0.000058 per cent of the over 58 million votes cast in all elections that year.
“There was only one conviction for personation and one caution – the rest either involved no further action or were locally resolved.”
“We are recommending that voters bring their own pens and pencils”, a Bucks Council spokesman said.
“There will be pencils available if voters forgot their own which they will need to take away with them.”
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Dogs at polling stations - local elections 2021
Taking your dog or another pet to the polling station in Bucks? Share your pictures (taken outside of course) and let us know where it was taken!
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