Why on earth do they use schools as polling stations?

More people might vote if it was a Sunday - or make it a Bank Holiday so that it is easier for many (I realise that quite a lot of people still have to work on BH's).
However for a school it is just used as one of the 5 INSET days they have to have anyway - the school isn't closed for an extra day, and if it wasn't closed for INSET on polling day, it would just have to close for INSET on another day.

But, I agree that they should do what France does and have voting on a Sunday.

Yes, I think they made voting compulsory in Australia. I think New Labour's Peter Hain thought we should do something similar here.

But in a free country, if you don't want to vote for any of them, if none of them represent you, then you should be allowed to show your disapproval by not voting. New Labour were worried about not really having a democratic mandate on such a low percentage of a low turnout. But forcing people to vote just hides reality and rubber stamps the same old and lets the same old claim that they are popular.

The best suggestion is voting on a weekend, or making election day a bank holiday. It's the only way to get turnouts that convey any legitimacy on the result, and as a taxpayer (though without the eligibility to vote in the UK) I think it's worth paying council staff for an extra day's work to man the polling booths.

I understand in Australia you HAVE to turn up to vote - you don't have to mark your name next to anyone (and I believe "none of the above" may be an option in Australian voting, is that right?) but you have to take part in your democracy. That doesn't seem unreasonable to me.

When we lived in a village in the UK, voting was in a regular 4 berth caravan. No prob, just outside the post office.
Loved voting days when i was a kid, day off school, great news.

Our school asked to cease being a polling station. The council though are required to adhere to quite rigid definitions to do with distance from addresses, access, size, etc. The school were told there was no alternative within that framework.

Around here (London) the council use a big mix of schools, churches, public and private leisure centres, so I don't believe it is their default to use schools.

Our teachers are in for a training course all day (8:30 am - 4 pm). I would have expected most schools would be similar, using the time for training, preparation, etc.

Not saying it is ideal. We voted on Saturday where I grew up and that seemed to make much more sense.

If you are in London, I think you are spared next May. But it will be European and council elections May 2014 and (if the coalition keep to their plan) national in May 2015. Might be worth keeping a day's leave for, it is a good day to go to attractions that are busy in holiday time.

Ours is a library. But most of my friends in neighbouring streets use the local school. I do think that local authorities could come up with better ideas than to close schools for a day.

And in case anyone asks - libraries/leisure centres/church halls, tennis/bowling club pavilions - give them a bit of money, will cost much less than closing down schools for a day

& as a secondary teacher, I'm at work, not allowed time off (paid or unpaid), & my own (primary) dc are off.

Dh has had to do some juggling!

I'm fine with it. Good for kids to learn about importance of voting.

My polling station is a privately owned tennis club (safe Tory ward).

When I was at school, the school was a polling station but we had the cordon off a corner of the playground/route to a temporary classroom set up. DD's school is shut tomorrow, i think it is an inset but combined with all the bank holidays and a recent inset on th emon returning from easter holidays it is a bit irritating.

I have to go to the synagogue to vote though, so I guess they do use a variety of schools and other buildings here

Last time I voted it was in a school and the kids were in school.

Although, come to think of it, as an adult I have mainly voted in church halls.

Well, I know this isn't the answer you want to hear, but I have a subconsciously positive feeling about voting because I associate it with getting a day off school. Lovely spring day in the middle of the week. Going into school with my parents to vote, but NOT ACTUALLY HAVING TO GO TO SCHOOL. Bliss.

INSET day here too, forward thinking up here

300 parents not working for a day wont cost the council a penny, as has been said the loss of education will be factored for, these dates very rarely pop up out of no where.

The teachers and school staff are in as it is an INSET day in our school.

I'm inclined to agree.
I live in a big city, where there are hundreds of buildings that could be used... the library (about 300 yards from my dcs school), community halls, church halls, empty shop in the High Street, Scout huts, etc.,etc..... It does seem ridiculous to use so many schools.
I was watching the news at the weekend, and think they said the French population were voting on a Sunday - that could be another alternative.

Like MrsRD, I postal vote, but I have to say every time I do it, it occurs to me they try to make that as complicated as they possibly can - I bet a lot of people get confused with all the 'Envelope A' Envelope B business

Not for me. The church hall is just around the corner.

Why don't people postal vote?
Much easier.

Yes, you are right. I don't know why other alternatives can't be used if they are available.

Well we live in a city which is full of community centres, halls, libraries etc yet they are choosing to use the school. It is annoying that they are not using any of these other venues. Luckily my friend has offered to have dd tomorrow but I honestly can't understand why it has to be the school building that they use.

Most wards don't have a community centre. Most wards do have a primary school. It is a logical choice of venue.

Days 'off' for voting are an inconvenience yes but doesn't mean they get a days less education, over the course of the year it all balances out

I should say most voters in England don't live in London.

My polling station is a converted container (giant metal box usually found on transporter ships and lorries) with a generator.
It is dropped off in the corner of the school car park and cordoned off with crowd control barriers. That way the school can stay open.
I think it is a very cunning idea although I have no idea where it lives between elections.