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Original poster

Is anyone else here working at a Polling Station on Thursday?

113 replies

Stinkyfeet · 04/05/2010 19:16

If so, what are you doing and more importantly, what food are you taking?!

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QuinionsRainbow · 11/06/2017 15:23

Poll Clerk here, and rather zombieish by the time I got home. We had approx 80% turnout on a 500-ish register, more people than I would have imagined who expected to find JC and TM on the ballot paper, and one person who came to the wrong Polling Station (indeed, to the wrong village!). Provisions included left-over chili from the freezer, tomato, cheese and rolls, digestive biscuits and Snickers. And oodles of tea and coffee.

Snap8TheCat · 11/06/2017 13:08

I'm sure those from 7 years ago appreciate your response wauden

Wauden · 11/06/2017 13:00

Food- bananas, naked bars (not baked), choc covered rice cakes, posh yoghourt and crispbread. Vats of coffee, v wired coming home.

Wauden · 11/06/2017 12:55

One woman drifted in at 6 minutes to 1000 pm, and her address was at another polling station, some way away. When told, she asked whether she had time to get there. Hard not to snigger at times like that.

I'm still knackered!!!

saffy202 · 08/05/2010 17:47

Had to turn away a couple of people who had just wandered in, thinking you could vote anywhere. Also someone who wasn't registered to vote and someone who had registered for a postal vote but said they hadn't.

Also had a couple of people who voted, put the paper in the ballot box and then asked where the slip was for Brown, Cameron and Clegg. When we tried to explain to them, they said they had voted for the wrong party if that was the case!

CaptainUnderpants · 08/05/2010 16:06

May be back doing it in October !

Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 08/05/2010 11:48

Glad everyone had a good day/night - lucky none of us had to turn anyone away.

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CaptainUnderpants · 07/05/2010 16:14

finished at 4am, this morning .

The parliamntary count it self was staright forward but it was the verfication first as in some wards there were 3 elections .

Those were being counted thsi morning - not bby me thankfully .

ChippyMinton · 07/05/2010 14:57

at your part of the world - I have a photo on my dressing table of the DC at Lindisfarne Castle.

saffy202 · 07/05/2010 14:51

Oh I went to sleep last night! We weren't counting until this morning as we are too rural - Northumberland. Plus one area would have to wait for the tide to go in at Holy Island to get the ballot box out

ChippyMinton · 07/05/2010 14:43

Wow saffy - when did you last sleep?!

I reckon POs are a special breed - mine wouldn't let me use drawing pins on a tree - had to use blutack and string lol.

Still, he did keep up a running supply of coffee and anecdotes.

saffy202 · 07/05/2010 14:30

I'm just back from the count. Turns out I worried for nothing. I was the fastest counter there Also the day at the station wasn't too bad and the presiding officer was fine if a little clumsy. He spilt his tea all over his papers and then ripped up the returns so I had to cellotape them back together.

Worst thing was the signs - putting paper signs up with cellotape in the rain by myself was grim!

ChippyMinton · 07/05/2010 13:54

I suspect folk are used to the very low turn-out for local elections, where the voter feels like an extra in the pub scene in American Werewolf!

UnquietDad · 07/05/2010 12:00

What I don't understand is why this turnout is seen as being "especially high" and why it caused problems.

The last two elections have had abnormally low turnout, that's all - around 60%. It's usually in the 70s for a general election - that's quite normal and shouldn't have caught anyone on the hop. And that was before the high level of postal votes!

So, if anything, there would have been fewer people turning up than in 1992, say, which was the last time we had a close election and a high turnout (79%).

ChippyMinton · 07/05/2010 10:12

It was so busy - 70% turnout and non-stop from the queues outside at 7am to the tail-end charlies dashing in from the airport at 9.59pm.

I am knackered!

Quite uneventful apart from some over-zealous tellers prompting the returning officer to arrive after an anonymous complaint.

And no famous faces, but several namesakes.

And on a S&B note - plenty of muttonmothers dressed like their 18yo daughters - No, no no!

Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 06/05/2010 23:31

I'm back and totally wired!! Shan't be able to sleep for a while.

We were crazy busy - over 50% turnout (not including postal votes) - didn't have to turn anyone away though!

Great atmosphere today, people really wanted to have their say. Loads of 1st time voters - not just 18 yr olds either.

Too busy even to get through all my food - making up for it now though!!!

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OhYouBadBadKitten · 05/05/2010 22:16

sleep well stinky - hope tomorrow goes smoothly.

ChippyMinton · 05/05/2010 21:45

And a special prize for anyone that bags a celeb (although I think I'm in the wrong part of the borough for that).

Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 05/05/2010 21:41

lol Bex.

Right, I'm off for a bath and early night. Perhaps Polling staff could reconvene on Friday for hilarious Polling Station anecdotes!

Night all and have a good day tomorrow

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BexJ78 · 05/05/2010 21:36

hey that would be good wouldn't it?! If the new PM awarded a prize to the poll clerk of the year. Would it be year's subscription to OK magazine and a shipping container full of Haribo?!

ChippyMinton · 05/05/2010 21:33

I might wear my slippers fake uggs then -can't stand cold feet. And a vest .
Glamourous poll clerk of the year I will not be!

Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 05/05/2010 21:32

Sadly, I have sharpened the pencils this evening

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Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 05/05/2010 21:31

I think purple and grey are fine - I'll be in black and grey! And layers, lots of layers; I know the station I'm at is quite chilly.

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BexJ78 · 05/05/2010 21:29

Noah, that is the first job of the day. Normally you get some sort of advice leaflet telling you how to stick the notices up on the wall, and make sure the pencils are sharp?!?!...oooh the power! ha ha ha!

Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 05/05/2010 21:28

Oh that sounds yummy, Chippy. You've reminded me that I also have a couple of cinnamon and raisin bagels for breakfast!

Hope the day goes well for you!

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