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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?!

OP posts:
isthatporridgeinyourzone · 04/05/2010 22:04

Yes - had been at work at 7am. I question the wisdom of a night count, especially since me with a calculator at 5.30am is unlikely terribly reliable. But thank god for you lot! Democracy is safe!

ChippyMinton · 04/05/2010 22:00

Me, me, I'm a poll clerk

I shall have to sprint around the supermarket tomorrow and see what takes my fancy. I'm in a village hall, so hoping there'll be a microwave, can't face sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner

Good plan re trashy mags Bex.

isthatporridgeinyourzone · 04/05/2010 21:58

Late postals
Sorting out euros from county papers
Multiple seats
Tortuous verification
high proportion of spoilt ballots
2 recounts

Aaaargh

Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 04/05/2010 21:57

Woah, 6am! Had you been on duty all day for the election as well?

OP posts:
Emster30 · 04/05/2010 21:56

I am down as a teller (?) for the Lib Dems for our council count on Friday - not quite sure what this will involve apart from not touching any ballot papers! Arguing with porridge maybe?

CaptainUnderpants · 04/05/2010 21:47

Blimey 6am ! what happened ? recounts ?

isthatporridgeinyourzone · 04/05/2010 21:46

We didn't finish until 6am for the county elections last year. I was 7 months pregnant with DS2. I cried as I crawled into bed I was soooo tired.

CaptainUnderpants · 04/05/2010 21:45

To get to do election work , ring up the brough council,and speak with the electoral office and they will put you on a list - i think you may even be able to do it online with your borough council .

Once in the system etc you will get a request to do work every time there is an election - local or general.

If you do a good job they tend to make a note of your name and make sure that you are top of the list for next time .

CaptainUnderpants · 04/05/2010 21:42

Dont know what time I will be finished - pay is the same whatever - £90. Last year I finished at 2am so was rather tired next day ,but off on Friday this year so should be OK.

I think as soon as the boxes come in then they can start to be verified - i.e the number of ballots in box verfied against the number of people voted which means you just count how many pieces of paper in box , - but actually counting will not take place until all boxes have been verified !

Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 04/05/2010 21:37

That's still the deal, llareggub - nice little earner!

Some of my colleagues do the canvassing, poll card delivery and the election day - they make an absolute fortune out of elections.

OP posts:
Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 04/05/2010 21:35

It helps if you work for the Local Authority - we always get first dibs! Otherwise if you know someone who does, get them to get you an application form when they come out. Failing that, contact the Elections office at your LA (give them a few weeks to get over this election though!) and ask about putting your name down.

OP posts:
BexJ78 · 04/05/2010 21:34

I have neve done the count as our LA would never let you do both. i always fancied it though.

isthatporridgeinyourzone · 04/05/2010 21:34

Just ring the local council and they'll take your details. We're usually desperate for people to do the elections so they'll probably bite your hand off.

llareggub · 04/05/2010 21:33

I got to be a counter through work; at the time local government officers used to get paid time off in lieu to work on the elections AND get paid for it. We used to queue up in droves to be selected!

These days I think it is all done through the jobcentres, I haven't seen it advertised locally.

Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 04/05/2010 21:32

That should be great Captain, have they given you any indication what time you'll be finished? Do you have to wait for all the ballot boxes to be checked in, or can you start as soon as the first ones start arriving?

OP posts:
NoahAndTheWhale · 04/05/2010 21:30

How do you get to be a counter? (realise I am a little late for this year, but maybe in the future)

Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 04/05/2010 21:25

.. person I was with.

OP posts:
Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 04/05/2010 21:23

I've done one in a Portacabin as well, llareggub - fortunately I got on well with the person I was! And a low turnout makes the day drag, a nice steady flow is what you need!

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CaptainUnderpants · 04/05/2010 21:20

Yes on the night . have to be at the location for latest 9.45pm ready to go , amazing the verfication process before you actually start counting !

Will be a buzz ! Very exciting to be part of the democratic process of this country , although I am in safe Conservative seat,but who knows eh ? Lib dems may give Labour a run for their money - Labour pile of cards usually very small in this area.

MrsWobbleTheWaitress · 04/05/2010 21:17

Considered counting for the first time this year, but DD4 still feeding at night and I think I will bitterly regret it all the week after while I try to catch up on missed sleep!

Will probably end up staying awake anyway to watch the results, but at least I can doze off if I want to if I'm on my own sofa

Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 04/05/2010 21:08

On the night, Captain? I bet that'll be really lively this year! I've never done the count - not allowed to after a day at the Polling Station. Although I did put my name down to do the count on friday for the Locals. Didn't get it!

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nappyzoneloveslindor · 04/05/2010 21:06

Ooo i used to work in the elections office - really miss it when there is an election on. Spent many a day as a Presiding officer eating the day away. Last time i did it some years ago i was on with a nightmare who marked a few wrong people and turned into day from hell lol - NEVER AGAIN!!! Slow cooker is a fab and very impressive idea!

CaptainUnderpants · 04/05/2010 21:06

Doing the count.

did the clount last year for local elections and European elections . Really enjoyed it and good bunch of people - quite interesting aswell.

Original poster
Stinkyfeet · 04/05/2010 21:05

Most years yes. Normally I'm a Poll Clerk, but standing in for my usual Presiding Officer this year as she's on Maternity Leave (due today - she tried to get them to let her still do it but DRO put her foot down!). Have been PO before, but don't really like all the queueing at the Civic Centre returning the ballot box and sundries at the end of the night.

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isthatporridgeinyourzone · 04/05/2010 20:59

No, on maternity leave and have (thankfully) avoided the election. Am DRO - so do the shite jobs the Returning Officers bidding. Mainly sorting out troubles at polling stations, arguing with the candidates agents and tellers and then going thru the night for the count. Used to love doing the poll though especially as one of our polling stations is a pub!

Do you do it every election then?