Closing a school of 700+ for polling day

[Mosschopz]

Who decides this? My DC’s school will close to all pupils on the 12th. That’s a three form entry school, closed, as they have been every single polling day for the last umpteen years, so they can stick a few plywood booths in a room for the day. The head has complained to the council who have declined to change the location as the school is the most central to the ward. AIBU to think that’s incredibly poor decision making?

They really should move elections to the weekend.

Would ease this problem and might help with turnout.

So many archaic practices in our electoral system.

When I was at school, our economics teacher told us that elections were on Thursday so a change of government would have the least effect on Bank Rate, which was announced weekly on a Thursday. So there would be a week to recover from any instability. Now, of course Bank Rate is no longer announced every week, so if this was the reason, it no longer applies.

They really should move elections to the weekend.

Would ease this problem and might help with turnout.

I agree. Australia has elections on a Saturday and they are a great fundraiser for schools and Scout groups as they can run sausage sizzles and cake sales on the day.

My school have a breakfast/after school club hut. During elections they move the club to the hall, and have the hut as the polling station. They also hire a security guard as a “safeguarding” thing because of the children.

It might be because the school can’t separate the voting public and the children safely. In the 80s we had people walking into the playground (amongst the kids) and going in our canteen to vote. You couldn’t do that now!

@ManiacalLapwing - and if I'm not mistaken, voting is also mandatory in Australia. Wonder how that would float in the UK?

- and if I'm not mistaken, voting is also mandatory in Australia. Wonder how that would float in the UK? It's about a £30 fine, if you don't like any of the candidates you can just get your name ticked off and protest vote. There are postal votes and early voting stations where you only have to say that you will be working on election day.