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

[Stinkyfeet]

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

Riven, try on your district council website, that's where I initially saw an advert.

Just ring up Electoral Services at the Council Riven and get then to send you a form.

My favourite bit is adjudicating on the doubtful and spoilt ballot papers - usually where people have put a cross outside the box, or a tick instead of a cross. Get a lot of "none of the above" but last election one voter had drawn an anatomically correct penis in the Conservative candidate's box (including hair). Unfortunately I couldn't say that it showed a "clear intention" to vote for one candidate so did had to exclude it. I lolled.

I am! Am beginning to regret volunteering at the thought of 15 hours lol

I am only with one man this year Don't know him but he sounded a bit snotty when he rang to introduce himself.

Am also doing the count on Frday morning - which I have never done before - not sure what that entails and I am terrified I lose count or something. Not very good at counting if someone is watching me.

Can't believe I'm not involved this year. I love the polling stations and the count. Just couldn't commit to it this year with it being the last few weeks of Uni.

Do we know if the count is open to members of the public? I'm not sure as I'm usually counting, any ideas anyone?

That sounds a bit grim Saffy - hope he's turns out to be OK! I've got 3 Poll Clerks this year, so they're obviously expecting it to be busy.

And definitely 2 ballot boxes - they're sitting in front of me now!

So has everyone else got their food sorted? Whatcha got?

pretty sure not Jaqueline - its really strictly controlled. agents, counting agents and candidates are allowed in the 'inner sanctum' press are have to say in the outer area.

I reckon you could do magic tricks with those ballot boxes Stinky

When do the polling stations get made ready? Will our one have signs outside yet or will it happen at about 6:30am?

I am going to drive past it in about 30 min so will have a look .

lol!!!!
our local one is usually having the signs put up as it opens at 7am.

Signs will go up tomorrow - that's part of my job!
Foodwise I have loads of junk. Diet starts again on Monday
Ham & coleslaw sarnies, biscuits, polos, tic tacs, Galaxy counters , some dessert thing, scotch egg, crisps, energy drink, water and coffee.

Yes, as Saffy says putting up the signs, putting up the booths and getting the room ready is all down to the Polling Station staff. I'll be there about 6am to get started.

Sounds like you've got plenty of food to keep you going there, Saffy - hope the day goes OK for you.

Chippy's menu du jour:
breakfast:pain au raisin
snacks:bananas
lunch:chicken chilli mango & rocket baguette
posh crisps
vanilla yoghurt
dinner:innocent veg pot (if there's a microwave, if not, I have a pot noodle as fallback!)
large bottle of lemon volvic
orange & lime tictacs
daim bars
and my camping mug to keep my tea hot.

If I feel "the fear" I shall ring DH to bring reinforcements

More importantly what is everyone wearing? Are purple and grey politically neutral?

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!

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!

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.

Sadly, I have sharpened the pencils this evening

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!

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?!

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

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

sleep well stinky - hope tomorrow goes smoothly.

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!!!

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!

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%).