Decision not to use some rural polling stations in south Warwickshire prompts fears it might 'disenfranchise some voters'

A decision not to use a number of rural polling stations around south Warwickshire has prompted fears that it might disenfranchise some voters.

Councillors at the audit and standards committee of Stratford District Council on Monday (February 14) took the decision due to social distancing issues ahead of May 6 when residents will vote in county council elections and for their police and crime commissioner.

Some areas will also be voting on whether to accept their neighbourhood plan.

A report before the committee explained that a number of village halls and other buildings could not be used because they were either closed or did not have enough space to allow for a one-way system in line with Covid guidelines.

And according to Phil Grafton, the district council’s monitoring officer, there could also be a problem finding enough staff on election day.

He said: “The pandemic has brought two issues into stark focus. The first is the risk arising from the potential lack of social distancing available in some of these buildings.

"The second risk is that staff who will be administering these elections won’t be coming forward to do the job.

“We did a questionnaire a few weeks ago asking people who we have used in the past whether they would be prepared to do the job if the then tier 3 restrictions were strengthened up to what we now know is a lockdown and 42 per cent said they would but 37 per cent said no or maybe so we need to factor that into the equation.

“There is also some advice from the Electoral Commission about the need for extra staff who would act as what I’d call ‘meeters and greeters’ outside the polling stations and who would also help to control social distancing.”

Nearly 20 unsuitable venues have been identified including Moreton Morrell village hall, Whatcote Parish Church and Wormleighton village hall.

The latter is in the ward of Cllr Nigel Rock (Lib Dem, Napton and Fenny Compton) who said he was worried the changes might affect the election result.

He explained: “I’m really rather concerned for older people who are used to voting at their local polling station and are now being asked to get in their cars and go some distance away or to change their polling habits and go for postal voting.

“I think we are going to disenfranchise some people.

"In local elections, if there are ten or 12 people who don’t vote who otherwise would have done so then it could affect the result so I am very uneasy at what we are doing.

"I am worried about the democratic effect and it may affect some parties more than others.”