Coronavirus restrictions in place at Cornwall's polling stations on local election day

Anyone who is going to vote in person on Thursday May 6th is being urged to make sure they know the rules

Author: Local Democracy Reporter, Richard WhitehousePublished 6th May 2021

Polling stations have opened across Cornwall so that people can vote in local elections.

There could be up to three elections for people to vote in on Thursday 6th May - Cornwall Council elections, Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner elections and town or parish council elections.

With Covid-19 restrictions still in place, visiting a polling station could be a little different this year and Cornwall Council has provided details on what to expect.

Details of where your designated polling station is can be found on your polling card - you have to vote at your designated polling station.

Details can be found on the Cornwall Council website here.

What Covid restrictions will be in place?

Voters are asked to take their own pen or pencil to cast their votes - pencils are usually provided but to prevent spreading Covid-19, the Government has said that all voters must take their own.

If there are people ahead of you waiting to go into the polling station please maintain your distance from others and remain two-metres apart. When you get the front of the queue wait until you are called before entering.

Make sure you are wearing a face covering when you enter the polling station and use the hand sanitiser provided.

Follow the one-way system within the polling station.

Although it is not necessary to take your polling card to the polling station in order to vote, it does make it easier for staff to find you on the list.

Once given your ballot papers you will be directed to which booth to use to cast your vote. Once you have marked your papers fold them up and place them in the ballot box.

When you leave the polling station again, follow the one-way system which has been put in place to help maintain social distancing.

If you need help at the polling station ask staff to help you. If necessary you are allowed to take someone to help you.

There will be large print versions of the ballot papers on display and a 'tactile' voting device to help blind and partially sighted voters.

If you develop Covid-19 symptoms and need to self-isolate before the election, stay at home. You can apply for an emergency proxy vote up until 5pm on polling day.

For full details about this, go to the Cornwall Council website here.

When are the polling stations open and when will results be announced?

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday (May 6th).

Votes will be verified overnight on Thursday and counting will start at 10am on Friday (May 7th). Results will be declared throughout the day on Friday.

Votes in parish and town council elections are due to be counted on Saturday (May 8th) and votes in the PCC elections will be counted on Monday (May10th).

The final results from Devon and Cornwall will be declared in Exeter.

You will find all the information you need about voting on election day on the Cornwall Council website here.