Four councils will pilot new voting arrangements in May’s local elections, allowing residents to cast their ballots in shopping centres on weekends.
The pilots will test whether giving voters more choice over where and when they vote can increase participation.
In Milton Keynes, voters will be able to cast their ballot at a location inside the city’s main shopping centre, centre:mk, rather than at a single assigned polling station. Officials say the approach could later be extended to high streets and town centres across the country if it proves successful.
People in Cambridge, Tunbridge Wells and North Hertfordshire will have the opportunity to vote in-person before polling day – including on the weekend – in places such as Guildhall.
Minister for democracy Samantha Dixon said the plans recognise that the traditional system no longer fits the majority of people’s lives.
‘The way we vote in person has not adapted to people’s busy lives, with voters often given no choice but to cast their ballot at strictly set polling stations within limited hours,’ she said.
‘Our trials will make polling days more convenient and test out the first real changes for over 100 years, bringing our democracy into the 21st century.’
Future pilots could include mobile voting stations visiting locations such as care homes, universities, or community centres. Another option being considered would allow voters to cast their ballot at any polling station within their local authority area, rather than at a single assigned location.
Despite the changes, the government said existing safeguards to protect voters rights will remain in place.
Traditional polling stations will also continue to operate alongside the new options and voters will retain the ability to vote by post or by proxy.
The pilots coincide with the government’s Representation of the People Bill, which proposes extending the vote to 16-year-olds and introducing tougher rules on political donations to address risks of foreign interference.
Peter Stanyon, chief executive of the Association of Electoral Administrators, said: ‘These pilots are a great start to exploring different ways to offer electors greater choice about when and where they cast their vote.
‘Weekend and early voting, plus voting hubs at places like shopping centres, are used to good effect in many democracies and we hope will also be successful here. Well done to the election teams who have stepped up to take these pilots forward, we look forward to learning from you.’
Image: Element5 Digital/UnSplash
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