I've spend most of my time outside polling telling today, taking down poll card numbers so we don't need to chase people up to go vote.

[derickr@phpc.social]

I saw:

- dogs at polling stations
- bikes at polling stations
- a cat at a polling station
- runners using it as a pit stop
- parents with a new baby
- fathers and mothers taking their children to "show democracy"
- a father taking his daughter for her first vote and taking selfies outside with big thumbs up

[derickr@phpc.social]

There were people in a hurry, using it as a social outing, and as a community thing to do.

I was cold outside, and now totally knackered. Time for bed, with the count starting at 9am tomorrow.

#democracy #LocalElections

[timwardcam@c.im]

@derickr Did anyone ask you to mind their baby (not just their dog and bike) when they went in to vote?

It's not very common, it's only happened to me once.

[timwardcam@c.im]

@derickr Wimp! I don't do this any more, but I used to do the Good Mornings, then work polling day, then go straight to the count, for a working day of around 22 hours (5am to 3am). Or longer for general elections.

[derickr@phpc.social]

@TimWardCam No, although somebody did ask whether she could bring her dog into the station (yes)

[derickr@phpc.social]

@TimWardCam Yes. Me too. Four years ago. But the council now thankfully counts the next day! (and I did go to the gym first thing today too ).

[timwardcam@c.im]

@derickr We once had a lady turn up as a passenger in a car and send a message in to the presiding officer asking whether he could bring a ballot out to her, as she couldn't walk into the polling station.

The PO asked us tellers if we objected to this! - I've no idea what the legal status of this was, other than that the tellers had no formal role at all. Of course we (of all parties) said it was OK with us.

[timwardcam@c.im]

@derickr I just do data entry these days. Only twelve hours work, which I can do sitting down at home in the warm (whenever there's a hot spell in spring it never seems to include polling day).

[derickr@phpc.social]

@TimWardCam I didn't see tellers from any other party. Maybe a sign that we're doing well enough in that ward to win it! (Queen's Park in Brent). Fingers crossed.

[timwardcam@c.im]

@derickr My favourite Labour councillor was the one who dropped in on the tellers from time to time and handed out chocolate bars to all of us, of all parties.