Voting, but not as we know it

By Sallie George
BBC News

Peter Hodgkinson on polling day, picture courtesy of MEN syndication

What do a rural cottage, a bus, a castle, a shipping container and a hairdressing salon have in common?

The answer is they have all been used as polling stations on election day.

Peter and Christine Hodgkinson, of Lanehead in Rochdale, have allowed neighbours into their home to cast votes for the past 34 years.

Mr Hodgkinson, 65, works as presiding officer on election day - from his front room.

"When we sit here on the day, you see people coming up the garden path and you know who they are, so we can sort them out with their polling cards before they've even got through the door," he said.

"Some people stay and have a long chat.

Everyone gets bored being in the polling station but at least you're bored in your own home Peter Hodgkinson

"At one time we had Jimmy Cricket living in the village - he used to come and do a little show for us and tell some jokes."

Mr Hodgkinson said more than 700 people were registered to vote at the cottage and they usually saw about a 55% turnout on election day.

"Usually we have one of the best averages in Rochdale," he said.

Mrs Hodgkinson, who has also worked as presiding officer, said they had been asked to use their home as a polling station because there were no other public buildings in the area.

She said: "We've got a post-box and that's it.

"People are very respectful. We always have the door open but people knock before they come in.

"You see the same families over the years, and you see the children growing up until they can vote themselves.

"Everyone gets bored being in the polling station but at least you're bored in your own home."

'Democratic process'

Clare Poole, elections officer for Rochdale Borough Council, said authorities chose polling stations in the most convenient places for the electorate to access.

"The cottage where Peter and Christine live has been used as a polling station for many years as there are no alternative premises to use such as a school or village hall," she said.

"We're keen to make it as easy as possible for people to cast their vote, so in communities like this one it's really important voters don't have to travel a long way to take part in the democratic process."

In Sunderland, two mobile libraries and a council "liaise" bus, which is usually used for IT training, will be used as polling stations on 1 May.

They are just three of 125 polling stations for the 211,180 people on the Sunderland Electoral Register.

It is not the first time the city council has found unusual venues for residents to cast their votes - in the 2005 General Election a caravan and shipping container were both turned into polling stations.

In May 2007, a Teesside hairdresser shut up shop for the day to allow Redcar and Cleveland Council to use the premises for the election.

Owner of the Diffuse Hair Salon in Redcar, Kayleigh Taberner, said: "I don't mind - I usually only get Sundays off."

And in Cornwall, a 14th Century castle took its place alongside schools and village halls as a polling station.

Two voting booths were put into the old kitchen of Caerhays Castle near St Austell for the expected 75 local voters.

Cheryl Kufel, estate secretary, said there was plenty for voters to see on their way to and from the ballot box.

"The rhododendrons and azaleas are fantastic," she said.