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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Estel Farell Roig

Can I take children with me to vote? - latest guidance for 2021 local elections

Tomorrow (May 6) people across England will head to the polls to vote in this year's local elections.

In the Bristol region, residents will be voting in up to four elections.

Because of coronavirus, things will be slightly different to what we are used to and there is one big change that is worth being aware of.

In past elections, parents have been encouraged to bring their children to polling stations, in order to educate them about democracy.

And the Electoral Commission has now confirmed that children will be allowed at polling stations this year.

A spokeswoman said: "Children are welcome at polling stations.

"While they must not mark the ballot paper, they are allowed into the polling booth."

The spokeswoman added there will be measures in place at polling stations to ensure they are safe places to vote.

She said: "Voters can keep themselves and others safe by: wearing a face covering, bringing their own pen or pencil, sanitising their hands when entering and leaving the polling station and keeping a safe distance.

"Voters should not attend the polling station if they have symptoms of COVID-19, or if they have been asked to self-isolate.

"While voting should only take a few minutes, there will be arrangements in place to maintain social distancing at the polling station and staff will be managing the number of people allowed inside at any one time.

"This might mean that voters will be asked to queue to enter their polling station."

Local and mayoral elections were due to take place last May, but they were postponed at the beginning of the covid crisis last March because of the threat posed by the virus.

You can find out more about the Bristol Mayoral election here.

Also on May 6, the city will also decide what the make-up of the council chamber will look like as the 34 wards across Bristol head to the polls to elect the city's 70 councillors.

The Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and the Combined Authority Mayor for the West of England (WECA) elections are also on the same day - meaning we will be voting on four elections on May 6.

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