Helping at the Devon County Council Elections Count May 1st and 2nd

Can you help us win future Green councillors by attending the DCC elections count?

Thursday 1st May: from 10.00pm to 01.00am (approx.) at Riverside Leisure Centre

Friday 2nd May: Morning to approx lunchtime, at Riverside Leisure Centre

The count is a two stage process. From 10pm immediately after polls close. Then in the daytime the next day.

We would love volunteers to join us for the count!

It's vital to help show us the areas to prioritise in the next local elections.

  • The count provides us with intelligence about where our Green voters are within a given area. This informs our decisions on future local election campaigns.  
  • It's our opportunity to monitor the counting of votes and to challenge mistakes which may be made; and if the vote is very close, it’s our opportunity to request a recount.
  • Our candidates deserve the support of party members at this key moment, whether they win or lose
  • It's a positive thing for a large group of Greens to show up, boosting our credibility in the eyes of the other local parties
  • It's a very enjoyable and exciting experience - it's democracy live in action!

What would I be doing?

You'll be at the local election count, watching how the ballot papers are handled and counting the Green votes. This helps us know where the Green vote is in the city.

It's not complicated — you'll just be sitting next to council staff while they count the ballot papers.

The job is very simple — we do 'stick tallies' of votes for all parties. It's really surprising how accurate tallies are!

Every party is allowed a number of volunteers to attend the count for this reason. It's a simple but crucial role—by being there, you're helping to make sure the democratic process works as it should and standing up for the people who voted Green.

What happens during the verification?

One ballot box at a time will be opened and carefully emptied onto the table. They're not allowed to fall on the floor, and they have to check that all papers have been removed from the box. Then, the counters will unfold each paper and lay it flat face-up.

This is when you will have the chance to keep a tally of the votes cast for each candidate / each party. Please use the five-bar-gate method to tally, as this makes it easier to count up the totals at the end. It's a legal requirement for them to count them all face-up (so we can see what's on them, but also so that nobody can see the ballot paper serial number, which is printed on the back).

You are within your rights to question them if you think they are not counting them all face-up! Similarly, you are entitled to ask them to count more slowly. Be honest with your tallying - resist the temptation to be too optimistic about the Green vote.

IMPORTANT
  • Don't lean or loom over the table, as this can intimidate the counting staff, especially in these Covid times
  • Don't place your hands on the counting table
  • Most importantly, don't touch any of the ballot papers

Yes, I can help!

Please fill in the form — it's a two-stage process, one stage 'on the night' and one stage the next day — so please tick the boxes for which days you can do!

Sponsored by
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Exeter Green Party