Polling place

Polling place

A polling place or polling station (the latter is the less common usage, but favored in the United Kingdom) [cite web|title=Vote Scotland|url=http://www.votescotland.com/stv/32.html] [cite web|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|title=Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 - Section 80|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/cea1918233/s80.html] is where voters cast their ballots in elections.

Since elections generally take place over a one- or two-day span on a periodic basis, often annual or longer, polling places are often located in facilities used for other purposes, such as schools, sports halls or local government offices, and will each serve a similar number of people. The area may be known as a ward, precinct, polling district or constituency. The polling place is staffed with officials (who may be called election judges, returning officers or other titles) who monitor the voting procedures and assist voters with the election process. Scrutineers (or poll-watchers) are independent or partisan observers who attend the poll to ensure the impartiality of the process.

The facility will be open between specified hours depending upon the type of election, and political activity by or on behalf of those standing in the ballot is usually prohibited within the venue and immediately surrounding area.

Inside the polling place will be an area (usually a voting booth) where the voter may select the candidate or party of their choice in secret, and if a ballot paper is used this will be placed into a ballot box in front of witnesses but who cannot see the actual selection made. Voting machines may be employed instead.

Some polling places are temporary structures. A portable cabin may be specially sited for an election and removed afterwards.

References

External links

[http://www.votescotland.com/stv/32.html Scottish polling place information]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • polling place — polling places N COUNT A polling place is the same as a polling station. [AM] Voters were lining up at polling places as early as 6.00 this morning, an hour before voting started …   English dictionary

  • polling place — noun a place where voters go to cast their votes in an election • Syn: ↑polling station • Hypernyms: ↑topographic point, ↑place, ↑spot • Part Meronyms: ↑polling booth * * * noun, pl ⋯ plac …   Useful english dictionary

  • polling place — /ˈpoʊlɪŋ pleɪs/ (say pohling plays) noun a place, often a school or hall, designated as the place where electors can cast their votes in an election. Also, polling station …  

  • polling place — a place at or in which votes in an election are cast. [1825 35] * * * …   Universalium

  • polling place — noun A place where voters cast their ballots in elections …   Wiktionary

  • polling place — location where voters cast their ballots in an election …   English contemporary dictionary

  • polling place — See polls …   Ballentine's law dictionary

  • polling station — polling stations N COUNT A polling station is a place where people go to vote at an election. It is often a school or other public building. [BRIT] The voting was said to be very brisk and queues formed even before polling stations opened. (in AM …   English dictionary

  • polling station — polling .station BrE polling .place AmE n the place where people go to vote in an election …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Polling — Poll ing, n. [See {Poll} the head.] 1. The act of topping, lopping, or cropping, as trees or hedges. [1913 Webster] 2. Plunder, or extortion. [Obs.] E. Hall. [1913 Webster] 3. The act of voting, or of registering a vote. [1913 Webster] {Polling… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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