Council staff at May’s elections will be wearing PPE

WITH local elections due in just under three months, council bosses in East Staffordshire say they are working to ensure they will be as safe as possible amid the pandemic.

The Government confirmed last week that May’s local and mayoral elections in England are going ahead on May 6, but voters will be asked to bring their own pens to help combat coronavirus. Councils are being given an extra £31m for plastic screens in polling stations and hand sanitiser in an effort to make the polls Covid-safe.

A spokesperson for East Staffordshire Borough Council said: “East Staffordshire Borough Council has been working hard to plan for these elections and the necessary safety measures, as it is vital that it ensures a safe environment for all involved throughout the elections and the associated counts.

“All staff manning the elections will be wearing relevant PPE including face masks, visors and gloves with sanitiser and, possibly, protective screens in place within the polling stations.

“Electors will need to wear a mask inside the polling stations and bring their own pen or pencil to mark their ballot paper and adhere to social distancing measures at the election venues.”

The council’s spokesperson added that borough electors who prefer not to visit a polling station on May 6 can apply for a postal or proxy vote, with further information on how to do this available at www. eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/elections/proxypostal-votes.