New safety measures to ensure polling day is Covid-secure
ONE-WAY polling stations, postal voting and proxy voting will be among the measures used to ensure May’s local elections are “safe and fair”, Bristol’s mayor has said.
Marvin Rees is among dozens of local politicians standing for election on May 6 after last year’s elections were postponed because of coronavirus.
The Cabinet Office confirmed earlier this month that this year’s elections would go ahead amid speculation that the threat of Covid-19 would once again delay the ballot.
It set out a plan for keeping voters safe, including fitting polling stations with screens and hand sanitiser, and allocated local authorities extra money to carry out what could be some of the most logistically complicated elections in decades.
Voters will have to wear masks and will be encouraged to bring their own pen and pencil.
The Government is also introducing emergency proxy voting legislation to allow those who have to isolate or shield to nominate a proxy as late as 5pm on polling day. Postal voting will also be available, as is usual.
Asked how the elections would be made “safe and fair”, Mr Rees told a member of the public during one of his regular Facebook Live Q&A sessions that Bristol City Council was still waiting on final guidance from the Government.
“We’re waiting for national government to bring forward the guidelines on how the elections in May should be carried out,” he said.
“But polling stations will be ... cleaned beforehand, before the polling station’s set up, and they will be obviously designed in a way that they are Covid secure, with single direction – people coming in one direction and moving around – [and] socially distanced.
“Provision is also going to be made by government for proxy voting as well.
“So there is already provision for that, but they’re introducing additional provision for emergency proxy voting so that if anything does happen on the day of the election and people were going to vote in person, they will be able to have someone else come and vote on their behalf.”
Mr Rees reminded people they can register for postal voting via
the council’s website or directly on the Government’s website.
“You can post it early, or you can actually turn up with your postal vote on the day and put it into the ballot box,” he said.
“So again, we’re waiting for guidance from government on all those fronts but we need to make sure that it’s safe, and that will add to the integrity of our democratic systems as well.
“The likelihood is that any impact of Covid on the election will disproportionately impact lower income people who are precisely those people who most need the electoral system to work for them.
“So it’s really important for the sake of social justice and political integrity that we get these elections running right and safeguarded.”
Bristolians will be asked to vote in four local elections on May 6.
They will be asked to choose the city’s elected mayor, ward councillors, a new mayor for the West of England Combined Authority (Weca), and a new Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Avon and Somerset.
Representing Labour, Mr Rees became Bristol’s second ever elected mayor in 2016, and is looking to defend his post against rivals Sandy Hore-Ruthven from the Green Party, Liberal Democrat candidate Caroline Gooch, and Conservative hopeful Alastair Watson.
Bristol City Council elections will see councillor candidates seek one of 70 seats in the chamber.
The post of Weca mayor, currently held by Conservative Tim Bowles who is stepping down, is being contested by former Tory candidate for Bristol mayor Samuel Williams, Green councillor for Clifton Jerome Thomas, Labour’s Dan Norris, and Lib Dem Stephen Williams.
PCC Sue Mountstevens has also announced she will not seek re-election. Conservative Mark Shelford, independent John Smith and Labour’s Kerry Barker have thrown their hats into the ring for the role. The Liberal Democrats are yet to announce their candidate.
We’re waiting for national government to bring forward the guidelines ... Polling stations will be cleaned beforehand ... and they will be obviously designed in a way that they are Covid secure
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees
IT’S nearly here! Signs of spring are beginning to unfurl, grow and rouse from their wintery slumber.
Snowdrops pop up in familiar places like old friends and our local birds seem a little more curious about their potential new homes, you may even spot a honeybee on the hunt for an early nectar rich flower.
Spring is the time when we step into action and start getting our hands in the dirt. You may be surprised to discover that our interaction with soil can keep us healthy both mentally and physically.
Have you ever watched babies and small children when they seem to have this inexplicable urge to plant their round, little faces in the soil? Or slap mud into their mouths as if it’s a delicious, juicy, slab of chocolate fudge cake? Well, they might have it right!
Research by Doctor Christopher Lowry at the University of Bristol shows that humans have a deep connection to the soil for both physical and mental health.
Interaction with soil bacteria particularly M.Vaccae helps all manner of healthy gut bacteria grow inside of us, sparking connections with the brain that builds serotonin – the happy hormone.
Research also suggests these bacteria can reduce inflammation, and M. Vaccae has been used in research studies for the treatment of lung cancer, depression, and PTSD.
Further research is showing that those of us who are more connected to the land such as traditional farming communities, have better gut flora and therefore improved physical and mental health.
Is it any wonder that babies can’t wait to get down and dirty and wriggle in the soil like a little worm? Maybe us ‘grown-ups’ should take note.
If you need to be tempted a little further to getting down in the dirt, or you have a little one who isn’t so keen on the mood boosting benefits of wallowing in the boggiest parts of your local park, look no further than ‘Stan & Ted.’
Created by Bristol based animation company, Aardman, you may remember that Stan and Ted are two baby birds that made their TV debut on ‘Creature Comforts’ in 2003.
Like little pink flumps, they gaze down to the garden below from their plasticine nest and remind us (in their hilarious lisping Bristolian accent) of what’s best about our green spaces – DiiiRtT, GraAssz and ComPosT! Who can resist the guidance of such adorable little creatures?
So, with Stan and Ted in mind here’s some top tips for exploring spring in your local patch, no matter where you are or who you’re with – there are nature treasures to be found, even in the soil.
Visit a local green space, or pop outside into your garden and see if you can do the 5-4-3-2-1 challenge. It’s sure to open your senses and help you get to know your animal and plant neighbours.
» Can you start with listing 5 things that you can see?
» Next, what are 4 things that you can hear?
» Are there 3 things you can feel?
» Are there also 2 things that you are able to smell?
» Finally, is there 1 thing you can taste? (small children may have beaten you to it for this one!)
Make a note of how you feel and anything new you have discovered.
So until we meet again, may the ‘DirRt, GraAssz,and BirDs’ be with you.
May spring greet you with open branches, cheering blossoms, and a good dollop of mud pie.
Because we’re never too old to say hello to our inner soil loving child or get in the dirt with our own baby birds. Our health might just depend on it.
To learn more about our My Wild Child project, visit avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/mywildchild.
Interaction with soil bacteria helps all manner of healthy gut bacteria grow inside of us, sparking connections with the brain that builds serotonin – the happy hormone