Why are schools used for voting

thomasm · 17-02-2016 12:19PM #1

The two local schools in my area are closed for polling next week which is a pain as it means taking a days holidays or putting 3 of them into daycare.

I understand if some areas have no alternative venues but here there are two parish halls/community centers with ample rooms and parking within 50 meters in one case and 100 meters in the other. Is there some regulation that says schools must be used?

Genuine question and not a prelude to teacher bashing hopefully.

Edit: Meant to post in politics forum and cant move or delete

Graces7 · 17-02-2016 12:25PM

Interesting question. Here it is the community centre that is used. So it seems strange indeed if there is alternative accommodation. As a child we used to love it as we had an extra day off!. No idea about other villages

whiskeyman · 17-02-2016 12:26PM

http://www.thejournal.ie/why-are-schools-used-as-polling-places-1112804-May2014/

The Department of Local Government says that it is an issue for local Returning Officers, but more often than not, it comes down to the facilities on hand.
In a parliamentary reply on the issue after the Children’s Rights referendum last May, junior minister at the Department of Local Government said that the issues of location, access and cost play a part.
“Polling places normally will be in a village or some other population centre. The returning officer is required to locate polling stations as conveniently as possible for use by the electorate in each polling place.
“In selecting locations, the traditional approach has been to use schools.

"This is understandable given their central location in most communities, and especially so in rural areas over the years where a viable alternative to the local school would have been difficult to find. In these challenging economic times, it is also worth noting that the use of any school for the taking of a poll or counting of votes is free of charge where the school is in receipt of a State grant".

punisher5112 · 17-02-2016 12:27PM

State run and costs minimal as not having to rent out private property.

kneemos · 17-02-2016 12:27PM

Churches . There's a church in every village.

Easca Peasca · 17-02-2016 12:29PM

I'd imagine the schools were chosen to be used as they were the common denominator that all areas shared, before halls and centres were commonplace.

It surely would take very little effort, if any, to switch over from using schools?

whiskeyman · 17-02-2016 12:29PM

kneemos wrote: »

Churches . There's a church in every village.

Imagine having an abortion referendum in a church!

colm_mcm · 17-02-2016 12:30PM

kneemos wrote: »

Churches . There's a church in every village.

Can't see anybody objecting to having to go into a church to vote.

cnocbui · 17-02-2016 12:31PM

Stealth - churches would have been too obvious.

BizzyC · 17-02-2016 12:31PM

kneemos wrote: »

Churches . There's a church in every village.

And confessional boxes remove the need for those costly stations so you can fill in your ballot in peace...

AnonoBoy · 17-02-2016 12:35PM

It's so we can go back and see our old schools without feeling like weirdos.

Come on - everyone has a little poke around when they go to vote, don't they?

Sunny Dayz · 17-02-2016 12:37PM

Our voting was, for many years, held in the local 3rd level college. Then in the last few years they moved it to my son's national school. Such a pain cos there's less parking at his school, I have to sort out childcare for the day and he already has two days mid term this week plus 2.5 weeks off next month!

Question: why does the whole school have to close for it? I know not all schools have room but certainly in my son's school they such facilities that they could have one classroom free for voting and still have all pupils accommodated and taught that day.

AlanG · 17-02-2016 12:38PM

I understand the need for school halls in a few rural areas especially given the short notice for some votes but it seems mad to close down a school completely just because the hall is in use. Hire 1 extra person for the car park and 1 for security at each site would be better than paying a school full of staff to be absent.

BizzyC · 17-02-2016 12:40PM

Sunny Dayz wrote: »

Our voting was, for many years, held in the local 3rd level college. Then in the last few years they moved it to my son's national school. Such a pain cos there's less parking at his school, I have to sort out childcare for the day and he already has two days mid term this week plus 2.5 weeks off next month!

Question: why does the whole school have to close for it? I know not all schools have room but certainly in my son's school they such facilities that they could have one classroom free for voting and still have all pupils accommodated and taught that day.

Would you be happy to have potential weirdos poking around your son's school?
Any other day of the year there would be questions asked of the creepy guy randomly walking on school property...

kneemos · 17-02-2016 12:45PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

It's so we can go back and see our old schools without feeling like weirdoes.

Come on - everyone has a little poke around when they go to vote, don't they?

Everything looks so much smaller.

gandalf · 17-02-2016 12:47PM

Thankfully we use our local community centre these days. TBH as a country we should not be depriving our children of a days education to run an election. Also I believe voting should be extended over a whole weekend rather than just one day.

iguana · 17-02-2016 12:48PM

whiskeyman wrote: »

Imagine having an abortion referendum in a church!

Reminds me of the equality referendum last year. Right at the door of the room my parents and brothers went to vote in was a table with a big religious display full of statues of holy Mary. I'm sure it was meant innocuously, it was a Queen of the May table, and just something some teacher had done with his/her class at the start of the month. But I couldn't help wonder if it would have influenced some voters. I know an awful lot of older people who really struggled with how to vote as they felt deep down that they should vote yes but were very conflicted about voting against their church.

Badly Drunk Boy · 17-02-2016 12:51PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

Can't see anybody objecting to having to go into a church to vote.

What about those of us who are liable to burst into flames on entering a church?

seamus · 17-02-2016 12:54PM

colm_mcm wrote: »

Can't see anybody objecting to having to go into a church to vote.

Not sure if sarcastic...

But yes, churches would of course be ridiculously inappropriate places to hold elections.

As others have said, schools typically represent the only large building in an village that can be taken at short notice for a whole 2-3 days at little or no cost.

They're also usually designed to be central and accessible and not down the end of some muddy, grassy bohreen.

Sunny Dayz · 17-02-2016 01:00PM

BizzyC wrote: »

Would you be happy to have potential weirdos poking around your son's school?
Any other day of the year there would be questions asked of the creepy guy randomly walking on school property...

I can't speak for other schools but I know in my son's school the room that is used for voting can be closed off from the rest of the school, it can have a separate entrance into the building.
If there was an issue of people wandering around the school yard a few cones and a bit of tape could surely be spared by the council?

diomed · 17-02-2016 01:03PM

Now that the recession is over why not build a polling station in every village and provide much needed employment? And we could employ caretakers for when they are not used. Put the country back to work.
(copyright - I don't want Sinn Féin stealing my super economic ideas)

wandatowell · 17-02-2016 01:04PM

It's handy for the teachers who work at the polling centers

kneemos · 17-02-2016 01:07PM

Why have any polling stations?Just pick up a polling card and drop it in on the day.Have someone there to check there's only one card going in.

AnonoBoy · 17-02-2016 01:11PM

kneemos wrote: »

Why have any polling stations?Just pick up a polling card and drop it in on the day.Have someone there to check there's only one card going in.

"Oh I didn't get my polling card. Can I have another please?"

Two votes for me thanks!

murpho999 · 17-02-2016 01:28PM

kneemos wrote: »

Churches . There's a church in every village.

Is this for real?

Imagine the image that would portray as well impinging on the separation of church and state.

Schools are also generally bigger and have more room than Churches.

The real issue is that Elections should be held on a Saturday or Sunday so that more people can vote and school days are not impacted.

murpho999 · 17-02-2016 01:29PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

"Oh I didn't get my polling card. Can I have another please?"

Two votes for me thanks!

Simple, polling card would have a number and if it's used it's used. Would need to be electronically done though.

padd b1975 · 17-02-2016 01:32PM

seamus wrote: »

As others have said, schools typically represent the only large building in an village that can be taken at short notice for a whole 2-3 days at little or no cost.

They're also usually designed to be central and accessible and not down the end of some muddy, grassy bohreen.

And they're always certain to be available on election days, it's a no-brainer really.

andekwarhola · 17-02-2016 01:33PM

thomasm wrote: »

The two local schools in my area are closed for polling next week which is a pain as it means taking a days holidays or putting 3 of them into daycare.

I understand if some areas have no alternative venues but here there are two parish halls/community centers with ample rooms and parking within 50 meters in one case and 100 meters in the other. Is there some regulation that says schools must be used?

Genuine question and not a prelude to teacher bashing hopefully.

Going on memory (?), since 2011, we've had 5 polling days: a general election, local election and 3 referendums. I think a presidential election was held simultaneously with one of the referendums.

It's hardly an unimaginable inconvenience that would justify squandering taxes on renting - and enduring the headache of sourcing - private polling stations when free - centrally located in communities - polling premises already exist?

andekwarhola · 17-02-2016 01:41PM

gandalf wrote: »

Thankfully we use our local community centre these days. TBH as a country we should not be depriving our children of a days education to run an election. Also I believe voting should be extended over a whole weekend rather than just one day.

There's far more chance of there being a school in every constituency than an community centre. Not least a community centre that's a suitable size, free to rent and not booked for something.

Weekend voting would definitely be a goer but then you'd probably just get lot of people whinging that it interferes with their leisure time.

Moral of story: people whinge.

d2ww · 17-02-2016 01:59PM

andekwarhola wrote: »

Going on memory (?), since 2011, we've had 5 polling days: a general election, local election and 3 referendums. I think a presidential election was held simultaneously with one of the referendums.

It's hardly an unimaginable inconvenience that would justify squandering taxes on renting - and enduring the headache of sourcing - private polling stations when free - centrally located in communities - polling premises already exist?

You are not factoring in costs to all the parents in added childcare, lost earnings for the self employed etc. In my sons 22 teacher school, that's hundreds of parents inconvenienced, because the returning officer would not spend a few hundred euro renting a hall. It's especially galling as only the hall is being used, none of the classrooms, yet the entire school has to shut down.

donegal. · 17-02-2016 02:00PM

BizzyC wrote: »

Would you be happy to have potential weirdos poking around your son's school?
Any other day of the year there would be questions asked of the creepy guy randomly walking on school property...

thats exactly what happens in my kids school.
the school is using rooms in a youth club and were promised their own building 16 years ago.
theres loads of other courses held there and anyone can come and go when they like.
on the plus side they dont miss school on polling day

Why are schools used for voting

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