Election counts in May could be delayed as a 'precaution'

Ballot boxes could be sealed for an additional day after voters go to the polls on May 6.

The green light has been given for elections to take place in May and in Hertfordshire, there are elections for the county council, at district and borough level, and even on some parish councils. Usually votes are counted as quickly as possible, following the 10pm closure of the polls on election day.

But to prevent a possible spread of Covid-19, there could be a wait of around a day before counting votes begins.

The plans were mooted in a media briefing by Hertfordshire's director of public health Jim McManus on Wednesday.

The measure takes into account the the possibility, for example, that a voter could have sneezed the virus onto their ballot paper.

And, as a result, it is said there could be aerosol spread of the virus when it was tipped out at a counting station.

Varying research suggests, says Mr McManus, that the virus can live on paper for as little as five minutes and as long as five days.

And he says they are looking at the 24-hour quarantine of ballot papers in this year’s local elections as a "precaution".

However he said the risk was being reviewed weekly and that if it was later deemed not necessary, the action would not be taken.

Overall Mr McManus said that he was "quite confident" that – unless there was to be a massive surge in infections – elections in the county will be as safe as possible.

Plans to ensure they are as Covid-secure as possible include one-way systems within polling stations – and finding alternative to school venues.

There will also be emergency proxy votes available for those having to self-isolate on or just before May 6.

And advice has already been issued to candidates on how they can canvass more safely in the run-up to polling.

That advice highlights online campaigning, telephone calls and leaflets, as activities that can be done without face to face contact.