Local Election 2023: woman visits three polling stations to cast vote

Charlotte Taylor, 56, was turned away from two polling stations following boundary changes after she claims she was not told where she should cast her vote.

Ms Taylor, business owner, has lived in Birtsmorton for over a decade and has always driven to Castlemorton to cast her vote which is about a 10-minute drive from her home.

When she arrived at Castlemorton, she was turned away by the volunteers, who said her polling station had been changed and directed her to Pendock, which was seven minutes away from where she was.

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Ms Taylor's was becoming more frustrated because she was turned away from that polling station too.

Charlotte Taylor visited three polling stations in order to cast her vote (Image: Charlotte Taylor)

She was redirected to a third polling station which was Berrow Village Hall.

The journey should have taken just under 10 minutes and ended up costing Ms Taylor almost two hours of her day.

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She said: "I left my house at 1pm and didn't come back till 3pm. I was going to go shopping and get petrol but also this should've been a less than five minutes job. 

"Cleary the council don't value my vote as they don’t inform those in the polling stations of where to direct people for neighbouring wards. 

"I have always gone out and voted. After a long day at work, I've still made it to the polling station.

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"When my children were young, I still made sure I voted. 

"But today, I felt frustrated, ignored and it shouldn't be this difficult. I think what about other people who are living busy lives.

"Busy mums who are looking after their children. 

"I nearly got to the point of thinking 'What's the point' but voting is important and I'm still going to vote.

"It feels very disconnected from the digital world.

"I wonder if it would put people off from voting because the whole process is so long-winded."

A spokesperson from Malvern Hills District Council said: "A review of the Local Government boundaries took place last year, Birtsmorton parish moved from Morton ward to the new Longdon ward.
"Due to the boundary review electors from the polling district LGD8 – Birtsmorton have been allocated to the polling station at Berrow and Pendock Village Hall, along with electors from Berrow who are also in the Longdon ward.

"The boundary and polling station changes were all subject to public consultation. We sent the electors a Household Notification letter in February and a poll card detailing their new polling station.

"The Returning Officer is not involved in the candidates campaigns or circulating information about candidates."