Sir, – Every polling day, our local national school is closed to pupils in order that it may be used as a polling station. Two polling station officers sit in one classroom administering the voting from early morning until late at night. On this day, 120 children are kept at home, as are their four teachers and assorted other staff, at huge inconvenience and collective expense to their beleaguered parents.
I understand that many schools throughout the country are similarly closed for the day. Along with most communities, our village has other viable venues that could be used. Or we could move polling days to weekends, in line with most European countries. We simply can’t afford the current arrangement. – Yours, etc,