Weekend voting to be piloted in May elections

"Our trials will make polling days more convenient and test out the first real changes for over 100 years, bringing our democracy into the 21st Century. Voters can be assured these new arrangements are just as secure as the polling stations they're used to."

"In Milton Keynes, voters will be able to vote in the city's centre:mk shopping centre, rather than being tied to a single polling station. In Tunbridge Wells, Cambridge, and North Hertfordshire people will be able to vote in person ahead of the election, including on the weekend."

"The government said the proposals could lead to voters having more choice over where and when they voted and encourage more electoral participation. Future pilots could include mobile voting stations and people being able to vote at any polling station in their council area."

Four local authorities—Tunbridge Wells, Cambridge, North Hertfordshire, and Milton Keynes—will conduct pilot programs to expand voting accessibility in May's local elections. Milton Keynes voters can cast ballots at a shopping centre instead of a single polling station. The other three areas will offer extended voting periods including weekends, allowing voters to visit central locations at convenient times. Democracy minister Samantha Dixon described these trials as the first significant electoral changes in over 100 years, designed to modernize democracy and increase participation. Traditional polling stations, postal voting, and proxy voting remain available. Government findings from these pilots will be published later in the year and may inform future electoral reforms, potentially including mobile voting stations and expanded polling location access.

Read at www.bbc.com