Mapped: Shopping centre polling stations and weekend voting to be trialled

"The way we vote in person has not adapted to people's busy lives, with voters often given no choice but to cast their ballots at a single designated polling station during limited hours on a single day, creating barriers to participation for many citizens."

"Under the trial program, voters in Cambridge, Tunbridge Wells, and North Hertfordshire will be able to vote at designated hubs several days before the May election, including on weekends, while Milton Keynes will offer hub voting on election day itself, marking a significant departure from standard procedures."

England's government is conducting a trial to modernize voting procedures by expanding access beyond traditional polling stations. Four areas—Cambridge, Tunbridge Wells, North Hertfordshire, and Milton Keynes—will participate in this initiative. In three of these locations, voters can cast ballots at designated voting hubs several days before the May election, including weekends. Milton Keynes will allow hub voting on election day as well. Currently, voters are restricted to a single assigned polling station open from 7am to 10pm on election day only. Minister for Democracy Samantha Dixon emphasized that voting procedures have not kept pace with modern lifestyles, necessitating these changes to accommodate busy schedules and improve voter participation.

Read at www.independent.co.uk