Meet the polling staff who’ve spent ‘109 years counting votes’

Two men, who have worked in Blackburn with Darwen polling stations, have clocked up an incredible 109 years’ experience between them.

Alan Woods and Ian Haworth have worked in various polling stations across the borough, on General Election days over the years.

77-year-old Alan started out as a count assistant, counting votes in the general election of 1966.

Over the years, he’s helped out with countless electoral canvasses and he became a presiding officer in the late 1960s.

He’s perhaps best known in Darwen, where he spent many years at the polling station in St James’s Church.

Alan says he enjoys getting involved in the election, “a day of democracy” he calls it, and finds it also helps keep his brain active in retirement.

Ian, 72, first worked as a poll clerk at a polling station in Shadsworth in 1973. Since then, he has become a presiding officer, working in various polling stations across the borough.

He enjoys catching up with people in his neighbourhood at the polling station, as well as supporting election day.

Both men used to work for the council, Ian as payroll and pensions manager, and Alan as a council markets officer.

A spokesperson for Blackburn with Darwen Council said: “Staff working in our polling stations today are very experienced in supporting the democratic process – here’s Alan and Ian who have clocked up 109 years’ experience between them!

“We’re saying a massive thank you to Alan and Ian, and all our polling station staff today for their work to deliver the general election!”

After reports across the UK of postal votes not being delivered in time, a spokesperson for Blackburn with Darwen Council said two-thirds of postal voters in Blackburn have sent their votes back adding that it is "not a significant issue in Blackburn and Darwen".

A spokesperson said: "Already around two-thirds of postal voters in the Blackburn parliamentary constituency have sent back their votes.

"Replacement postal voting packs need to be collected from Blackburn Town Hall before 5pm today.

"Completed postal votes for the Blackburn constituency can be handed in at Blackburn Town Hall before 5pm today, or at any Blackburn polling station before 10pm today.

"We know that there are concerns nationally about postal voting packs not being delivered, but we believe this is not a significant issue in Blackburn and Darwen.

"However we will look into reports of postal vote packs not being delivered.

"Please be aware that when you drop off a postal vote, rather than sending it back in the post, you will have to sign a declaration form.

"Also, new rules introduced this year mean you can now only hand in up to five postal votes, plus your own.

"Postal voters in the Blackburn constituency who still haven’t received their postal voting packs can contact our elections team for replacements. Call 01254 585920 ASAP.”