Johannesberg School

After work Janet and I headed off to a training evening to prepare us to work as election officials, taking peoples votes all day and counting them up at the end of the day, which is on 14 September.
It sounds fairly simple but in order for the election to be seen to be "free and fair" there are an awful lot of "what if" scenarios to consider. For example;
What if someone turns up to vote but they have already been marked off on the roster as having voted? What if someone voted in advance but wants to change their mind and vote on the day?
..and lots of others questions!
I can now answer most of these questions and know who to ring on the day if I get a question I can't answer. It's the second election I've worked with and I am both impressed and amazed by what is required for an election to work and to be seen to be free and fair. One thing that is needed is a lot of people willing to give up a Sunday to make the process work. You don't need dodgy ballot machines if you have enough volunteers to stay up late counting the votes by hand!
So much organisation, so many people working (for a symbolic sum of money) on the day and not everyone votes, though voter turnout in these elections is high by most standards (85% in the 2010 election).
The photograph is of Johannesberg school in Härnösand where our training took place. This wonderful building has been around for at least one hundred years and is still a great building to work in, as I know from a previous job I had. Here you see it in the evening sun, looking at one of the original entrances.
The blue sky, reflected in the windows, contrasts rather nicely with the red ochre colouring of the walls.