Editing Polling station (section)

{{distinguish|text = [[voting house]], a specific type of polling station in the United States}}
{{Short description|Place where voters cast their ballots in elections}}
{{Globalise|article|United Kingdom|2name=the United Kingdom|date=December 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2022}}
[[Image:PollingStation UK 2005.jpg|thumb|A polling station situated inside a suburban library in the north of [[Cambridge]] during the [[2005 United Kingdom general election]]]]
{{voting}}
A '''polling place'''<ref name="USAdefinition1">{{cite web|url=http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/american_english/polling-place|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026093751/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/american_english/polling-place|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 October 2013|title=polling place – definition of polling booth in English|website=Oxford Dictionaries|access-date=29 October 2014}}</ref> is where [[vote]]rs cast their [[ballot]]s in [[election]]s. The phrase '''polling station''' is also used in [[American English]]<ref name="USAdefinition1"/> and [[British English]],<ref name="UKdefinition1">{{cite web|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/polling_station|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925104141/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/polling_station|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 September 2016|title=polling station – definition of polling station in English|website=Oxford Dictionaries|access-date=9 June 2017}}</ref> although a ''' polling place''' is the building<ref name="hfpss">{{cite web |url=http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=58768&sID=25275 |title=Handbook for polling station staff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005203644/http://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/nmsruntime/saveasdialog.asp?lID=58768&sID=25275 |archive-date=5 October 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=14 September 2014}}</ref> and '''polling station''' is the specific room<ref name="hfpss"/> (or part of a room) where voters cast their votes. A polling place can contain one or more polling stations.<ref name="hfpss"/> In [[Australian English]], "polling place" and "polling centre" are used. Americans also use the term '''voting precinct''' in some states.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Secretary Of State – Voting Precincts |url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/election-administration-campaigns/data-maps/voting-precincts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826034258/https://www.sos.state.mn.us/election-administration-campaigns/data-maps/voting-precincts/ |archive-date=26 August 2024 |access-date=16 September 2024 |website=Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> 

Since elections generally take place over a one- or two-day span on a periodic basis, often annual or longer, polling places are usually located in facilities used for other purposes, such as [[school]]s, [[Church (building)|churches]], [[stadium|sports halls]], local government [[office]]s, or even private homes, and may each serve a similar number of people. The area may be known as a [[Ward (electoral subdivision)|ward]], [[electoral precinct|precinct]], polling district, or [[Electoral district|constituency]]. The polling place is staffed by officials (who may be called [[Returning officer|Returning Officers]], [[Election official|Election Officials]] or other titles) who monitor the voting procedures and assist voters with the election process. [[Scrutineer|Scruntineers]] (or poll-watchers) are independent or partisan observers who attend the poll to ensure the impartiality of the process.

The facility will be open between specified hours depending on the type of election, and political activity by or on behalf of those standing in the ballot is usually prohibited within the venue and immediately surrounding area.

Inside the polling place will be an area (usually a [[voting booth]]) where the voter may select the candidate or party of their choice in secret. If a ballot paper is used, this will be placed into a [[ballot box]] in front of witnesses who cannot see for whom the vote has been cast. [[Voting machine]]s may be employed instead.

Some polling places are temporary structures. A portable cabin may be specially sited for an election and removed afterwards.

There are five types of voting technologies that are currently being used in the United States polling locations. These comprise hand-counted paper ballots, mechanical lever machines, punch cards, [[optical character recognition|optically readable]] paper ballots, and electronic voting machines.<ref name="Matter"/> One of the reasons for a tendency toward witnessed final posting or transacting physical systems yet retaining the secret ballot is to reduce [[electoral fraud]].<ref name="Matter"/>