Local election rules to follow as voting experience changes in 2021
The 2021 elections feature a number of votes postponed from last year. As a result of the Covid pandemic, there are extra measures to make everyone stays safe on polling day.
Voting is set to be a very different experience this year as polling stations are changed to make them Covid secure.
Hundreds of thousands of people across the region will head to the polls on Thursday to elect candidates for local councils, crime commissioners and West Midlands Mayor.
And measures have been put in place to ensure everyone who wants to turn up at the ballot box in person can do so safely on the back of the pandemic.
It means that people may have to wait slightly longer than usual to cast their vote, and that polling stations will not quite look the same as in previous years.
The number of voters inside polling stations at the same time will be restricted, while social distancing will be enforced and some stations will feature one-way systems.
Once inside, everyone must wear a face covering unless they are exempt.
People are advised to take their own pens and pencils, although pencils will be available at sites and will be sanitised after each use.
Hand sanitizer will be provided at each station, and all frequently touched surfaces will be regularly cleaned by staff.
Some traditional polling stations are not being used this year for safety reasons.
The elections were due to take place last year but were postponed due to the pandemic.
Polling stations will open on Thursday from 7am to 10pm.
