A polling station situated inside a suburban library in the north of Cambridge during the United Kingdom general election, 2005.

A polling station or polling place (the latter usage being favored in the USA) is where voters attend to cast their ballot in an election as part of the voting process in a democracy. Download high resolution version (852x1082, 213 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (852x1082, 213 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 and won by the Labour Party, led by Tony Blair. ... The Elections and Parties Series Democracy Representative democracy History of democracy Referenda Liberal democracy Representation Voting Voting systems Ideology Elections Elections by country Elections by calender Electoral systems Politics Politics by country Political campaigns Political science Political philosophy Related topics Political parties Parties by country Parties by name Parties by... A ballot is a device used to record choices made by voters. ... The Elections and Parties Series Democracy Representative democracy History of democracy Referenda Liberal democracy Representation Voting Voting systems Ideology Elections Elections by country Elections by calender Electoral systems Politics Politics by country Political campaigns Political science Political philosophy Related topics Political parties Parties by country Parties by name Parties by... The Polling by William Hogarth (1755); Before the secret ballot was introduced voter intimidation was commonplace The secret ballot is a process in elections where the choice of the voters is kept confidential. ...

Since elections generally take place over a one- or two-day span on a periodic (i.e. annual or longer) basis, polling stations are often located in facilities used for other purposes, such as schools, sports halls or local government offices, and will each serve a similar number of people. The area may be known as a ward, precinct or polling district. The polling place is staffed with election judges who monitor the voting procedures and assist voters with the election process. A ward is an electoral district used in local politics, most notably in England, Scotland, and Wales, as well as Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and many cities in the United States and the federal district of Washington, DC. A ward in England is an electoral district represented by... A precinct is generally the lowest-level minor civil division in the United States. ...

The facility will be open between specified hours depending upon 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. In the United States, the polling place must fly the US flag during voting hours to signal that the site is open and conducting a vote. Flag ratio: 10:19; nicknames: Stars and Stripes, Old Glory The flag of the United States consists of 13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in...

Inside the station will be an area where the voter may select the candidate or party of their choice in secret, and if a ballot paper is used this will be placed into a ballot box in front of witnesses but who cannot see the actual selection made. A ballot box is a temporarily sealed container, usually cuboid, with a narrow slot in the top sufficient to accept a ballot paper in an election but which prevents anyone from accessing the votes cast until the close of the voting period. ...

See also

• List of democracy and elections-related topics