Leicester’s poll boss has canceled the general election holiday

A council worker in charge of voting in Leicester says she had to cancel her holiday when the general election was called.

Alison Greenhill, chief operating officer at Leicester City Council, acts as presiding officer for three parliamentary constituencies during the election process.

She said news of the national survey came as a “total shock”.

Ms Greenhill was due to fly to Mauritius on May 27 but is now making arrangements for 1,100 staff to man 124 polling stations across the city, as well as the count at the Mattioli Arena in Charter Street on July 4.

She had been in a meeting on May 22 when “someone rushed in and said ‘you’ve got to watch the BBC – I think they’re announcing a general election’.”

“I thought it was April Fool’s Day,” she added.

Ms. Greenhill said local election officials had received no advance notice, but she and her election team of 12 had already begun planning.

“I knew there would be a general election this year, but I didn’t think it would happen so soon,” she added.

“Normally it’s a six-month project and we do it in six weeks.”

Ms Greenhill only became a director in February but has been working in elections in Leicester for 38 years.

Preparations to turn public buildings in the city into polling stations are now underway, Ms Greenhill said.

“The schools really go out of their way to accommodate us,” she added.

“Some are having to rethink their plans for activity days.”

Ms Greenhill was due to go on holiday on Monday but said she and her electoral services manager had both had to “cancel our holidays” following the announcement.

She added: “You have to make sure we are here, that the whole team is available. That takes priority.”

Her holiday has now been re-booked for January, she said.