Simone's a poll star!
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
WHEN presiding officer Simone Evans turned up at Buckie British Legion to set up the polling station for the council election, little did she think she would be inviting voters into her car.
However, that’s just what happened when Ms Evans found herself standing on the wrong side of locked doors and voters potentially due in the very near future.
Taking it in her stride, she converted her Ford Galaxy into a temporary polling booth.
Mrs Evans parked the vehicle outside the Legion, placed Polling Station notices in the windows, put the ballot box in the front seat and cleared the reared seats to form a makeshift polling booth.
Two early voters turned out to exercise their democratic right in the back of the car before the Legion’s caretaking staff turned up to open the building.
Fortunately, the rest of the day went rather more to plan than it had begun, although she did tell the Advertiser: "What an eventful day it’s been!"
Moray’s depute returning officer, Moira Patrick, praised Mrs Evans for her quick thinking.
"She did exactly what all our elections staff are trained to do in the event of not being able to gain access to a polling place for whatever reason," said Mrs Patrick.
"It is part of their training but as far as I can recall this is only the second time it has ever had to be put into practice."
The reason for the building not being accessible in time for the polls opening at 7am was not immediately clear.
