The volunteers who keep Jersey's election running

Hundreds of islanders volunteer their services every four years, to support Jersey's election.

At each polling station, a returning officer ensures the process runs smoothly, helping residents to cast their votes, overseeing the counting and announcing the results.

Those involved have described the overnight effort as "enjoyable" but "exhausting".

Polls are open from 08:00 BST until 20:00 on Sunday, 7 June.

Jerry Ramsden has been a returning officer at three elections in Jersey.

He was sworn in as Jurat in 2014 and despite retiring earlier this year, he keeps the title until the day he dies.

The job of a returning officer can be done by a Jurat or other public official.

Ramsden said he had mostly enjoyed volunteering at elections, but it was a very long day - starting about 06:30 in the morning and sometimes finishing in the early hours when the results are announced.

Part of the job, he explained, was making sure candidates did not intimidate voters at the polling station. But it was also about accessibility. He said one year when a disabled islander wanted to vote but could not get out of his car, Ramsden took the ballot paper to his car door.

Despite the election moving to a Sunday in a bid to boost turnout, Ramsden said he thought the change of day would actually produce "fewer voters".

Regardless of turnout, votes will be counted immediately after polls close at 20:00 on Sunday. Ramsden described the counting process as "demanding".

"Counting has always got to be done immediately. There is no question of locking all the votes up and coming back the next day. So when you get to whatever time at night, it's an exhausting process."

The Rector of St Ouen, Reverend Ian Pallent came to the island in 2010.

Working with a Jurat, he volunteers collecting the votes of islanders who are too sick to make it to polling stations.

On one occasion, he said it meant visiting someone in their hospital bed.

"There was a woman who literally didn't have very much longer to live who still wanted to vote, she felt it was important," he said.

Pallent had similar doubts about whether Sunday voting would make a difference: "I don't think anyone I have met thinks having an election on a Sunday is a good idea... people treat Sunday as a family day."

Danny Wherry, who has volunteered at elections for the last 20 years, will be helping out at St Martin's Public Hall on Sunday.

He will be arriving at the hall at 07.30 on Sunday to help set up and will stay until 11:00 showing voters to the ballot box. He will then be back counting the ballot papers in the evening and hopes the result will be announced about 23:00 "if we're lucky".

While Wherry said it "wasn't the greatest task" to perform, he stressed the importance of doing things for the local community and the island.

"You meet people who you haven't seen for a long time so that's always enjoyable," he said.

He shared similar doubts about Sunday voting, but said the sandwiches, cakes and cups of tea laid on for volunteers made up for it and softened the blow.

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