COUNCILS should seek alternative locations for polling stations to avoid regular upheaval for parents due to school closures, an MSP has urged.
SNP MSP John Mason has written to Glasgow City Council calling on it to carry out a root-and-branch review of polling places used at election time, claiming the break in the election cycle is the ideal opportunity for the local authority to explore how it can change things.
The authority admits that, while curtailing their use, having schools as polling stations is often unavoidable but it is exploring the prospect of doubling elections with in-service days.
Mr Mason's call has also secured the support of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council
Since 2007, some residents in Mr Mason's Glasgow constituency have voted eight times, with three by-elections also arising in between local, Scottish, UK and European elections.
All but one occurred during school term, meaning disruption for parents who require child care and teaching time being reduced as a result of schools being used as polling stations.
Mr Mason said there was an over-reliance on schools when many community facilities and other public buildings were unused during election days. In one recent election, two primary schools in his Ballieston constituency, just 200 metres apart, were used as polling stations.
In a letter to the city council's election co-ordinator, David Millar, he said: "One of the things I'd like the council to consider is its reliance on using local schools as polling places. I think this tradition of using schools was something that might have worked a generation ago when we had fewer elections, but with regular elections to Holyrood, George Square, Westminster and Brussels, not to mention unforeseen by-elections, the pressure on local schools has become too much.
"Every time there is an election, we are looking at closing a school for the day, which means a loss of teaching time and problems for local families who have to identify alternative child care, often at considerable cost."
Eileen Prior, executive director of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council, said she "absolutely agreed". She added: "A lot of parents feel aggrieved at their children's education being disrupted for elections when there's any number of alternatives."
A council spokesman said: "We have been trying to use fewer schools, but in some areas have no alternative.
"However, we plan to carry out a full polling district and polling place review. In addition, we are exploring the potential of making election days in-service days for schools."
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