How polling stations ensure smooth elections: a volunteer's perspective
Elections rely on meticulous planning and dedicated volunteers like Mika Tretmans. From early setup to vote counting, discover how polling stations ensure accessibility and accuracy, impacting every voter’s experience on election day.
| Key Data | Details |
|---|---|
| Volunteer | Mika Tretmans, student in Amsterdam |
| Election Day Start Time | 06:45 |
| Polling Station Location | Rembrandtplein (Amsterdam-Oost) |
| ID Requirements | Valid ID (e.g., passport, ID card) and polling pass |
| Accessibility Measures | Assistance for wheelchair users, visually impaired voters, and others |
| Vote Counting Process | Ballots sorted by party, recounted, and matched to scanned polling passes |
| Polling Station Roles | Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Polling Station Member, Counter, Counting Supervisor |
| Election Date | 18 March 2026 (municipal, district, and administrative board elections) |
The Municipality of Amsterdam oversees the organization of local elections, ensuring that polling stations operate efficiently and inclusively. Their role includes recruiting volunteers, providing training, and implementing accessibility measures to guarantee every eligible voter can participate.
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Behind the scenes of the elections: inside the polling station
Elections require extensive preparation. There is also plenty to do on the day itself and after the elections. Who ensures that the elections run as smoothly as possible? We take a look behind the scenes. This time: inside the polling station. Mika Tretmans tells us more.
Mika lives and studies in Amsterdam. Last year, he worked as a polling station member during the House of Representatives elections in Amsterdam-Oost. On 18 March, during the municipal, district and administrative board elections, he will be back, this time at Rembrandtplein. He enjoys helping out: “The day flies by, especially if you have a great team. And it’s a nice side job.”
Preparation
Mika: “On election day, you start very early. You need to be there around 06:45. You discuss who does what and check if all materials are present. You put up signs to direct voters to the polling booth and make sure the tables and chairs in the polling booth are in the right place. The voting booths and ballot boxes are usually already set up.”
Accessibility
“You also check if everyone can reach the polling station easily. This includes people who have difficulty walking, use a walker or wheelchair, or need assistance in another way. And whether help is needed and how you can provide it. For example, last time we made sure someone was always standing outside near the entrance to guide people to the lift. That way, we could lend a hand if necessary.”
Voting
Anyone who wants to vote must bring an ID, such as an ID card or passport, and the polling pass(es). Mika: “We check if the ID matches the details on the polling pass and scan the passes. If everything is correct, the voter receives a ballot paper. Does it ever go wrong? Yes, for example if someone has requested a new polling pass because they didn’t receive one. The old pass is then declared invalid. But sometimes the new pass arrives late, and the voter brings the old one. In that case, they are not allowed to vote and must go home to fetch the new pass.”
He adds: “And some people are a bit careless. They come with their son’s or daughter’s pass, or a polling pass from a previous election. Well, then we really have to send them home again.”
Exceptions
Does it ever go differently? Mika: “There are always exceptions. Voting is private, so in principle no one is allowed to enter the voting booth with the voter. But people who cannot see well or at all are allowed to bring someone along. And small children are also allowed to come in for a moment. So you need to pay attention to that and consult if necessary.”
End of the day: counting the votes
After the polling stations close, the counting begins. Extra counters join in, because otherwise it would take too long. “Everyone gets a stack of ballot papers and sorts them by party. Then you recount someone else’s stack. The number of papers must match the number of scans exactly. If there is a discrepancy, you count again. This can go on late into the evening. After that, the chairman takes the papers to a central location. The next day, the ballot papers are checked and counted to see who exactly voted for whom.”
Who works at the polling station?
- Chairman: responsible for the voting and counting process at the polling station.
- Deputy chairman: replaces the chairman in their absence and during breaks, and supports the chairman with tasks such as opening and closing the polling station.
- Polling station member: performs various tasks at the polling station and, at 21:00, the polling station members count the votes.
- Counter: assists the polling station members in the evening with counting the votes.
- Counting supervisor: ensures the counting process runs smoothly and supervises the counting together with the chairman.
Want to know more about the elections?
- Visit amsterdam.nl/elections
Also read
- From library to brewery: you can vote at these unique locations in Amsterdam and Weesp
- Elections 18 March 2026: who can you vote for?
- In 1994, the Amsterdam city council wanted to abolish the city