Wellingborough by-election: 'A lot of attention' is expected

The returning officer for the Wellingborough by-election said her team was preparing for "a lot of attention".

Voters will go to the polls on 15 February following a recall petition in the Northamptonshire constituency.

The petition was prompted by Peter Bone's suspension from the House of Commons for six weeks for breaching the code of conduct for MPs.

Adele Wylie said: "It's a lot of work in a short space of time."

North Northamptonshire Council said voters in the constituency should have started to receive their poll cards from 19 January.

The poll cards will include information on how to arrange a postal or proxy vote for those who cannot make it to their polling station on the day.

Anyone who is eligible to vote but is not registered has until 30 January to register following the process on the council website.

Ms Wylie, who is also chief executive of North Northamptonshire Council, said the authority would help people to register if they were unable to access the website.

Also following a law change last year, people who vote in person on 15 February will have to remember to bring a form of photo ID with them.

She said her job as returning officer was "making sure that you deliver elections in a lawful way, making sure that everybody is able to vote, who is entitled to vote, and promoting the election for good democracy".

Rather than the count taking place in the Wellingborough constituency, it will be at the neighbouring Kettering Leisure Village.

Ms Wylie said: "It's a great venue that we've used on a number of elections and it allows lots of people to attend.

"It's professional and it's great for delivering ballot boxes and being as efficient as possible.

"We're expecting a lot of media attention with this one, so we're preparing accordingly."

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