A polling station that couldn’t open, voting machines and recounts. Hélène Kiesbrink-Geenen has experienced it all. She has been working as a volunteer in the polling stations of the municipality of Venlo for 40 years.
Kiesbrink-Geenen started volunteering when she was 17 years old.
Have fun
“I was just working for the municipality of Venlo at the time. In the past it was more or less mandatory that you participate at the polling station,” she explains. After 40 years she still does the work with great pleasure. “It is no longer mandatory, but I was always asked if I wanted to help again.” She will also be taking part in the municipal elections next week.
‘Helping people’
Kiesbrink-Geenen likes the connection with the people the most about her work at the polling station. “I have often worked at a location in the neighborhood where I was born. Then I regularly meet people I have not seen for a long time. It is also nice to help older people who have trouble voting.”
However, voluntary work also has its downsides, says Kiesbrink-Geenen. For example, recounting votes. “Sometimes the number of ballot passes that have been handed in does not correspond to the number of ballots. Especially with the large parties that are counted, a mistake is sometimes made.”
voting machines
Since 2009, the Netherlands has voted with a red pencil and paper. In the 30 years before that, this was done with a voting machine. “Give me those voting machines. Then after five minutes you would have the entire result of that polling station in the form of a kind of receipt. Now we have to unfold all the ballot papers and count everything manually. It takes you hours.”
Polling station could not open
In all those years, Kiesbrink-Geenen has been through a lot. For example, she remembers a moment at the polling station at cafe De Witte in Blerick. “We were there with our team at 7:15 am ready to go in, but the manager was not there. He had overslept. Meanwhile, people were already coming to vote before they went to work. of course not.” Kiesbrink-Geenen and her colleagues then had to refer these voters to other polling stations. About twenty minutes later, the manager arrived.
Three days active
Due to corona, municipal elections can be voted not only on Wednesday 16 March, but also on Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 March. Kiesbrink-Geenen is active for three days in the Venlo polling stations. “We work a shift in a polling station with four people. One shift starts at 7:00 am and is relieved by the other group at 2:00 pm. On Wednesday evening, twelve people are counting the votes of that office. “
Because of the municipal elections, L1 moves into the province and polls the vote. Limburg Votes can be seen on L1 TV every day from Tuesday at 9 p.m.