Coniston Mechanics Institute
Polling Station Case Study
Use of Coniston Institute for Voting
Coniston Institute as a Polling Station
Coniston Institute Coniston Mechanics Institute was founded in 1852 for the education and cultural institution for the local community. It was mainly settled around Coniston Hall, a 16th Century farmhouse, built by the Fleming family, and is now owned by the National Trust. The institute plays a vital role for the community, as it houses a huge variety of functions.
A parasite structure which extends from a trailer to flood the entire space of the village hall, even spilling outside of the entrance. It alerts the general public that the village hall has another specific purpose for one day only. By the next day it has been compressed back together and rolled away to allow the building to function as normal.The tunnels act as a huge decoration that frames a central space which will be used to celebrate the 3 election day however the people of Coniston see fit.
Current System
Copeland Constituency
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Coniston Mechanics Institute
Entrance Register Cast Vote Post Ballot
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Coniston Lake
Proposed System
Copeland Constituency 108 Polling Stations RUSKIN MUSEUM Following Ruskin’s death in 1900, a memorial exhibition took place in the assembly room of the institute, and through its success it became a permanent exhibition.The museum is dedicated to Ruskin’s work and theories, displaying drawings, writings, as well as celebrating the area’s heritage including the coppermines, slate, lace and farming. The museum was extended in 1999 with the help of a Heritage Lottery grant; additional building with modern design-work, computer displays, and hands-on exhibits have transformed the look of the two galleries.
LIBRARY The front room of the institute on the right houses Coniston library, which is open three days a week for lending to the registered local residents. SECOND HAND BOOK SALE, BILLIARDS and NURSERY
POLLING STATION The hall in the John Ruskin Institute is used for the following elections:
Elections for which Coniston Institute has been used as a Polling Station in the Last Decade 2000
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5 District Council Elections
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Parish Council Elections County Council Elections Parliamentary Elections By- Elections European Elections
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The first ‘tunnel’ brings the public into the building to then be registered as a voter or non-voter.
The third ‘tunnel’ brings the public back down from the stage - an extra smaller tunnel is inserted for the voter to post their vote on their way down.
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The second ‘tunnel’ acts as a ramp up to the stage that feeds the general public into the trailer. 3 The trailer accomodates for the casting of the votes putting this moment on a pedestal. It neatly frames the individuals casting their vote for the rest of the public to see, the height of the stage preventing the voter from losing their privacy.
Proposed Voting Method
The voter can then choose to join the celebrations or exit the building.