15799/2VOTERS in North Wiltshire should expect their ballot cards to drop through the letterbox in the next couple of weeks after a general election was called on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Tony Blair asked the Queen for Parliament to be dissolved ready for a May 5 election.

John Watling, the man in charge of the election in North Wiltshire, said an exhilarating, but hectic few weeks lay ahead.

As the policy and democratic services team leader for the local authority, Mr Watling and his team of two, Tracey Clements and Claire Beckley, work year-round on elections.

He explained: "We have nothing to do with the candidates, what we do is make sure the mechanics of the election run smoothly.

"Before the date is announced it is frustrating not knowing when it's going to be, but a certain buzz surrounds the whole election."

This year the election is doubly complicated as both the general and county council elections are being held on the same day.

He said North Wiltshire had an electorate of 100,000, and he was expecting a turnout of around 75 per cent.

"It's much higher for a general election than a local authority election, which usually gets about 30 per cent," said Mr Watling.

He said four or five years ago, postal voting was restricted to the physically infirm, people working away from home and those employed by the returning officer but it's now open to anyone.

"North Wiltshire had about 2,500 postal voters at the last election, but this time it will be more like 15,000," he said. "It's a big job printing and dispatching that many ballot papers but luckily we've got an Irish company to do it for us."

Out of the 107 polling stations in North Wiltshire only four are different to the last election Hullavington, Hilmarton, Ashton Keynes and a mobile unit in the car park of Morrison's in Chippenham.

"People are creatures of habit so I don't like to mess about with it too much," said Mr Watling. "Some changes are unavoidable and having the mobile polling station at Morrison's is most unusual. There won't be e-voting until the next general election."

As soon as the last votes are made at 10pm on May 5, the ballot boxes are rushed to the official counting station at the Olympiad in Chippenham, where around 70 staff are waiting to tally up the votes.

Once the votes are counted and verified returning officer Bob Marshall declares the winner, usually at around 4am.

He said: "After one or two false starts the pistol has now been fired. It is an incredibly intensive and busy lead up to May 5 and the fact we've got two elections increases complications for us and the voters.

"We are going to have more postal votes than ever before, which is great in terms of giving people more access to voting but far more labour intensive.

"From my point of view I'm really lucky to have a such an experienced team in John, Tracey and Claire. I sleep far better knowing those three are around.

"It's always worrying that something will go wrong, but elections are a hugely exciting time. People run on adrenaline."

Applications for postal votes have also surged in the Devizes parliamentary constituency that includes Calne.

Kennet District Council, which is overseeing the poll, expects more than 10,000 out of the 85,000 electors in the constituency to have registered for a postal vote by the closing date of April 26. This compares with 3,600 in 2001.