WHEN Prime Minister Tony Blair announced the General Election would be on May 5, he signalled the start of a huge logistical operation.

Hundreds of local authority staff up and down the country were thrown into a frenzy of activity as they began the task of planning for polling day itself.

Among these backroom boys and girls are the members of Wychavon District Council's electoral services team, who are responsible for organising two polls - the parliamentary one in the Mid-Worcestershire constituency and the 12 Worcestershire County Council seats in the district that are also up for grabs on the same day.

The poll in the West Worcestershire parliamentary seat is organised by Malvern Hills District Council.

"Nominations for the parliamentary election candidates close at 4pm on Tuesday, April 19.

It's very late and we have to get ballot books printed within two days," said Amanda de Warr, democratic services manager at Wychavon District Council.

For Amanda and her team, which is expanded from three to five during the election period, the polls are a enormous task, which will see them working regular 12-hour days in the weeks ahead.

It is also an enormously expensive operation - the last General Election cost the nation £70million- though district council costs are reimbursed by centrally.

In Wychavon, the bill includes 105 polling stations, with a presiding officer and poll clerk at each one; six training sessions for all staff working on the election; 100 staff to do the counting on General Election night at Avon Valley Leisure Centre in Pershore, and 60 staff to do the county council election count at the same venue the day after.

"It's a huge amount of work. We have a fairly small team and we have to work flat out from now until polling day," said Amanda.

"On polling day my staff will work from 5.30am until 3am the following day and we will be back in at 8am for the next count," she added.

"It's exciting if we can get over our exhaustion."

On polling day voters will be faced with two separate ballot papers - a white one for the parliamentary election and a yellow one for the county council election.

A General Election on the same day generally improves turnout for the county council election. In Mid-Worcestershire there was a 62.5 per cent turnout among the 75,000 eligible voters at the last General Election, slightly above the national average.

Voters who want to organise a postal or a proxy vote should call 01386 565370 to get an application form, which have to be returned by April 26 at the latest.

Whatever the voting method, Amanda de Warr is clear that people should take the chance to vote.

"It's too easy to say it doesn't affect me or doesn't matter to me. Everything is affected by politics and people fought hard for the vote.

"People forget it's very recent really that women have been allowed to vote, for example. It's a shame not to use it.

"My main message to people is 'if you think your vote won't count, think again'," said Amanda.