Voters take their pick in Partick East Kelvindale and Baillieston by elections

New councillors are being elected in Baillieston where Labour councillor, Jim Coleman, lost his seat for non attendance and in Partick East/Kelvindale, where ex Tory councillor, Tony Curtis, lost his seat for the same reason.

The Glasgow times visited polling stations in the wards to ask voters about voting during the pandemic and if it affected their views.

READ MORE: Jim Coleman: Long serving Glasgow Labour councillor 'sacked' for non attendance

A steady”stream of people arrived at Bannerman High School to cast their vote in the Baillieston by election despite the unusual circumstances.

Covid marshals directed mask-wearing voters, asked to sanitise their hands on entry and exit, towards the ballot boxes.

Patricia Reilly, 69, of Beauly Road, said she had no issues with voting in person.

“It was okay,” she said. “You just follow the signs. I’ll be down in May, I’ve got to go to Caledonia Primary for that.”

She added: “What am I looking for [from her councillor]? Someone to do something for us.”

Another voter said the system in place at Bannerman “couldn’t be any better”.

Tony Curtis: Councillor in Glasgow 'sacked' for not attending meetings for six months

But he added: “I hope it’s not like this in May, I shudder to think what the queues will be like.”

Asked what he wanted from his councillor, John Carruthers, 79, from Garrowhill, said: “To be honest, I just want some peace.

“I’m getting fed up with all the Covid things. I’m hoping against hope that local people can put pressure on the government.”

Mr Carruthers had already received his jag, and added: “Vaccination is a great thing.”

Alexis and Garry Deans, both 55, of Burntbroom Drive, said they prefer to vote in person.

“It’s really well done,” Alexis said. “Good separation, well organised I have to say.

“I want to get the roads fixed if possible. We’re actually very lucky because we have a superb SNP councillor in this area.

“If we can increase that I think it’ll definitely be a benefit.”

She added: “I would love to think we could go down to fortnightly bin collections, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.

“I didn’t think we’d cope with the three weekly, but we have.

“I think the fact they are pushing for a sports hub for the kids here, I think that’s really important, because the number of houses there has been built, and there’s no facilities.”

In Partick East/Kelvindale there was a steady stream of voters at Notre Dame Primary school polling stations.

Voters reported a smooth process, with no queues and safe hygiene practices in place.

Outside a marshal directed votes to a one-way entrance and exit system and inside there was sanitiser and distancing measures in place and single use pencils for voting.

First-time voter Aaron Gillespie, 17 said he had nothing to compare it to but it all seemed to go well.

He said there was hand sanitiser to use and people to direct you through.

He said the handling of the pandemic did have an impact on his vote. He said: “It’s been handled well. We don’t know how others would have handled it.”

Andrew Stalewski, 61 said: “It all went well. There were no problems.”

“I voted how I was always going to vote. The pandemic hasn’t changed my views.”

Others said that the handling of the pandemic has strengthened their views on who they vote for. With one woman stating “It’s only re-enforced my views. I feel comfortable how it’s been dealt with compared to where the rest of my family live.”

Friends Nicola Marshall and Eleanor Ross left the polling station together.

Nicola said the pandemic was “not great” she added: “I don’t agree with some of the decisions or the timings.”

Eleanor said the pandemic has “re-enforced” her views on politics and who she votes for.

The Glasgow Times will bring you the results as they happen online today.