Cornwall Council took the initiative and architects Harris McMillan commissioned Shropshire-based corrugated converter Caps Cases to produce 700 booths for the council to use at its local and European ballots. 

What did the job entail?

The 1.3m-high booths were supplied flat in two pieces, including the main body and an additional plate that slotted on to the top to improve privacy. They each contained two shelves at standing height and two at a lower height for wheelchair access. 

How was it produced?

The booths were flexo post-printed using a TCY three-colour vacuum transfer press and die-cut using a Marumatsu flatbed die-cutter. The two pieces that form the cross were assembled in the factory after the four shelves for voters to complete their ballot papers on had been fixed to one side of the wall with hotmelt glue. The main body was then collapsed down flat for shipping together with the top privacy shelf. 

What challenges were overcome?

Caps Cases was tasked with designing something small enough to fit in the back of a car, but big enough to be used while standing that would give some privacy to the voter and could accommodate a lower shelf. “We had to achieve all of that in a unit with as few pieces as possible that would be very easy to understand how to assemble,” said Caps Cases sales director Shaun Stamford. 

What was the feedback?

Cornwall Council was pleased with the trial of the booths and expressed a desire to use them again in the future, albeit with a few minor tweaks. “The way the booths went together was fantastic. People that had never seen one before were able to get them up and ready to go in less than a minute. Members of the public liked the design and shape of the booths and thought that using cardboard was a good thing to be doing,” said deputy elections manager Dave Cunningham. “Although next time we’d probably increase the size as the booths were a little too small and some people felt there were some issues with privacy.”