Some citizens in the English city of Oxford could have been forgiven for bringing their dirty laundry with them when they went to their polling station to cast their vote in Britain's first December general election in nearly a century.
That's because the Ace Launderette was pressed into service as a polling station in the early election called by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a bid to break the Brexit stalemate. Most British elections take place in springtime.
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Some citizens in the English city of Oxford could have been forgiven for bringing their dirty laundry with them when they went to their polling station to cast their vote in Britain's first December general election in nearly a century.
In the town of Hampshire, people exercising their democratic privilege could also have checked out automobiles for sale at the Petersfield Used Car Centre. And in the West Midlands town of Dudley, a rather bare converted shipping container was designated as a voting booth.
Corrects name of launderette in Oxford to Ace Launderette.
A man dressed as Father Christmas enters his grotto at the Dunster Tithe Barn near Minehead, Somerset, England which is being used as a polling station in the 2019 general election, Thursday Dec. 12, 2019. Britain is holding an early election in wintry December, with a number of strange locations put in use as polling places. Among the places where Britons cast their ballots Tuesday were a car dealership, a laundrette, a Christmas grotto and of course some pubs. There were a few problems, including flooding at one location. (Ben BirchallPA via AP)
Wensleydale Railway employee Teresa Chapman is pictured with the Polar Express in the background, next to a polling station in a railway carriage as voters go to the polls, in Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, England, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. Britain is holding an early election in wintry December, with a number of strange locations put in use as polling places. Among the places where Britons cast their ballots Tuesday were a car dealership, a laundrette, a Christmas grotto and of course some pubs. There were a few problems, including flooding at one location. (Danny LawsonPA via AP)
A view inside a polling station at the White Horse Inn in Priors Dean, Hampshire, also known by locals as the 'Pub with no name' as voting starts in Britain's general election Thursday Dec. 12, 2019. Britain is holding an early election in wintry December, with a number of strange locations put in use as polling places. Among the places where Britons cast their ballots Tuesday were a car dealership, a laundrette, a Christmas grotto and of course some pubs. There were a few problems, including flooding at one location. (Andrew MatthewsPA via AP)
There were plenty of odd locations throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland,
A Christmas tree stands in the window of Petersfield Used Car Centre in Hampshire, which is being used as a polling station in the British general election, Thursday Dec. 12, 2019. Britain is holding an early election in wintry December, with a number of strange locations put in use as polling places. Among the places where Britons cast their ballots Tuesday were a car dealership, a laundrette, a Christmas grotto and of course some pubs. There were a few problems, including flooding at one location. (Andrew MatthewsPA via AP)
In the town of Hampshire, people exercising their democratic privilege could also have checked out automobiles for sale at the Petersfield Used Car Centre. And in the West Midlands town of Dudley, a rather bare converted shipping container was designated as a voting booth.
More fun was to be had in the picturesque pubs used as voting centers in the countryside. There were also more traditional locations, such as small town halls and churches.
Given the time of year, voters couldn't escape Christmas. In the southwest England town of Minehead, a Santa's grotto was used for voting.
A view of a converted shipping container which is being used as a polling station during the 2019 General Election. in Dudley, West Midlands, England, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. Britain is holding an early election in wintry December, with a number of strange locations put in use as polling places. Among the places where Britons cast their ballots Tuesday were a car dealership, a laundrette, a Christmas grotto and of course some pubs. There were a few problems, including flooding at one location. (Jacob KingPA via AP)
Corrects name of launderette in Oxford to Ace Launderette.
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A sign is seen near a Christmas tree outside the polling station at the Fox & Hounds pub in the hamlet of Christmas Common, in Oxfordshire, England, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. Britain is holding an early election in wintry December, with a number of strange locations put in use as polling places. Among the places where Britons cast their ballots Tuesday were a car dealership, a laundrette, a Christmas grotto and of course some pubs. There were a few problems, including flooding at one location. (AP PhotoMatt Dunham)
A man dressed as Father Christmas enters his grotto at the Dunster Tithe Barn near Minehead, Somerset, England which is being used as a polling station in the 2019 general election, Thursday Dec. 12, 2019. Britain is holding an early election in wintry December, with a number of strange locations put in use as polling places. Among the places where Britons cast their ballots Tuesday were a car dealership, a laundrette, a Christmas grotto and of course some pubs. There were a few problems, including flooding at one location. (Ben BirchallPA via AP)
Wensleydale Railway employee Teresa Chapman is pictured with the Polar Express in the background, next to a polling station in a railway carriage as voters go to the polls, in Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire, England, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. Britain is holding an early election in wintry December, with a number of strange locations put in use as polling places. Among the places where Britons cast their ballots Tuesday were a car dealership, a laundrette, a Christmas grotto and of course some pubs. There were a few problems, including flooding at one location. (Danny LawsonPA via AP)
A view inside a polling station at the White Horse Inn in Priors Dean, Hampshire, also known by locals as the 'Pub with no name' as voting starts in Britain's general election Thursday Dec. 12, 2019. Britain is holding an early election in wintry December, with a number of strange locations put in use as polling places. Among the places where Britons cast their ballots Tuesday were a car dealership, a laundrette, a Christmas grotto and of course some pubs. There were a few problems, including flooding at one location. (Andrew MatthewsPA via AP)