Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places

A review ensures that polling stations are within a polling district to serve the voters who are allocated to it.

The last polling district and polling places review of polling district and polling places took place in 2014 and under electoral legislation, the council must complete a review of all polling districts and polling places by 31 January 2020. 

The consultation for the review commenced on Monday 8 July 2019 and ended Monday 2 September 2019. All representations were considered and a full report is to be submitted to Council for approval on Wednesday 16 October 2019.

A full list of the proposed streets within the separate polling districts is available on request.

Definition of Terms

Parliamentary Constituency

The area designated by the Boundary Commission which is represented by a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons. This cannot be changed by the review

Wards

The Borough is divided into electoral areas known as Wards which are represented by Borough Councillors.  Ward boundaries cannot be changed by this review - it is the division of wards into polling districts and polling places that is under review.

Polling Districts

A polling district is the area created by the separation of a ward into smaller parts, within which a polling place can be determined that is most suitable for the electors.

Polling Places

A polling place is the building or area in which the polling stations will be selected by the Returning Officer.

Polling Station

A polling station is the room or area in which the voting takes place.  This must be located within the polling place that has been designated for the particular polling district.  In some case there is more than one polling station within a polling place, dependent upon how many people vote there.

Selecting Polling stations

The principal factor for selecting polling stations is the suitability within a district for the majority of the electorate and the decision for this is made by the Returning Officer.