Local authorities are required to carry out a review of Polling Districts and Polling Places every five years. The review requires the council to:
- seek to ensure that all the electors in the Stratford-on-Avon District have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances
- seek to ensure that so far as is reasonable and practicable, the polling places they are responsible for are accessible to all electors, and when considering the designation of a polling place, must have regard to the accessibility needs of disabled persons
The following are not considered as part of the review:
- the changing of any district ward boundaries (which can only be done by statute following an electoral review carried out by the Local Government Boundary Commission). This review is concerned only with the administrative subdivision of a ward into polling districts which are then assigned polling places
- the changing of polling districts in areas which are also aligned with parish boundaries and therefore cannot be amended during this review (these can only be amended during a Community Governance Review).
We are keen to receive representations from any interested individual, group or organisation, particularly those with expertise in access for persons with any type of disability on alterations to current electoral arrangements. Representations should, wherever possible, include suggested alternative premises which may be used for polling purposes: Any responses need to be received by 28 June 2019.
Audit and Standards Committee - 23 September 2019
Review of Polling Districts, Polling Places & Polling Stations
Definition of terms
Wards: The district is divided into areas known as wards, which are represented by district 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 voting takes place. This must be located within the polling place that has been designated for the particular polling district. In some cases there is more than one polling station within a polling place, dependent upon how many people vote there.
Please be aware that any representation/correspondence will be published as part of the review. For further information on our Privacy Statement or to access your information rights, please visit our Privacy pages.
