Review of polling districts, polling places and polling stations
In accordance with the Representation of the People Act 1983, the Electoral Administration Act 2006 and the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013, Shropshire Council is required to complete a full review of all polling districts and polling places every five years. The next formal review is due to take place in 2027.
The aim of the review is to ensure that:
- Electors in the parliamentary constituencies have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances
- As 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.
In addition, the Returning Officer is required to submit their own proposals for future electoral arrangements.
The review will not consider changes to division or ward boundaries.
Definitions
Polling district – geographical electoral areas into which wards and constituencies may be sub-divided.
Polling place – buildings or areas designated by the council where electors in a polling district go to vote in person.
Polling station – the number of issuing desks in the building or area that is designated polling place.
How is the review conducted?
The Returning Officer for constituencies within Shropshire, including an area within The Wrekin constituency, will make comments on the existing polling districts and polling places.
In addition, representations are invited from other relevant individuals such as electors within the existing North Shropshire, Shrewsbury, South Shropshire and Wrekin parliamentary constituencies, elected members, local political parties, MPs, and organisations that have expertise in relation to access to premises for people with different forms of disability.
How do I take part?
A consultation period will be advertised when a review is being carried out.
Further information
If you require further information about the review, please contact the Elections Officer at the Guildhall.
Email: elections@shropshire.gov.uk
Call: 0345 678 9015
The polling place review appeals process
Following the conclusion of the local authority’s review, certain persons have a right to make representations to the Electoral Commission. If, on receipt of such representations, the Electoral Commission find that a local authority’s review did not:
Meet the reasonable requirements of the electors in the constituency, or a body of them, or
Take sufficient account of the accessibility for disabled persons of a polling station/polling stations within a designed polling place
The Electoral Commission may then direct the authority to make any alternations to the polling places that we think necessary and, if the alterations are not made within two months, they may make the alterations themselves.
Further information on how to make an appeal can be found on the Electoral Commission's website.