In this area you will find:
- information about electoral reviews and the review process
- details about types of electoral review such as electoral reviews of new unitary authorities, further electoral reviews and periodic electoral reviews
- guidance to support people having an electoral review in their area
- guidance for those who have been asked to carry out a five year forecast
The objective of an electoral review is to ensure that, within each local authority area, the number of electors represented by each councillor is approximately the same. Electoral reviews can be necessary because of changes in the electorate within local authority areas.
When making our recommendations we also take into account community identity, convenient and effective local governance and the electoral cycle (i.e. how regularly elections occur) of the authority under review.
We may recommend a change in the number of councillors to be elected in an area and a change in the number of wards or divisions and their boundaries. When reviewing these areas we can also consider the electoral arrangements of town and parish councils.
The review process
Each review will follow a four-stage process, culminating in the publication of final recommendations from the Boundary Committee to the Electoral Commission.
| Stage | Details | Length |
| 1 | Consultation stage on electoral arrangements we encourage everyone to write to us and tell us what they think, using good argument and evidence rather than assertion | Typically 12 weeks |
| 2 | Our deliberation based on submissions received and preparation of draft recommendations | Typically 10-14 weeks |
| 3 | Publication of draft recommendations and consultation on them please write to us and comment on our draft recommendations, either in support or opposition, and give reasoned arguments and evidence to back up your comments | Typically 12 weeks |
| 4 | Our deliberation based on the comments on our draft recommendations, formulation and publication of final recommendations | Typically 10-14 weeks |
Types of electoral review
Electoral reviews of new unitary authorities
Currently, we are conducting electoral reviews of the new Northumberland unitary authority, the new County Durham unitary authority, the new Cheshire East unitary authority and the new Cheshire West & Chester unitary authority. In June, we will launch electoral reviews of the new unitary authorities in Bedford and Central Bedfordshire. Last year (February 2008), we started an electoral review of the new unitary authority in Cornwall. These reviews will consider the electoral arrangements for these new unitary authorities. As part of these reviews we will be considering the number of councillors to be elected to the new unitary authority, and the specific warding pattern. These reviews are conducted under the direction of the Electoral Commission.
Electoral reviews of single member wards
In June, we are launching a single member ward review of Mansfield. This review will take place under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and under direction from the Electoral Commission.
Further electoral reviews (FERs)
Later this year, we will be conducting FERs in the following areas: Northampton, South Derbyshire, W Somerset and Sedgemoor. These reviews will take place under direction from the Electoral Commission.
Periodic electoral reviews (PERs)
Periodic electoral reviews were conducted between 1996 and 2004. These were reviews of every authority in England. All legislation implementing the changes we recommended has now been made.
Our report on the year 2004-5 (PDF) and Appendix A of our report on the years 2004-5 (PDF) summarise the last of these reviews in comparison with previous years. This report also summarises the findings from the annual survey of stakeholders, again in comparison with previous years.
Guidance for electoral reviews
We have produced two different documents to support people where there is an electoral review being conducted in their area.
- Electoral reviews: what they are and how you can get involved (PDF) provides straightforward information for members of the public who want to get involved in the review.
- Electoral reviews: technical guidance (PDF) contains more detailed guidance on the review process and includes details of the legislation that reviews are conducted under.
Electoral reviews
We use the electoral register to establish the electorate of particular areas, and ask local authorities to complete pro-formas with this information.
- Pro-forma one - existing electoral arrangements (district reviews) (PDF)
- Pro-forma two - parishing arrangements (all reveiws) (PDF)
- Pro-forma three - proposed electoral arrangement (district reviews) (PDF)
- Pro-forma four - existing county electoral division (county reviews - including new unitary authorities) (PDF)
- Pro-forma five - electorates of new district ward (county reviews - including new unitary authorities) (PDF)
- Pro-forma six - proposed county electoral division (county reviews - including new unitary authorities) (PDF)
Five-year forecasts of electorate
As part of the review process local authorities are asked to make five-year forecasts of their electorate. Dr Ludi Simpson of the University of Manchester offers the following advice on making electorate forecasts (PDF) (from Making local population statistics: a guide to practitioners).
