Reviews of polling districts, polling places and polling stations

The following should be considered as part of the assessment of the suitability of polling district boundaries:

• Are the boundaries well-defined? For example, do they follow the natural boundaries of the area? If not, is it clear which properties belong in the polling district?
• Are there suitable transport links within the polling district, and how do they relate to the areas of the polling district that are most highly populated? 
• Are there any obstacles to voters crossing the current polling district and reaching the polling place e.g., steep hills, major roads, railway lines, rivers?

There are a number of factors that will need to be considered when reviewing existing polling places or when assessing new polling places, including:

Ideally, there would be the choice of a range of fully accessible buildings, conveniently located for electors in the area within which to establish polling stations. 

In practice, however, the choice of polling places will often be a balance between the quality of a building (access, facilities, etc.) and the proximity of the building to the electors. When making a decision, all factors will need to be considered and the authority will need to be able to demonstrate their reasoning behind the decision.

Where, because of local circumstances, a polling place has been selected that is not fully accessible, then reasonable adjustments must be undertaken to provide access for all electors. Alternatively, the local authority should consider whether it would be appropriate to designate a polling place that falls outside the polling district.

Part of the decision-making process involves assessing if the polling place is capable of accommodating more than one polling station together with the necessary staff and equipment, particularly in circumstances where the number of electors allocated to a polling place is high. 

The number of electors allocated to a particular polling station should not exceed 2,250.

In instances where there may be a higher turnout, such as at a UK Parliamentary election, (A)RO may wish to set up multiple polling stations within the polling place. Consideration will need to be given to whether the size and layout of the area or building can accommodate such arrangements.

When assessing the suitability of a room or area for use as a polling station, the (A)RO should consider how the size and layout would allow for the most effective throughput of voters taking into consideration the length of time it may take to check voters’ photographic ID whilst ensuring the flow of voters and reducing the risk of congestion and queues. Those instances where there is a high number of electors in the polling station at any one time on polling day should also be considered. 

Each polling station should be designed to provide suitable conditions:

• for the elector to show their photographic identification in private if requested as well as vote in private 
• for staff to conduct elections in an efficient and effective manner and
• for those entitled to observe the voting process to do so without compromising the secrecy of the ballot 

It should be noted that for the purpose of taking the poll in England and Wales, the (A)RO is entitled to use, free of charge, schools maintained or assisted by a local authority as well as those schools that receive grants made out of moneys provided by Parliament. 

This includes academies and free schools.

In Scotland, the rooms in schools that can be used free of charge for the taking of the poll are those in schools that are not independent schools within the meaning of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980.