Notice of polling district and polling place review
We are carrying out a review of the polling districts and polling places in Wiltshire, as we are required to do by law.
The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 introduced a change to the timing of compulsory reviews of UK Parliamentary polling districts and polling places. The next compulsory review must now be started and completed between 1 October 2018 and 31 January 2020 (inclusive).
The purpose of the review is to ensure that all polling districts and polling places are, as far as possible, suitable and accessible to all voters.
Polling districts
The Council is responsible for dividing its area into polling districts for the purpose of UK Parliamentary elections. The arrangements made for the UK Parliamentary elections are also used at all other elections and referendums. Each parish, unless there are special circumstances, must be a separate polling district. When designating polling districts, we seek to ensure that all the electors have such reasonable facilities for voting as far as practicable.
Polling places
A polling place is the building, area or polling district in which polling stations will be selected by the (Acting) Returning Officer.
Polling stations
The polling station is the physical place in which polling takes place. The (Acting) Returning Officer decides on the location of the polling stations.
Steps for this review
We will give notice of the formal commencement of the review.
We will publish the comments from the (Acting) Returning Officer for each constituency within Wiltshire.
There will be a public consultation period commencing on the 12 July 2019 which will end on the 9 September 2019.
We will consider the representations received when we make the final recommendations.
The final recommendations will be considered by full council in the meeting on the 15 October 2019.
Timeline for the review
|
Date |
|
|
10 July |
Formal notice of the review |
|
11 July |
Publish (Acting) Returning Officer’s comments |
|
12 July |
Commencement of public consultation period |
|
9 September |
End of public consultation period |
|
Late September |
Draft proposals considered by the Electoral Review Committee |
|
15 October |
Final proposals considered at Full Council |
Existing Arrangements/Acting Returning Officer’s comments
Existing Arrangements and Acting Returning Officers Comments (will require zooming text)
The existing polling districts can be viewed in this map or at the following link (by selecting 'planning layer' and 'polling district' tabs)
Local Boundary Commission for England review of the electoral arrangements of Wiltshire Council
Where a polling district and polling place review is to be carried out before the new electoral ward boundaries are in force, the review will need to be based on the current electoral boundaries.
The 2019 Polling District and Polling Place review does not cover anticipated changes to the Unitary or Town/Parish boundaries.
Commenting on the review
If you are satisfied with the current arrangements, please let us know.
If you are not satisfied, we would welcome your comments and would be particularly interested to know if there are more suitable premises that we could use.
We are particularly interested to know if there are any specific issues in relation to access to our polling stations.
You can make comments via this Online Response Form until 9 September 2019
Alternatively, you can complete a hard copy and return to committee@wiltshire.gov.uk or Democratic Services, Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge BA14 8JN