Polling Arrangements
Review of polling districts and polling places/stations 2024
The Reason for the Review
The Reason for the Review Section 17 of the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 introduced a duty on local authorities to ‘carry out and complete’ reviews of polling districts and polling places. The next compulsory review must be completed by 31st January 2025.
To comply with this duty the review in the Caerphilly County Borough will be conducted between 9 February 2024 and 28 March 2024.
Under the Representation of the People Act 1983, the Electoral Administration Act 2006 and the Review of Polling District & Polling Places (Parliamentary Elections) Regulations 2006, Caerphilly County Borough Council has a duty to divide the district into polling districts and to designate a polling place for each polling district.
What Is A Polling District?
A polling district is a geographical area, and the legislation requires that each community must be a separate polling district. If the community is large, in order to provide easy access, it can be divided into smaller polling districts.
What Is a Polling Place?
A “polling place” is the geographical area, in which a polling station is located. There is no legal definition of what a polling place is. The geographical area could be defined as tightly as a particular building or as widely as the entire polling district. The Council has defined each polling district as the polling place rather than a particular building for practical purposes, but this policy will be reviewed in this review process. Polling places should be within the polling district unless it is not possible to find a suitable place in the area.
What Is a Polling Station?
A polling station is the actual area where the process of voting takes place, e.g. a room in a community centre or school.
How the Review Is Conducted
The review will take place between 9 February 2024 and 28 March 2024.
The Returning Officer will be consulted on the current arrangements and will make representations on the existing polling stations used. Her comments will be published as part of the review process.
County Borough Councillors, Community Councils, local political parties, residents and views from such persons who have particular expertise in relation to access to premises are invited to submit their representations.
What Is Not Covered by the Review
Neither the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies nor the boundaries and names of local authorities and electoral areas within Caerphilly will be part of the review.
The Role of the Electoral Commission
The Commission does not have a role in the review process itself. However, it can consider comments if people do not think the review has met the reasonable requirements of electors or taken sufficient account of the needs of disabled electors.
The following people can refer concerns to the Commission:
- a Community Council
- 30 or more registered electors
- any person who has made comments during the review
- any non-elector who has expertise in access to premises or facilities for disabled persons
As a result, the Commission may direct the local authority to alter polling places arising from the review and can make these alterations itself if the Council does not do so within two months.
Timetable for the Review
- Start of review / Notice - 9 February 2024
- Consultation - Initial Representations to be received by 29 February 2024
- Electoral Services and Returning Officers’ comments published 7 March 2024
- Publish outcome / Revised arrangements come into force 28 March 2024
Making Comments
Comments do not have to be restricted to alternative proposals; support for the current arrangements is also welcome. When making representations it would be helpful to the Council for you to provide as much relevant information as you can about your current polling place/station, including how convenient (or not) its location is in relation to where you live, whether there is adequate parking, what access is available for disabled and/or wheelchair users and how suitable overall it is for voting. Please also indicate whether there are any other suitable premises that could be used.
Comments should be made in writing to: Polling Review, Caerphilly County Borough Council, Bargoed House, 1 St Gwladys Way, Bargoed, CF81 8AB or by email to – electoralservices@caerphilly.gov.uk. A feedback form is also available for submission as part of this consultation pack or from the above address.