Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places

Stroud District Council has been conducting a review of polling districts and polling places according to Section 18 of the Representation of the People Act 1983.

This is a statutory requirement for 2007 and will continue to be carried out at least every 4 years afterwards.

The purpose of this review has been to invite electors and any other persons interested to make any comment or representation on any aspect of polling districts and/or polling places currently used. Views were also invited from such persons who have expertise in relation to access to premises for facilities for persons who have different forms of disability.

Councillors, local political parties, residents and town and parish Councils could also submit representations.

Definition

A Polling District is a geographical sub-division of an electoral area, for example a Parliamentary Constituency.

A Polling Place is the area in which a polling station is located which could include a particular building or could be the entire polling district.

A Polling Station is the actual area where the process of voting takes place and must be located within the polling place designated for the particular polling district.

This review will not affect ward boundaries. Each parish in England must be in a separate polling district.

Whilst conducting the review the Council:

Sought to ensure that all electors in the constituency have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances
Sought to ensure that, so far as is reasonable and practicable, the polling places the Council is responsible for are accessible to all electors, including those who are disabled, and when considering the designation of a polling place, have regard to the accessibility needs of disabled persons.

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