Review of polling places and districts
A new law (Section 16 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006) has made some changes to the Representation of the People Act 1983. This means that there are changes to the way that we have to review polling districts and polling places. The review is about the places where people go to vote and the districts within a ward but not about the ward boundaries themselves.
Contact Details:
Address: Electoral registration office
North Block Basement,
Civic Centre,
Southampton
Postcode: SO14 7LY
Telephone: 023 8083 2245
Email: elections@southampton.gov.uk
Fax: 023 8033 0696
Details of service:
Because of these changes we have to review our polling places and districts by the end of 2007. We then have to carry out further reviews every 4 years. So that we can publish the new list of polling places at the same time as the revised register (on December 1 each year), we want to present our final proposals to full council at their meeting on November 21, 2007.
When we became a ‘unitary’ authority in 1999 we carried out a full review of the polling places and polling districts. Every year we review them again as part of our preparation for the local elections. If we have had reports of problems, we investigate to see if more appropriate locations can be found.
When we carry out a review the law says we must:
a) seek to ensure that all the electors in the constituency have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances;
b) seek to ensure that so far as is reasonable and practicable, the polling places they are responsible for are accessible to all electors, including those who are disabled, and when considering the designation of a polling place, must have regard to the accessibility needs of disabled persons.
In addition, when undertaking a review of polling places, Southampton City Council always seeks to reduce any impact on the residents of the city where it can. For example, schools are used as a last resort to avoid any unnecessary impact on the education of children. Local community centres which may be used for counselling and guidance are also avoided where possible. The use of portacabins has been reduced to avoid the disturbance caused to residence through the use of temporary generators due to excessive noise etc.
How to get more information:
The office is open: Monday - Thursday; 0830 - 1700, Friday; 0830 -1630
Last updated: 21 April 2008
