Notice of review of polling districts and polling places

About the review

In accordance with the requirements of Section 18C(1) of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (as amended) and Section 17 of the Electoral Administration Act 2013 notice is hereby given that Westminster City Council is carrying out a review of polling districts and polling places within Westminster City Council that are used at Parliamentary elections.

The (Acting) Returning Officer will submit proposals for polling districts and polling place venues for the 18 Westminster wards.

Any person or organisation may make representation.

Representations will be sought from any person or organisation with expertise in relation to access to premises or facilities for people who have different forms of disability.

Any registered elector within the electoral area may make representation on their proposed polling district or on the location and suitability of their polling place and, where appropriate, include alternative venue suggestions.

This may be done by:

• writing to Electoral Services, 14th Floor Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP
• emailing [email protected]

All items will be published when the review has been completed.

Guidelines

The following considerations have been considered when drawing up the proposals. Comments made during the consultation should keep these in mind.

Local authorities must comply with the following legislative requirements regarding the designation of polling districts and polling places:

• We must designate a polling place for each polling district, unless the size or other circumstances of a polling district are such that the situation of the polling stations does not materially affect the convenience of the electors.
• The polling place must be an area in the district, unless special circumstances make it desirable to designate an area wholly or partly outside the district (for example, if no accessible polling place can be identified in the district).
• The polling place must be small enough to indicate to electors in different parts of the district how they will be able to reach the polling station.
• Seek to ensure that all electors in a constituency in its area have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances.
• Seek to ensure that so far as is reasonable and practicable every polling place for which it is responsible is accessible to electors who are disabled.
• Have regard to the accessibility to disabled persons of potential polling stations in any place which it is considering designating as a polling place or the designation of which as a polling place it is reviewing.

 Other factors to be considered at this review will  include:

• Seeking to reduce the disruption to schools and nurseries caused by closures
• Seeking to ensure that the polling places meet the needs  of  polling station staff in the performance of their duties
• Seeking to minimise disruption and confusion for voters

Document

Notice of review of polling districts and polling places, 2024 PDF, 105.44 KB, 2 pages