Review of polling districts and polling places

The Council is undertaking a review of polling districts and polling places. The review is being undertaken to ensure that polling arrangements remain suitable and convenient for voters.

The council is required to divide the area into polling districts, designate a polling place for each district, and periodically review these arrangements.

• A polling district is a sub-division of an electoral area (ward) into a smaller geographical unit comprising a number of streets/houses
• A polling place is a building or area in which polling stations will be designated by the Returning Officer
• A polling station is defined as the actual room or building where the poll is held

The duties of the Council are:

(a)  To ensure that all electors have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances, and;

(b)  To seek to ensure that so far as is reasonable and practicable, polling places are accessible to all electors including those who are disabled

In designating polling districts and polling places there are a range of practical issues that must be considered such as the availability of suitable venues. The review process will not consider changes to constituency or ward boundaries as these are beyond the scope of this review process.

The review is scheduled as follows:

• 4 July  –  Start of the consultation period
• 11 July – Publication of the Returning Officer’s representations
• 5pm, 15 August – Close of the consultation period
• 14 September  – Report to Governance and Audit and Standards Committee
• 11 October – Report to Full Council

The council is required to consult the Returning Officer as part of the review. Accordingly, the Returning Officer will examine the current polling arrangements and will make some proposals for amendments which will be published on this page by Monday 11 July.

The council would welcome any elector within the authority area or any other interested person or body to make a representation or comment on the current polling arrangements or on the proposals made by the Returning Officer.

Representations should be received by no later than 5pm on Monday 15 August to:

• Election Services, Civic Offices, Guildhall Square, Portsmouth, PO1 2QR
• or by email to elections@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

The council is required to make all submissions, relevant correspondence and decisions relating to the review process available for public inspection.

After the consultation period, final proposals for polling districts and polling places will be drafted taking into consideration all representations made. A report will then be submitted to the Governance and Audit and Standards Committee who will make recommendations to Full Council.

Any amendments to the polling arrangements that are approved will be in place at the City Council elections on 4 May 2023.