Polling District Review 2024

Each polling district has a polling place, also known as polling station. This is where everyone registered to vote in person in that area goes to cast their vote during elections.

Every five years, we have to review the polling station. This is to make sure that we can meet electors’ needs, the location is accessible, and that the venues can accommodate the size of the electorate.

We completed a full review in late 2023 and the Governance Committee agreed the outcome at their meeting on 17 January 2024.

The primary focus of this review is to amend existing polling district boundaries to reflect boundary changes set by the Local Government Boundary Commission following their recent Essex County Council boundary review. However, the review is not limited to these matters and we will consider other issues, where appropriate.

We are responsible for ensuring that polling places are accessible and practical for everyone in the area. Our priority is to ensure that we provide a good voting experience.

Legislation sets out the key requirements, which are that:

  • each parish is to be a separate polling district, unless special circumstances apply
  • the council must designate a polling place for each polling district
  • the polling place must be within the polling district, unless special circumstances apply (for example, if no accessible polling place can be identified in the district)

As a thorough review was conducted in 2023-24, the Acting Returning Officers recommended changes only relate to the boundary changes introduced by the Essex County Council boundary review. You can view a map of the new boundaries.

Rivermead Industrial Estate

  • Proposal A: realign the boundary of The Avenue so that the area of Rivermead Estate that currently falls within The Avenues also moves to Rectory Lane
  • Proposal B: realign the boundary of Springfield Chelmer Polling District, so that the area of Rivermead Estate that currently falls within Springfield Chelmer moves to Rectory Lane polling district

Belsteads polling district

  • Proposal C: divide the Belsteads polling district along the new county division line (following Channels Drive) to create a North Belsteads and a South Belsteads polling district

All of the changes are needed to ensure that the polling district boundaries align with the new County Council boundaries, due to come into effect at the next scheduled County Council elections on 1 May 2025.

Polling district: A geographical area created by sub-dividing other electoral boundaries for the purpose of administering elections.

Polling Place: A building or area that hosts a polling station for voting.

Polling Station: The room or area within the polling place where voting takes place.

Returning Officer: The officer responsible for administering elections within the local authority area.

  • Start of review and public consultation period (notice of review): Thursday 5 December 2024
  • Publication of Acting Returning Officers initial recommendations: Thursday 5 December 2024
  • End of public consultation: Monday 6 January 2025
  • Final recommendations considered by governance committee: Wednesday 15 January 2025
  • Implementation of changes to the electoral register: Saturday 1 February 2025

 

Respond to the consultation online

Alternatively, you can respond by post

Electoral Services
Civic Centre
Duke Street
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 1JE

The consultation closes on Monday 6 January 2025.

We will publish all responses as part of the review, but we will redact any personal identifiers.

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