Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places/Stations 2023
View information on the current polling district review.
The Reason for the Review
Under the Representation of the People Act 1983, the Electoral Administration Act 2006 and the Review of Polling District & Polling Places (Parliamentary Elections) Regulations 2006, The City and County of Swansea has a duty to divide the district into polling districts and to designate a polling place for each polling district. It also has to keep these arrangements under review.
In order to comply with the above legislation The City and County of Swansea is required to complete a full review of all polling districts and polling places every five years. However this does not prevent changes being made at any time prior to the next review.
The arrangements made for United Kingdom Parliamentary elections are also used at all other elections and referenda.
What is a Polling District?
A polling district is a geographical area and the legislation requires that each community must be a separate polling district. If the community is large, and in order to provide easy access, the community can potentially be divided into smaller polling districts.
What is a Polling Place?
A 'polling place' is the geographical area, in which a polling station is located. There is no legal definition of what a polling place is. The geographical area could be defined as tightly as a particular building or as widely as the entire polling district.
The City & County of Swansea has defined each polling district as the polling place rather than a particular building for practical purposes.
What is a Polling Station?
A polling station is the actual area where the process of voting takes place, e.g. a room in a community centre or school.
How the Review is Conducted
The City and County of Swansea will publicise when the review is to take place.
The Returning Officer will be consulted on the current arrangements and will make representations on the existing polling stations used.
What is not covered by the Review
Neither the boundaries of parliamentary/Senedd constituencies nor the boundaries and name of the local authority or its electoral ward will be part of the review process.
Timetable for the Review
Start of Review and Returning Officers' comments published | 8 November 2023 |
Commencement of public consultation period | 8 November 2023 |
Representations to be received by | 20 December 2023 |
Final proposals considered by Full Council | 25 January 2024 |
Notice of Conclusion of Review | 26 January 2024 |
Revised arrangements come into force | 1 February 2024 |
Making Comments
Comments do not have to be restricted to alternative proposals; support for the current arrangements is also welcome.
When making representations it would be helpful to The City and County of Swansea for you to provide as much relevant information as you can about your current polling place/station, including how convenient (or not) its location is in relation to where you live, whether there is adequate parking, what access is available for disabled and/or wheelchair users and how suitable overall it is for voting.
Please also indicate whether there are any other suitable premises that could be used.
Comments should be made in writing to:
Electoral Services
City and County of Swansea
Guildhall
Swansea
SA1 4PE
Alternatively via email to elections@swansea.gov.uk or the online form no later than 20 December 2023