Representations received during the consultation period were considered alongside the (Acting) Returning Officer's comments and other factors and issues, identified below, and a report, setting out the final proposals, was considered and approved by Full Council at its meeting on 14 December 2023, with the minutes of the meeting now available.
Maps for the following new polling districts are also available:
Under the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013, all local authorities are required to complete a formal review of their parliamentary polling districts and polling places at least every five years. The last review in Dorset Council took place in 2019. You can view the report considered by the council at its meeting on 21 November 2019 and the minutes of the meeting.
In Dorset, polling places are also considered annually following an election and in response to feedback and comments received from polling station staff, councillors and electors. We have also recently undertaken a council-wide Community Governance Review which has led to changes to some of the boundaries and therefore may change where electors will cast their vote.
The next formal review of polling districts and polling places will take place between October and December this year. You can view the notice of review of polling districts and polling places and polling stations.
| Notice of start of review | 3 October 2023 |
| Start of consultation period and publication of (Acting) Returning Officer's comments | 3 October 2023 |
| End of consultation period | 13 November 2023 |
| Considerations undertaken | 14 November to 27 November 2023 |
| Report to council meeting | 14 December 2023 |
| Arrangements come into force (and publication of revised register) | 1 February 2024 |
What we mean by "polling district", "polling place" and "polling station":
Consideration has to be given to various factors when deciding where to locate a polling station.
Where practicable, polling district boundaries should be well defined, for example railway lines, roads, rivers.
Also, each polling place should be located within the relevant polling district and any building should be accessible to all voters, including those with disabilities.
We also aim, where possible, to minimise any disruption from elections within the community. For example, we try not to use schools to avoid any detrimental impact on children’s education. Where schools are used, it is a decision of the head-teacher whether the premises remains open or closes. Where a decision is taken to remain open, we endeavour to work with the school to minimise the impact on children’s safety.
However, we also have to balance this with the need to ensure that all electors are able to cast their vote at an election as easily as possible.
Thought must be given, for example, to the distance people have to travel to vote and any barriers to them getting there, such as major roads; whether the building has good access for wheelchair users or pushchairs; and whether it has parking spaces.
There are a large number of considerations and any final decision we make has to be a balance between all these factors.
As part of the Review, the (Acting) Returning Officer for the Parliamentary Constituencies of North Dorset, South Dorset and West Dorset has considered the current arrangements for polling districts, polling places and polling stations within the Dorset Council area. His comments, which take into account feedback and comments received from polling station staff, councillors and electors following the most recent elections, and the outcome of the recent council-wide Community Governance Review, can be viewed using the links below, together with accompanying maps for some areas.
View a map of the polling districts in the Dorset Council area.
Polling stations are ordered under the council ward in which they are located:
We asked various people, organisations and groups for their views on polling districts and polling places within the Dorset Council area during the consultation period, which ran from 3 October to 13 November 2023.
Electors within the Dorset Council area, or the Parliamentary Constituencies of Christchurch (Dorset Council part), Mid Dorset and North Poole (Dorset Council part), North Dorset, South Dorset and West Dorset, were also able to make a representation.
The Council welcomed the views of all residents, particularly disabled residents, or any person or body with expertise in access for persons with any type of disability, on the proposals, the (Acting) Returning Officer's representation, or any other related matters.
The (Acting) Returning Officer (ARO) for the Parliamentary Constituencies of Christchurch and Mid Dorset and North Poole was also consulted for the areas which come under Dorset Council.
Following the end of the consultation period on 13 November 2023, all representations received will be considered alongside the (Acting) Returning Officer's comments and other factors and issues, including those identified above. A report will then be prepared, setting out the final proposals for consideration by Full Council at its meeting on 14 December 2023. The new arrangements will come into force, and publication of the revised electoral register will take place on 1 February 2024.
Any comments / representations received will be published on this page at the conclusion of this review.
If you are unable to access or view any of the documents on this page, please contact Electoral Services on 01305 838299 or by email at elections@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
