The Practicalities of Polling - Help Us Pick the Right Places to Vote

North Norfolk District Council is embarking on a review of its polling districts and places, to make sure voting is convenient for people and polling stations are up to scratch.

The review will look at whether communities are properly served by the places and facilities chosen for polling at election times, in a sparsely-populated rural area that sometimes poses challenges. For example, people in five North Norfolk communities currently have to cross into a neighbouring parish to vote, because there is no suitable building in their own parish - and in one of those five cases, the polling station is somebody's front room.

So the Review of Polling District and Polling Places will look at populations and facilities to see whether any improvements can, or should, be made and whether new locations have become available. The review is due to be finished before the publication of the new Register of Electors in December.

This is not a review of parish, ward or constituency boundaries. The Council did submit a review of parish boundaries to the Government last year, and this new exercise will look at the population distribution and available locations within those boundaries. The locations currently in use were decided during that boundary review, which started three years ago. Polling places will be reviewed again in 2011.

A consultation is now open and runs until 21 September, giving people a chance to suggest new places for polling stations, or comment on the suitability - and accessibility - of existing ones. To respond to the consultation, write to the Electoral Services Team, North Norfolk District Council, Holt Road, Cromer, Norfolk, NR27 9EN, or send an email to register@north-norfolk.gov.uk

These consultation responses will be made public as part of the final review report.

Martin Austin, the Council's elections consultant, said: "The review will make sure North Norfolk's polling stations are as convenient and accessible as possible, which includes looking at access for disabled people. We would like to hear from people who have had difficulties with particular locations in the past, so we can address the problems in those locations, or find different ones.

"We also have to look at whether the cost of creating something new is justified - and whether any alternatives exist."

ENDS