A consultation has opened inviting residents, councillors, local MP’s and community groups within the Braintree district to share feedback on the location and suitability of their polling station.
The intention is to ensure that everyone has the most appropriate facilities to vote at elections and referendums, and that polling places are accessible to all electors.
Polling stations are rooms or buildings within a polling place where voting is carried out and they should be within easy reach of electors from across the polling district. Polling districts are designated areas within wards that determine which polling station voters are assigned to.
The consultation, which is now open and will close on Friday 21 November, seeks views on all 90 polling places within the polling district and suggests proposals for specific alternative polling places:
- STEM Innovation Centre at Church Lane, Braintree portacabin and Bocking Village Hall could be replaced by using Pollys Field Village
- Notley High School and Braintree Sixth Form portacabin could be replaced by using Christchurch Health centre
- Marshalls Park, Braintree portacabin could be replaced by using the Chapel at Braintree Cemetery
- The Tythings, Halstead portacabin could be replaced by using the Three Pigeons, Mount Hill
- Templars Academy school could be replaced by using Rickstones Church.
A report on the consultation feedback given will be considered at the meeting of Full Council in December. The list of approved polling places and stations will then be published in January 2026 and elections held on Thursday 7 May 2026 will be run on the new arrangements.
Dan Gascoyne, Braintree District Council’s Returning Officer, said: “It is important that our polling stations are suitable to meet the needs of our residents. We want them to be as accessible as possible to allow everyone wishing to cast a vote during any election to do so. With elections scheduled for next year we want to ensure we have the most appropriate polling stations in place. I would urge residents to have a look at the proposals and take part in this consultation.”
More information about the proposals and the survey can be found on the council’s website at www.braintree.gov.uk/pollingplacereview.
Residents can submit comments by emailing elections@braintree.gov.uk or by post to: Electoral Services, Braintree District Council, Causeway House, Braintree CM7 9HB.