Polling District and Polling Place Review 2025
All representations must be made by no later than Friday 21 November.
Under the Representation of the People Act 1983, we have a duty to review the polling districts and polling places.
The last review was completed in 2018, with a light touch review being completed in November 2023, when no changes were proposed. The new review will commence on 13 October 2025.
Explanation of terms used in the review
Below are the key terminology used:
- Polling district is the geographical area created by sub-dividing a ward into smaller parts.
- Polling place is an area in which polling stations will be located by the Returning Officer.
- Polling station is the building or room within the polling place where voting takes place.
Background
For voting purposes, each parliamentary constituency and every local government ward is divided into one or more polling districts. Wherever possible, the polling districts for local government elections mirror those agreed for parliamentary elections.
Braintree has 26 wards divided into polling districts, which vary in size and population.
You can view our polling station interactive map for existing electoral boundaries and polling places.
When deciding which buildings to use as polling stations, the Council must make sure that they are located as conveniently as possible for the majority of electors and are accessible.
The Review
View the formal notice of review.
The Council has reviewed the polling stations used in the delivery of the elections in 2024 and has identified 5 polling stations that it would like to make changes to. These are set out below:
| Polling District | Current Polling Station | Proposed Polling Station |
|---|---|---|
| AN | STEM Innovation Centre (portacabin) | Polly Fields Village |
| AL | Bocking Village Hall | Polly Fields Village |
| AY(1) and AZ(2) | Notley High School (portacabin) | Christchurch Health Centre |
| AY(2) | Marshalls Park (portacabin) | The Chapel |
| DG | The Tythings (portacabin) | The Three Pigeons |
| AQ(1) and CH | Templars Academy | Rickstones Church |
Whilst these are the only changes being proposed, the consultation is on polling places within the whole of the district, and therefore it is possible, as part of the consultation, to comment on any of the polling stations used within the district.
View the proposed changes to polling places.
The Council is consulting with electors within the Braintree District Council area and those within the Parliamentary constituencies within the Braintree district.
The Council is inviting comments from all electors regarding:
- the convenience of voting at polling stations currently used for elections.
- accessibility of its Polling Stations;
- comments on the proposed changes;
- and welcome suggestions for any possible alternative Polling Stations located within the district.
The aim of the review is to ensure that:
- Electors in each ward have reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances.
- As far as reasonable and practicable, the polling places are accessible to all electors, including those who are disabled, and when considering the designation of a polling place, must have regard to the accessibility needs of disabled persons.
Consultation Responses
Comments and representations may be submitted as follows:
By email to the Elections team
Or by post:
Electoral Services,
Braintree Council,
Causeway House,
Braintree,
CM7 9HB
Outcome of the Review
The outcome of the review will be published here after 8 December 2025.
