Interim review of polling districts and polling places 2025

1. Introduction/background

In terms of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (as amended), local authorities are required to designate polling places for the purposes of elections, to review those arrangements within the statutory review timescale and to keep their arrangements under review. The Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 further amended the Representation of the People Act 1983 by introducing a change to the timing of compulsory reviews of UK Parliamentary polling districts and polling places with compulsory reviews to be started and completed within the period of 16 months that starts on 1 October of every fifth year after 1 October 2013. 

The council completed its last statutory review in 2024. Interim reviews are not required under legislation however local authorities can conduct them at any time, and it is generally considered good practice to do so. In light of the Scottish parliamentary election in 2026 and to ensure our current polling scheme remains fit for purpose, we believe an interim review is required. 

2. Scope of the Review

The scope of this review is limited only to the Scottish parliamentary constituencies and regions. These are contained in the list of polling districts and polling places (known as the polling scheme). 

3. Definition of terms 

• Polling district – the geographical area created by the division of a constituency, ward or division into smaller parts within which a polling place can be determined which is convenient to electors 
• Polling place – the building or area in which polling stations are located
• Polling station – the room or area within the polling place where the poll takes place 
• Polling scheme – details the division of various electoral areas into polling districts and polling places allocated for voters in that particular area

4. Aim of the review

In conducting its reviews, the council must seek to ensure that: 

• all electors in the constituency have reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in circumstances; and 
• so far as is reasonably practicable all polling places should be accessible to all voters including those who are disabled and when considering the designation of a polling place the council must have regard to the needs of persons with disabilities

In practical terms the intention is to ensure the optimal facilities for voting in terms of location, accessibility and capacity of available buildings, to support turnout in electoral events and to support the public’s participation in the democratic process

Timetable for review

There is no prescribed length for the review process, and the following timetable has been approved for the polling scheme review, which has been informed by Electoral Commission guidance on conducting reviews. This timetable is, however, subject to change where required. The timetable is as follows:- 

5. Assessing the suitability of polling district boundaries

The following factors are considered as part of the review of existing polling districts and when assessing potential alternative polling districts:- 

• Are the boundaries well-defined? For example, do they follow the natural boundaries of the area? If not, is it clear which properties belong in the polling district? 
• Are there suitable transport links within the polling district, and how do they relate to the areas of the polling district that are most highly populated? Are there any obstacles to voters crossing the current polling district and reaching the polling place - steep hills, major roads, railway lines, rivers?

6. Assessing the suitability and accessibility of polling places

After each electoral event, it is the Returning Officer’s normal practice to informally review electoral event arrangements by considering the following:- 

• Feedback from stakeholders – feedback received from voters, polling staff, candidates, agents and other stakeholders on their experience of the arrangements in place at the last electoral event 
• Survey of all polling places – a survey is conducted by a Polling Place Inspector in advance of and on polling day for each of the polling places in South Lanarkshire

• Location: is it reasonably accessible within the polling district? Does it avoid barriers for the voter such as steep hills, major roads, rivers and the like? Are there any convenient transport links? 
• Size: can it accommodate more than one polling station if required? If multiple polling stations are required, is the polling place capable of accommodating all voters going into and out of the polling stations, even where there is a high turnout?- Is the size sufficient to provide necessary private areas or privacy screens for photographic identification checks? 
• Availability: is the building readily available in the event of any unscheduled electoral events? Is there any possibility that the building may be demolished as part of a new development?  
• Accessibility: is the building accessible to all those entitled to attend the polling place? Is there adequate parking for electors and staff? Once inside the building, would the polling station have sufficient space inside to comfortably accommodate staff, voters, polling agents and observers?

7. Polling scheme information

The polling scheme sets out the current designation of polling districts and polling places 

The polling scheme clearly details the Scottish parliamentary constituencies and Scottish parliamentary regions  

The current polling scheme is made up of 149 polling places which are made up of the following:- 

• 122 South Lanarkshire Council or South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture premises (including those managed by community groups) 
• 27 Private premises 

8. Additional useful polling information

Whilst this consultation focuses on feedback on polling districts and polling places, the review itself encourages accessibility at all levels and, in this respect, you may be interested to note that, as long as you are registered to vote, there are three ways you may cast your vote:-

• At the polling station – you can go along in person to your polling station and cast your vote. The polling staff on duty will assist you, if required. 
• Vote by post – where you are unable to go to the polling station, you may apply for a postal vote 
• Vote by proxy (appoint someone to vote on your behalf) – where you are unable to go to the polling station, you may apply to appoint a proxy. The proxy will go to the polling station to vote on your behalf (or the proxy may choose to cast the proxy vote by post)

If you would like to register to vote or apply for a postal vote or proxy vote then you should contact the Electoral Registration Officer, Lanarkshire Valuation Joint Board, David Dale House, 45 John Street, Blantyre G72 0AA, phone 0800 030 4333, email ero@lanarkshire-vjb.gov.uk or website: www.lanarkshire-vjb.gov.uk.

If you would like to know more about registering, postal or proxy voting, you can watch the council’s films on registering to vote, postal and proxy voting and at the polling station on our registering and voting page.

9. Consultation on the review

As noted above, the council is undertaking a consultation to seek representations and comments on the existing arrangements for polling districts and polling places. There are two elements to this :- 

• a compulsory submission from the Returning Officer of the Scottish parliamentary constituency or constituencies, which must then be published by the local authority.

Submissions being sought from:- 

• electors in the South Lanarkshire area 
• elected representatives (MPs, MSPs and Councillors) 
• groups representing those with disabilities 
• Police Scotland 
• Scottish Fire and Rescue Service  
• Returning Officer in a constituency which is wholly or partly in another local authority area 
• private premises and community-managed facilities used as polling places in the UK parliamentary general election in July 2024 
• Community Councils in South Lanarkshire 
• Electoral Registration Officer

If you consider a change should be made, you are invited to suggest alternative polling districts/polling places and are encouraged to give a reason for the alternative proposal so that it may be given appropriate consideration. Your representations must be received by the close of business on Friday 31 October 2025.

After considering all of the representations, the council must decide on the most appropriate polling districts and polling places. Details of the revised polling scheme, including any proposed changes, will be considered by Council on 10 December 2024, and made available on the council’s website in advance. The Returning Officer’s formal response to the Review will also be published on the council’s website, likely by the end of November 2025. 

10. Publication and inspection of information

Notice of Review

The Notice of holding the Review has been published.

The following documents are also available:-

• List of current polling districts and polling places (polling scheme) 
• Maps containing each of the polling districts in South Lanarkshire
• at the Council Offices, Almada Street, Hamilton (and local Council Offices and Libraries) 
• in the local press (Carluke and Lanark Gazette, Hamilton Advertiser, Rutherglen Reformer, East Kilbride News) 

Comments received on draft proposals and the Returning Officer’s representations

• all correspondence sent to a Returning Officer in connection with the Review 
• all correspondence sent to any person whom South Lanarkshire Council considers to have particular expertise in relation to access to premises or facilities for persons who have different forms of disability 
• all representations made by any person in connection with the Review 
• the minutes of any meeting held by the council to consider any revision to the designation of polling districts or polling places within its area as a result of the Review 
• details of the designation of polling districts and polling places within the South Lanarkshire area as a result of the Review 
• details of the places where the results of the Review have been published

Electoral register

The Electoral Register will incorporate the changes agreed as a result of the Review and be published as soon as reasonably practicable following completion of the Review. 

11. Contact information

If you would like more information or clarification on any of the information in this document, please do not hesitate to contact the Election Office:-

• by email to elections@southlanarkshire.gov.uk 
• by phone to 01698 454872 
• by post to Election Office, South Lanarkshire Council, Election Office, 21 Beckford Street, Hamilton ML3 0BT  
• In person – by arranging an appointment at the Election Office. Appointments should be requested by email or phone and will take place between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday.

I would remind you that representations should be made no later than Friday 31 October 2025

Paul Manning
Chief Executive
Dated: 10 October 2025