Polling District and Polling Places Review 2025

Polling District and Polling Places Review 2025

Northumberland County Council has initiated a review of polling districts and polling places across the whole of the county. The objectives of this review are as follows:
 

  1. To seek to ensure that all electors have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable; and
  2. to seek to ensure that so far as is reasonable and practicable polling places are accessible to all electors, including those who are disabled; and
  3. have regard to the accessibility of disabled persons when considering the designation of polling place

 
A period of consultation with electors and key stakeholders (including elected representatives, political parties and disability groups) is taking place between the 11 September 2025 and 9 October 2025.
 
As part of this consultation, we are seeking input from individuals or organisations that have specific expertise in accessibility for people with different types of disabilities.  In particular:

  • the location of polling places: are they easy to get to from the road or street?
  • access for disabled people: ramp, dropped kerbs, internal barriers, lighting, voting facilities,
  • the proximity of the polling place to electors in the ward,
  • the size and layout of the room(s) currently used as polling station(s) within the polling place(s)
  • any suggestions for alternative, more suitable polling places or reasonable adjustments that might be made
  • any other issues

 
Ideally there would be a range of fully accessible buildings conveniently located in each polling district.  However, this is not always possible.  In those cases, reasonable adjustments must be made to provide access for electors.  This may result in polling places being in neighbouring districts. 
 
How to have your say
Proposed changes will be published on the Council’s website and will be available for inspection at:

  • County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF
  • Alnwick Contact Centre, Lindisfarne Road, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1AX
  • Berwick Contact Centre, Berwick Library, Walkergate, Berwick upon Tweed, TD15 1DB
  • Blyth Contact Centre, Blyth Library, 20 Bridge Street, Blyth Northumberland, NE24 2DJ
  • Cramlington Contact Centre, Manor Walks Shopping Centre, Cramlington, NE23 6YB
  • Hexham Contact Centre, Queens Hall, Beaumont Street, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 3LS

You can provide feedback as follows:
By Post - Elections Office, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF
By Email - pollingdistrictreview@northumberland.gov.uk
By Completing the Online survey - HERE

Please include reasons why you are suggesting a change, to either the polling district or polling station, and a possible alternative for consideration.
All representations must be made by no later than 9 October 2025.
The final proposals of the review will be considered by Council in November 2025.  The outcome of the review will be published and will be available for inspection on the Council's website and County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.
 
Anybody making representations should be aware that, upon completion of the review, all correspondence and representations received must, by law, also be published.
 
If you require any further information or wish to discuss any aspect of this letter, please contact 01670 624811 or email pollingdistrictreview@northumberland.gov.uk
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Electoral Services Team
County Hall, Morpeth