Polling stations - use of schools as
Last updated: 13 February 2008
Under current legislation, Returning Officers (ROs) have the right to select schools as venues for polling stations. If there is an area which can be used, with a separate entrance and isolated from the rest of the school, the school can continue to operate. If not, the school must close on the day of the poll.
Schools which need to close as a result of being used as polling stations can move to alternative accommodation or make up the lost day by other means. The lost day could be made up at the beginning or end of a term, or a training day could be arranged on the day of the poll, if the head teacher or governors so wish.
There are currently no plans to change or amend this legislation, which is found in:
- The Representation of the People Act, 1983, Chapter 2, Schedule 1, Part III, paragraph 22
This paragraph effectively renders all mainstream schools liable for use by the RO of the local authority irrespective of how they were procured. This includes:
- Academies
- City Technology Colleges
- Community schools
- Foundation schools
- LA Nursery schools
- Voluntary Aided schools
- Voluntary Controlled schools
Further information on elections is available on the Ministry of Justice website and the Electoral Commission website.
The use of a premise as a polling station is not restricted to use between the stipulated hours on the polling day. Some ROs like to distribute the polling paraphernalia such as tables, screens, booths and ballot boxes a day or so before the event and collect them a day or so later. These items will require secure storage facilities, away from any risk of tampering.
The Presiding Officers (POs) will also need prior access in order to set up the polling stations and will need time to dismantle and pack away the equipment. The polling stations are generally set up on polling day by staff appointed by the RO. They will require access to the building for a period of time before and after close of poll. From the summer of 2006 the polling hours will be 7am to 10 pm for all elections.
Other legislation requires that wherever people are employed, they should have access to toilets, wash room facilities and drinking water as well as a minimum level of heat.
Legislation at present progressing through Parliament; The Electoral Administration Bill; will impose a duty on ROs to review their choice of polling stations at least every four years, but they may also do so more frequently. Consultation is an imperative and would be a good opportunity to discuss a school's unique problems about its use as a polling station with the RO or representative. The use of a school as a polling station is not commandeering or requisitioning, but a duty by funded schools to provide the facilities required if asked so to do.
In their deliberations, ROs also need to make allowances and provision for emergencies such as fire or flood damage or building works interfering with the safe use of the premises as a polling station.
Chief Presiding Officers (CPOs), who are appointed by the RO, manage the election process in your schools on polling days. CPOs should visit the site before an election to ensure there are no practical problems and to familiarise themselves with the premises.
