Polling Places are the places that you go to cast your vote on Polling Day, please see links below for more information.
Last Statutory Review of Polling Places - Completed Dec 2007, see here for reports and further information
What is a Polling Place?
A polling place is a the particular building where people go to cast their vote(s) during elections. This may be a local school,
hall, leisure/community centre or even a pub!
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What is a Polling Station?
A Polling station is located within a Polling Place. There may be more than one Polling Station in a Polling Place. In Moray
the maximum number of polling stations found in a Polling Place is three. Each Polling Station has a Presiding Officer and
a Polling Clerk, who issue ballot papers to a pre-allocated number of voters living at defined addresses in that area. When
you go to a Polling Place with more than one station there will be a street list displayed which tells you based on your address
which station to go to collect your ballot paper. It is important that you return your ballot paper to the same station ballot
box.
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Can I go to any Polling Place to vote?
No, Voters live within polling districts which are a sub-division of an electoral area, i.e. a UK Parliamentary constituency, a European Parliamentary
electoral region, or a ward. The Polling District in which you reside determines the Polling Station that you are assigned
to and therefore are required to vote at. See also who decides about Polling Districts below.
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How do I know which Polling Place to vote at?
The Polling Place at which you are required to vote at is published on a public notice called the "Situation of Polling Places"
prior to an election and is also printed on a pollard which is sent to your address prior to the election. Please see Public Notices section for more information.
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What are the current Polling Places for Moray?
There are currently around 59 Polling Places located across Moray listed here (45kb, PDF). Polling Places are reviewed regularly and may change at the Returning Officer's diescretion. Any changes will be advertised, your polling place is also printed
on your poll card which you will recieved prior to the election if you are eligible to vote.
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Who decides the Polling District boundaries?
Polling districts are reviewed by the Local Authority and the Electoral Registration Officer, often when there is a change
in the Local Government Ward Boundaries or Constituency boundaries. The Polling district you live in determines the Polling
Place you live in. The last change to Polling districts was implemented in late 2006 with the May 2007 introduction of multi
member local government wards.
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Who decides which places are Polling Places?
The Returning Officer decides on which places are designated as Polling Places. This is reviewed every four years to assess
the suitability of the facility for the voter. We consider issues such as access and location, making sure that they as far
as practicable and reasonable they are accessible to all voters. The Polling Place at which you vote must ideally be within
the Polling District that you reside. Other factors are considered in designating a polling place such as the number of electorate,
geographic location, ownership and maintenance, future population changes, facilities, parking and transport.
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Who are the staff at Polling Stations?
At each Polling Station there will be a Presiding Officer and a Polling Clerk who issue ballot papers and check the eligibility
of voters when they come to the station against lists that they have been issued, they are responsible for the Polling station,
it's running and also for ensuring the ballot box is transported the count. Sometimes there may also be an Information Officer,
for a local government election who answers any questions that voters might have about completing their ballot paper, such
as for Single Transferable Vote. All staff are appointed by the Local Authority and trained in advance of taking up their
post.
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What if I am unable to get to my Polling Place on Polling day?
If you are unable to attend your polling place to vote for whatever reason, you may be enititled to vote by post or to vote by proxy (someone you trust to vote on your behalf). To do this you must register with the Electoral Regsitration Officer. Please
click on the link below for more details.
See the Postal and Proxy voting section
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