Parish polls provide an opportunity for local electors to express an opinion on a specific local subject, either by giving an answer to a question or questions, or an appointment to any office.
A parish poll can only be demanded at a parish meeting, not a meeting of parish councillors.
At the parish meeting either ten electors or one third of electors present and voting, whichever is less, may demand a poll on a question/questions or the appointment to an office.
The actual request for a poll cannot be subject to a vote at the meeting. However, if a poll is demanded on a question, the wording of the question can be voted on. Once a parish meeting has agreed on the wording of a question it cannot be changed.
The question(s) must be in relation to something which constitutes a ‘parish affair’ and must be capable of being answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
The chairman of the meeting must notify the returning officer to give notice of poll at elections@n-kesteven.gov.uk or to North Kesteven District Council, Council Offices, Sleaford NG34 7EF.
Key features of a parish poll:
- The result is not legally binding on the parish or town council.
- There is no provision in the regulations for poll cards to be issued.
- Only local government electors can vote at parish meetings and the poll.
- A Notice of Poll will be published in the parish not less than five working days before the poll. The notice of poll will include the date, time and place of the poll, a description of the electors who can vote and the particulars of the question(s), with the name and address of the proposer of the question(s).
- Voting is only in person at the designated polling station(s) and you cannot vote by post or proxy.
- Voting takes place from 4pm to 9pm on the day fixed by the Returning Officer, which must be between the 14th and 25th day (inclusive) after the poll was demanded.
- A parish poll cannot be combined with any other type of election.
The costs associated with administering a parish poll are met by the relevant parish/town council.