People in Calderdale are being asked to share feedback on the location and suitability of local polling stations, to help inform voting arrangements for future elections.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England conducted an Electoral Review of Calderdale. In 2024, they concluded that Calderdale should be split into 18 wards, one more than the current arrangements, with three councillors elected to each ward.
The changes include the creation of a new ward of Wainhouse, taking in parts of the current Skircoat and Sowerby Bridge wards. The names and boundaries of a number of other wards will also change.
Parliament has approved these changes, which means that Calderdale Council must hold a Polling District, Polling Places and Polling Stations Review. For this, each new ward will be split into polling districts and polling stations chosen to serve them.
Information about the current and revised ward boundaries is available at https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/council/elections-and-voting/review-polling-districts-places-and-stations(external link) and people are being asked to share feedback on where they think their local polling place/station should be. This will help the Council decide how to split the new wards into polling districts.
As part of the review, the Council will look at:
- Where a polling station is in each polling district.
- How accessible each polling station is.
- What buildings could be used.
- The polling district boundaries within each ward of each constituency.
For more information and to share feedback, please visit: Review of polling – Districts, Places and Stations | Calderdale Council(external link) Feedback can also be sent to Electoral Services, Calderdale MBC, Town Hall, Halifax, HX1 1UJ or emailed to electoral-services@calderdale.gov.uk. The consultation period will end at midnight on 11 June 2025.
Once the consultation period has ended, proposals will be considered by the Council’s Governance and Business Committee at its meeting on 26 August 2025, with final proposals placed before Full Council at its meeting on 24 September 2025. Both reports will be published with recommendations for the new polling districts and polling places for future elections.
Calderdale Council’s Head of Legal and Democratic Services, Ian Hughes, said:
“This important review gives people the opportunity to have their say on their voting arrangements.
“Many of our polling stations have been used for a number of years and people will be familiar with their local polling station. We want to hear if anyone has concerns or issues with the current venues, or if there are any suggestions for new locations to look into, so we can ensure that all electors have reasonable facilities for voting and that venues are accessible.
“It’s also a good idea for residents to have a look at the revised ward boundaries, which will be used at the next full local election, due in 2026, as it’s likely many people will be in different wards or wards with different names.”
This year, the only election currently scheduled is the Skircoat by-election, which is being held for voters in the Skircoat ward on Thursday 8 May. Details of the by-election and the candidates standing can be found at https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/council/elections-and-voting/future-elections/casual-vacancy-notices(external link)
The reason there are no other scheduled elections in Calderdale is that each of the 17 Council Wards is represented by three councillors who are each elected to serve a four-year term.
The next full local election in Calderdale is scheduled for the 7 May 2026. Electors in Calderdale will be voting for three councillors based on the new 18 Wards. This system is called “all out” elections.
For more information about elections and voting in Calderdale, visit new.calderdale.gov.uk/council/elections-and-voting (external link)