Milton Keynes City Council is carrying out a Polling District and Polling Places Review (PDR) pursuant to the provisions of Schedule A1 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (as amended) and the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013. 

A PDR ensures that the arrangements of polling districts, polling places and polling stations allow electors to cast their votes as easily and conveniently as is reasonably practicable, taking account of the boundaries of the city wards and parliamentary constituencies. It will also ensure polling districts and polling places align with our new city warding patterns.  

The Review will be conducted in accordance with the terms of reference contained in this document. It is not a review of city ward boundaries or the Parliamentary constituency boundaries.  

What does the review involve? 

The review process began with the publication of a Notice of Review on Wednesday 18 June 2025, inviting comments on our draft recommendations for 12 weeks from Thursday 19 June until Thursday 11 September 2025. 

Please click here to complete the survey to give us your views on the draft recommendations.  

An interactive map which allows users to compare current CGR/PDR geography and proposed changes can also be accessed here: MKCC Democracy Consultation Map.

Any elector in the city may make a representation in relation to the size and boundaries of polling districts and the location and suitability of polling places.  

The council also welcomes representations from 

• any elected members in the area
• political representatives
• any person or body with expertise in access for persons with any type of disability.   

Comments of the (Acting) Returning Officer (ARO) 

The ARO must respond for any constituency that falls wholly or partially within Milton Keynes. Sharon Bridglalsingh is the ARO for all Milton Keynes’ constituencies.  

Acting Returning Officer’s (ARO) response is published here.

What’s the difference between a polling district, place, and station? 

• a polling district is the area created by the separation of a ward into smaller parts, within which a polling place can be determined that is most suitable for electors.
• a polling place is the building or area in which the polling stations will be selected by the (Acting) Returning Officer. It could be defined as tightly as a particular building or as widely as the entire polling district.
• a polling station is the actual room or area where the process of voting takes place.  

What does the council consider when conducting a review?  

• That all electors in a constituency in the local authority area have such reasonable facilities for voting as are practicable in the circumstances.
• As far is reasonable and practicable that every polling place is accessible to electors who are disabled. 

What makes a suitable polling place?  

• Location: Should be consistently accessible within the district, free of physical barriers (e.g., steep hills, railways), and have convenient transport links. 

• Size: Must be large enough to accommodate multiple polling stations if needed, allowing for high voter turnout and easy flow of voters. Double polling stations are common for high numbers of voters. 

• Suitability: The building should be readily available for unscheduled elections, not at risk of demolition for new development, accessible to all voters, and provide adequate facilities for polling staff (toilets, kitchen, heating, lighting, furniture). 

Documentation 

• Polling District Review Draft Recommendations
• Polling District and Polling Places Review - Terms of Reference
• Polling District Review Maps
• Interactive Map

The Consultation Process 

Before making any recommendations or publishing final proposals, the council will take full account of the views of the local people and will comply with the statutory consultative requirements. 

The Council has published its initial draft recommendations. The consultation for the review runs for 12 weeks beginning Thursday 19 June 2025 and finishes on Thursday 11 September 2025. 

You can submit a response to the review quickly and easily by filling in an online form.

Or by post to:  

Polling District and Polling Places Review 

Electoral Services 

Milton Keynes City Council  

Civic, 1 Saxon Gate East 

Milton Keynes 

MK9 3EJ 

Or by email to: electoralreviews@milton-keynes.gov.uk  

Anybody making representations should be aware that, upon completion of the review, all correspondence and representations received must, by law, also be published. 

The review will be subject to the following timetable: 

What happens next?  

Final proposals will be presented to Full Council for approval in October 2025. The Revised Electoral Register will be published on the 1 December (reflecting agreed changes).