Parish Polls provide an opportunity for local electors to express an opinion on a specific subject either by giving an answer to a question or an appointment to any office. They arise from the Parish and Community Meetings (Polls) Rules 1987 which apply where a poll consequent on a Parish Meeting is required to be taken.

At the Parish Meeting either 10 electors or one third of electors present and voting, whichever is less may demand a Poll on a question or the appointment to an Office.

The request for a Poll can not be subject to a vote at the meeting. If a Poll is demanded on a question, the wording of the question can be voted upon.

The Chairman of the meeting must notify the Returning Officer and give such particulars as will enable him to give notice of the poll.

Key Features

The result is not binding on the Parish or District Council.

As the cost of a Parish poll has to be met entirely by the Parish Council or Parish meeting concerned, it should have the powers to deal with the subject matter or the question.

There is no provision for absent voting (i.e. post or proxies). Polling therefore is only in person at your local polling station. A Notice will be put in the Parish not less than five days before the poll.

There is no provision for the issue of poll cards.

Polling will be from 4pm to 9pm on the day fixed by the Returning Officer 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 motion proposed at the Parish meeting is reproduced as the question on the ballot paper.  It is therefore important for the original motion to be phrased in such a way as to enable a YES/NO response to be given.