Information regarding parish polls

The Debden Parish Poll took place on Thursday 20 May at the Debden Memorial Hall.
► View the results of the Debden Parish Poll

The way in which a Parish Poll can be called is set out in the Parish and Community Meetings (Polls) Rules 1987.

Ten electors, or one third of electors present and voting at a relevant parish meeting (whichever number is less), may demand a poll on a question, or the appointment to an office. The actual request for a poll can't be subject to a vote at the meeting, but if a poll is demanded on a question, the wording of the question can be voted on.

The chairman of the meeting must notify the Returning Officer at Uttlesford District Council to give notice of poll.
 

Key features

• There's no provision for absent voting (postal or proxies). Polling is therefore only in person at your local polling station. A notice will be put up in the parish not less than five days before the poll
   
• There's 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
   
• A Notice of Poll will be issued no later than 5 working days before the poll and will include the date, time and place of the poll, a description of the electors who may vote and the particulars of the question with the name and address of its proposer
   
• The motion proposed at the parish meeting is reproduced as the question on the ballot paper. It's therefore important for the original motion to be phrased in such a way as to enable a YES or NO response only
   
• As the cost of a parish poll has to be met entirely by the parish council or parish meeting concerned, it should also have the powers to deal with the subject matter of the question
   
• The result is not binding on the parish or the district council