|
total countries/territories: 104
|
|---|
| Country/Territory |
Answers |
Comments |
Verified |
|
Albania
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Electoral Code, article 94
|
2005/03/30
|
|
Algeria
|
b. No
|
Source:
Electoral Law
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2006/05/08
|
|
American Samoa
|
b. No
|
Source:
American Samoa Code Annotated Title 6 Elections 6.0702
|
2017/08/18
|
|
Argentina
|
a. Yes
|
Each circuit will be divided into tables, which will be constituted with up to three hundred and fifty (350) registered voters.
Source:
Article 41 Law No. 19.945
|
2021/12/26
|
|
Armenia
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Electoral Law: Electoral Code of Armenia (2011), art. 14:3
|
2011/08/25
|
|
Austria
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Regulation on the Election of the Federal Council (1992)
|
2003/09/12
|
|
Bahamas
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
EL: 11.
|
2002/10/03
|
|
Bahrain
|
b. No
|
There is no maximum number in any polling station; when all voters registered in the scheduled has cast their ballots then the chairman can declare the end of voting after the final voter casts his ballot.
Source:
Decree number 14 for 2002, Exercising Political Rights, part 3, article 24.
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/03/30
|
|
Bangladesh
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
S. M. Asaduzzaman; Public Relations Officer; Bangladesh Election Commission. Email: [email protected]
|
2006/05/23
|
|
Barbados
|
b. No
|
"There is no specific maximum allowable voter capacity. However the legislation with regards to the number of persons in each constituency ensures that the amounts of voters at each station is manageable."
Source:
Barbados Electoral and Boundaries Commission
|
2001/07/24
|
|
Belarus
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Code on Elections, article 17.
|
2002/07/17
|
|
Belgium
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Electoral Code, Art. 90
|
2012/05/04
|
|
Belize
|
b. No
|
The law does not set forth any specific provision. According to the law, each electoral division may be subdivided into such number of polling areas as the Chief Elections Officer deems necessary, with the approval of the Commission. When more than one polling station is established the returning officer shall divide the register of electors into as many separate parts as there are polling divisions.
Source:
EL: TS (10 and 17).
|
2004/10/27
|
|
Benin
|
a. Yes
|
Il s'agit par là de permettre un meilleur contôle des élections notemment le dépouillement et pour éviter que les électeurs ne fassent de grandes distance pour voter.
Source:
Toussaint GNONLONFOUN.
|
2002/07/11
|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Election Law, Article 5. Paragraph (2)
|
2002/05/07
|
|
Brazil
|
a. Yes
|
Art. 117
The polling stations, organized as voter registration requests are approved, shall not have more than 400 (four hundred) voters in the capitals and 300 (three hundred) in other locations, nor fewer than 50 (fifty) voters.
§ 1 In exceptional cases, duly justified, the Regional Court may authorize exceeding the limits set in this article, provided that this measure facilitates the exercise of voting, bringing the voter closer to the designated polling place.
§ 2 If in a section designated for the blind, the number of voters does not reach the required minimum, it will be completed with others, even if they are not blind.
Source:
Electoral Code, Law No. 4737, of July 15, 1965, Article 117:
https://www.tse.jus.br/legislacao/codigo-eleitoral/codigo-eleitoral-1/codigo-eleitoral-lei-nb0-4.737-de-15-de-julho-de-1965
|
2024/10/12
|
|
Bulgaria
|
a. Yes
|
1000 voters
Source:
Election Laws
|
2007/01/31
|
|
Cameroon
|
a. Yes
|
There shall be one polling station for a maximum of 500 (five hundred) electors
Source:
Electoral Code Chapter VII section 96 (3): https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/CM/cameroon-electoral-code-english-2012
|
2018/11/06
|
|
Canada
|
a. Yes
|
In establishing the limits of polling divisions, one of the criteria is to provide voting facilities for 450 electors on average. There is a minimum requirement of 250 electors per polling division.
Source:
Elections Canada
|
2006/12/11
|
|
Cape Verde
|
a. Yes
|
|
2001/10/04
|
|
Chile
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Mr. Juan Ignacio García
|
2009/07/05
|
|
Colombia
|
a. Yes
|
300 voters.
Source:
CNE
|
2003/07/30
|
|
Croatia
|
b. No
|
The Election Board of electoral precinct fixes the polling places based on suggestions made by municipal and town election boards.
Source:
Electoral Code, article 61(2).
|
2002/08/23
|
|
Cyprus
|
b. No
|
Source:
Electoral Law 72 of 1979 as amended
|
2012/04/26
|
|
Czech Republic
|
b. No
|
Source:
Petra Wagnerova, Election Law Expert, Ministry of Interior, Czech Republic, pwagnero(a)csu.notes.cz
|
2002/06/11
|
|
Denmark
|
b. No
|
The number of voters per polling district averages about 2,000, ranging from 20 (on a small island) to 20, 000.
Source:
Parliamentary Elections and Election Administration in Denmark
|
2015/06/11
|
|
Djibouti
|
b. No
|
Source:
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3210,36-637190@51-637195,0.html
|
2005/05/03
|
|
Dominica
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Elections Office.
|
2002/12/17
|
|
Egypt
|
b. No
|
|
2025/09/23
|
|
Eritrea
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Elections Act, art. 14
|
2011/06/22
|
|
Ethiopia
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
article no.30(1) in definition of procedure for electoral execution and determination 1994.
|
2005/04/04
|
|
Fiji
|
b. No
|
Source:
Kameli Koto, Deputy Supervisor of Elections, 15/07/2002
|
2003/07/01
|
|
Finland
|
b. No
|
Source:
Election Act 714/1998 as amended, Section 9
|
2012/05/21
|
|
France
|
a. Yes
|
|
2012/05/03
|
|
French Guiana
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
|
2007/01/10
|
|
French Polynesia
|
a. Yes
|
|
2009/07/05
|
|
Georgia
|
b. No
|
An electoral precinct shall be set up for not less than 20 and not more than 1,500 voters. Electoral precinct s abroad shall be set up by the CEC based on data provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, for not less than 50 and not more than 3,000 voters.
Source:
The Election Code of Georgia, art.23:
https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/1557168?publication=8
|
2024/07/24
|
|
Germany
|
b. No
|
|
2021/11/19
|
|
Ghana
|
a. Yes
|
|
2005/07/01
|
|
Guadeloupe
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
|
2007/01/14
|
|
Guyana
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Dr. Steve Surujbally, President of the Elections Commissions, elections(a)sdnp.gy
|
2004/09/03
|
|
Hungary
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
András Vincze, Ministry of Interior, central data processing, registration and election office, indep(a)konyv.kozig.b-m.hu
|
2002/05/23
|
|
Iceland
|
b. No
|
|
2002/04/09
|
|
India
|
b. No
|
A polling station should provide for a well defined polling area usually covering 800-1000 electors. However, in exceptional cases numbers may exceed 1000 to avoid the break up of polling areas in large villages or urban areas. When the number of voters exceeds 1200 auxiliary polling stations are required to be set up.
Source:
Handbook for Returning Officers 1998 (For Elections to the House of the People and State Legislative Assemblies)Chapter II, Paragraph 2.
|
2001/07/03
|
|
Ireland
|
b. No
|
Source:
Electoral Acts 1992 - 2011
|
2012/05/10
|
|
Italy
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Presidential Decree of 20 March 1967, n. 223, Art. 34
|
2012/04/16
|
|
Jordan
|
b. No
|
|
2016/08/05
|
|
Kenya
|
b. No
|
The presiding officer shall regulate the number of electors admitted to the polling station
|
2012/03/14
|
|
Korea, Republic of
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
SOP, p. 21
|
2003/01/07
|
|
Lithuania
|
a. Yes
|
The maximum is 5000.
Source:
Electoral Law: Federal Law "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum" as amended on April 5, 2016. (article 14)
|
2016/06/02
|
|
Luxembourg
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Electoral law of 18 February 2003, Art. 55
|
2015/06/05
|
|
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of
|
b. No
|
|
2020/04/20
|
|
Malawi
|
a. Yes
|
The Commission will reduce the number of voters per polling station from 800 in the past to around 600 for the 2025 elections as a result of the reduction of voting hours from 12 hours to 10 hours.
|
2025/07/01
|
|
Marshall Islands
|
b. No
|
Source:
Elections and Referenda Act 1980 Section 172.
|
2006/03/16
|
|
Martinique
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
|
2007/01/14
|
|
Micronesia, Federated States of
|
b. No
|
There is no maximum number in any polling station; when all voters registered in the scheduled has cast their ballots then the chairman can declare the end of voting after the final voter casts his ballot.
Source:
Decree number 14 for 2002, Exercising Political Rights, part 3, article 24.
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/02/17
|
|
Moldova, Republic of
|
a. Yes
|
. The polling stations shall have between 30 and 3,000 voters and be established in similar terms
for the elections of any level and in republican referenda.
Source:
Electoral code Article 30
|
2021/04/07
|
|
Monaco
|
b. No
|
Source:
Law 839 regulating communal and national elections, as amended in 2002
|
2012/04/27
|
|
Morocco
|
b. No
|
No maximum is mentioned.
Source:
Electoral Law.
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/04/05
|
|
Nepal
|
b. No
|
Source:
House of Representatives Member Act 1991, article 31.
|
2004/08/17
|
|
Netherlands
|
b. No
|
Local authorities decide about the location and size of the polling station.
Source:
Heemskerk, Ruud, Member of the National Election Board, stemid(a)worldonline.nl
|
2002/06/18
|
|
New Caledonia
|
a. Yes
|
|
2009/07/05
|
|
Niger
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Article 77 du Code Electoral
|
2003/02/26
|
|
Nigeria
|
a. Yes
|
|
2001/11/09
|
|
Niue
|
b. No
|
|
2005/02/23
|
|
Norway
|
b. No
|
|
2001/10/01
|
|
Pakistan
|
a. Yes
|
A polling station has one Presiding Officer, but may have up to 4 boths supervised by Assisting Presiding Officers. There may also be several polling stations with multiple polling booths in one building. The maximum voter capacity for a polling station is 1500 regostered voters, the capacity for one both is approximately 375 voters(+/- 10% in both cases.)
Source:
Muhammad, Hasan, Director General, Election Commission of Pakistan, iftishah77(a)hotmail.com, interview in Stockholm, 29/6-01.
|
2001/07/18
|
|
Palestine
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/04/05
|
|
Papua New Guinea
|
b. No
|
|
2005/03/02
|
|
Paraguay
|
a. Yes
|
El distrito electoral se divide en series de 200 inscriptos. La fracción mayor de 100 forma una nueva serie y la igual o menor se agrega a la última serie.
Source:
Law N. 834, Articles 118 and 120.
|
2009/07/05
|
|
Philippines
|
a. Yes
|
A polling station consists of several precincts. The precinct shall not exceed two hundred (200) voters.
Source:
RA 8189
|
2005/07/08
|
|
Portugal
|
a. Yes
|
Article 40
Polling stations
1 – Each parish shall have one polling station.
2 – The polling stations of parishes where the number of electors significantly exceeds 1,000
shall be divided into polling sections, at the initiative of the parish authority or the municipal
authority, in such a way that the number of electors is adequate to the geographical reality and
to the venues for conducting the electoral act, aiming, where possible, not to exceed that
number significantly.
3 – By the thirty-fifth day before election day, the mayor shall decide on the division requests
provided for in the previous paragraph, and shall immediately communicate them to the
corresponding parish council and to the electoral administration services.
4 – The decision referred to in the previous paragraph may be appealed within a time limit of
two days, at the initiative of the parish councils or of at least ten electors from any polling
station, to the section of the local instance of the judicial district court with civil competence
and jurisdiction in the area of the municipality, unless a section of the central instance of the
judicial district court with civil competence is functioning at the seat of the municipality, in which
case the appeal shall be lodged before that section.
5 – The definitive chart of polling stations and sections shall immediately be affixed at the
municipal councils.
Article 40-A
Polling stations abroad
Each station or consular post corresponds to a polling station, which will be divided when more
than 5000 voters are registered there to vote in person.
Source:
Law governing Elections to the Assembly of the Republic Law no. 14/79 of 16 May 1979, Article 40 and Article 40-A:
https://www.parlamento.pt/sites/EN/Parliament/Documents/LeiEleitoralARen.pdf
|
2024/10/10
|
|
Romania
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Law on Election of the Parliament, article 18 (paragraph 1).
|
2004/11/22
|
|
Russian Federation
|
a. Yes
|
2. Election precincts, referendum precincts shall be formed by the head of a municipal formation in coordination with commissions by the head of local administration of municipal formation, urban district, city territory of the federal city, and in cases stipulated by the law of the subject of the Russian Federation – federal city – by the head of territorial body of executive power of the federal city, and at election to body of local self-government of an urban settlement, excluding urban district, or rural settlement (hereinafter urban settlement except urban district and rural settlement are referred to as settlement) – by the head of local administration of settlement or persons indicated in Clauses 3 and 6 of this Article, corresponding commission in the order stipulated by Clause 5 of this Article on the basis of the data on the number of voters, referendum participants registered in the territory of the election precinct, referendum precinct in accordance with Clause 10, Article 16 of this Federal Law, with not more than 3 thousand voters, referendum participants per precinct. Election precincts, referendum precincts shall be formed not later than in 45 days prior to the voting day. (as amended by the Federal Law of July 21, 2005, No.93-FZ)
Source:
Federal Law: "On Basic Guarantees of Electoral Rights and the Right of Citizens of the Russian Federation to Participate in a Referendum" as amended on July 25, 2011. (article 19)
|
2016/06/03
|
|
Rwanda
|
a. Yes
|
Each polling room has its own voters' list, which includes not more than seven hundred (700) voters,
casting their votes in one (1) Village.
Source:
Rwanda Electoral code Chapter 2 Article 5. https://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/RW/rwanda-electoral-code-regulating-the-presidential
|
2024/12/04
|
|
Réunion
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Elections office, Ministry of Interior, France, [email protected]
|
2007/01/14
|
|
Saint Lucia
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
EDSL.
|
2002/12/17
|
|
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Electoral Office.
|
2021/12/27
|
|
Samoa
|
a. Yes
|
Only six (6) voters are allowed in a polling booth at the same time; and only one (1) voter is allowed in an inner compartment.
Source:
The Electoral Act 2019, Article 73 (1): https://www.palemene.ws/wp-content/uploads/Electoral-Act-2019-Eng.pdf (2021)
|
2021/04/10
|
|
Sao Tome and Principe
|
a. Yes
|
|
2001/10/04
|
|
Seychelles
|
a. Yes
|
22(1) the electoral offices of a pollig statiion shall. Regulare the admission of persons wishing to vote at the polling station
Source:
elections act chp 68 A 1996 section 22(1)
|
2002/07/11
|
|
Sierra Leone
|
a. Yes
|
About 500 for rural area polling station population and 1,000 at urban area polling station population
|
2009/07/05
|
|
Slovakia
|
a. Yes
|
SOLDIERS OF ARMED FORCES AND MEMBERS OF ARMED SECURITY FORCES WHO ARE COLLECTIVELY ACCOMODATED, SHALL BE REGISTERED IN THE LIST IN THE MUNICIPALITY WHERE THAT UNIT IS LOCATED. IN SUCH A CASE THE NUMBER OF THE VOTERS CAN BE HIGHER
Source:
Mrs. Lívia Skultétyová
PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION ACT ART. 10.
|
2002/04/19
|
|
Slovenia
|
b. No
|
The Electoral Code does not contain any provision regarding the maximum capacity of the polling stations.
There are approximately 1.500.000 voters and 3.500 polling stations. This means that the capacity of a polling station is for approximately 430 voters.
Source:
Government Public Relations and Media Office
|
2004/11/29
|
|
Somalia
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
article 44 presidential and local elections law
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Spain
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Electoral Law: "Ley Orgánica del Régimen Electoral General", Art. 23(2)
|
2012/04/17
|
|
Sri Lanka
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Final Report of the EU Election Observation Mission to Sri Lankas December 5th Parliamentary Elections.
|
2016/02/04
|
|
Sudan
|
b. No
|
Source:
General Elections Law (No.15,1998).
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Sweden
|
b. No
|
1200-1500 is recommended.
Source:
Hans Lejsäter. Information Officer, Election Authority, Sweden.
valet(a)val.se
|
2007/01/26
|
|
Switzerland
|
b. No
|
|
2012/05/11
|
|
Taiwan
|
b. No
|
|
2020/03/26
|
|
Timor-Leste
|
a. Yes
|
|
2001/09/18
|
|
Trinidad and Tobago
|
b. No
|
|
2015/05/21
|
|
Tunisia
|
b. No
|
No maximum is mentioned in the Electoral Law.
Source:
Electoral Law, chapter 1, part 4, section 1, articles 38 and 39.
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2005/04/06
|
|
Turkey
|
b. No
|
Source:
Sabri Coskun, former Deputy President, Higher Council of Elections,
arikan(a)hacettepe.edu.tr
|
2016/01/21
|
|
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
|
b. No
|
Source:
Representation of the People Act 1983, Art. 18B
|
2016/04/11
|
|
Uruguay
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
Electoral Law, art. 23
|
2002/06/18
|
|
Uzbekistan
|
a. Yes
|
|
2009/08/18
|
|
Vanuatu
|
b. No
|
|
2016/01/26
|
|
Venezuela
|
a. Yes
|
Source:
LOSPP, art. 67
|
2003/10/01
|
|
Wallis and Futuna
|
a. Yes
|
|
2009/07/05
|
|
Yemen
|
b. No
|
The number is relative to the population of the district that the polling stations represent but if we take the number of polling stations in the country which is 5,620 stations; and then we divide the number of registered voters which is 8,035,721voter by the number of polling stations we will get the average number in each polling station which will be 1,430 voter but we cannot get the maximum number of voters in each polling station.
Source:
http://www.scer.org.ye/arabic/taksem2a.htm
Updated on March 10, 2005
|
2006/03/16
|
