Electoral Area Boundaries and Site Criteria
The primary topic area on boundary delimitation sets out the criteria and process for establishing
boundaries of electoral areas. The electoral law or regulations then normally establish criteria for
the selection of a polling site or sites to serve the electoral area. Whilst in any electoral law the
ideal solution is to have identical polling sites which all work efficiently with the optimum
number of electors that is rarely possible in practice. Electoral areas vary greatly in terms of
geographical characteristics. Some may be serving densely populated urban areas where the
polling site covers an area with a radius of only a few hundred metres from the polling site. In
other more rural areas with low population density, polling sites can often serve electors from an
area of many square miles involving extensive travel to the polling site from electors in the more
remote locations from the site. In Macedonia many voters have to travel up to 20kms and in
Moldova polling sites are established in railway stations for those who have to travel to vote.
Electoral laws rarely specify the actual polling site to be used; more normally the decision as to
the polling site selection is made in accordance with the criteria established in the law and often
that criteria is relatively sketchy. In many cases the electoral law leaves it to a local electoral
commission or local electoral official to select a site.
Reference is made in the section of absentee voting - see Absentee Voting - to the ability to establish
mobile polling stations. These stations are usually used in remote rural areas and the mobile
polling station can visit many separate sites over several days, to avoid electors having to travel
long distances. Such arrangements are common in Mongolia, Cambodia (KH), Mali (ML),
Australia (AU), Mozambique (MZ) and Russia (RU).
What are the site selection requirements?
There is often no requirement that the polling site be within the electoral area. For example,
when there are several electoral areas covering densely populated urban situations, there may be
a convenient major public building within one of say three electoral areas that is equally
convenient to the other two and where several polling sites are established. The number of
electors that may vote at a polling site is also infinitely variable, ranging from as little as 10-20
electors up to many thousands of electors. This number depends on local circumstances. Again,
the criteria established in law are rarely prescriptive, although many Latin American countries
specify the maximum number of voters per polling site. A guide as to what constitutes too few or
too many voters can be reached by undertaking an assessment of the complexity of the voting
process and the number of staff available and then calculating the time it will take the average
voter. The security and safety of poll workers and voters are other considerations. Whilst there
are many occasions on which voters have to wait for long periods, ideally a wait of more than 15
minutes should be avoided, with most voters being dealt with after no more than 5 minutes.
Physical conditions are also relevant; how many people can get in the polling site, what are the
entrances and exits like and so on.
Where the law or practical considerations make dealing with more than a certain number of
voters very difficult in the time allowed, the simple solution is to create another polling site
within the same physical location and divide the voters between two sites.
Nonpartisan Approach
This approach is essential. The polling site will be the place where the majority of the electorate
vote and the choice of polling site must be undertaken in a manner which ensures that no
participant in the process feels disadvantaged by the site selected. Consultation with candidates
and parties may be possible and it is good practice to consult even if the decisions rests with the
electoral manager.
Use of Public and Other Buildings
The electoral law frequently gives the electoral manager the right to use public buildings as
polling sites, either without payment or on payment of only caretaking costs. This right is a
considerable advantage in the ability to obtain sites when an election is called at short notice.
Some laws enable the electoral manager to demand the use of any building if it is required as a
polling site. No matter what building is used, ideally there should be a written contract.
There are many countries that use outdoor polling sites or tents. Obviously weather coniditions
need to be taken into account where this option is chosen, but there are considerable benefits in
terms of accessibility and minimum costs
Other Options
Special polling sites are often provided in hospitals, military bases, prisons and protected travel
routes have been provided for the safe passage to polling sites of displaced persons. Access for
the disabled should always be a priority on polling sites. Polling sites do not need to be
sophisticated. Whilst good quality buildings are ideal, where cost is a major consideration a
basic room will suffice. Many well-run elections have taken place using very basic polling sites
or working in the open air or tents.
Checking Sites
The voting process takes place in the polling sites. The poll workers are usually temporary staff
and voting day is often very busy. Therefore, the polling sites have all the ingredients for
problems. Where possible, the electoral manager should arrange for polling sites to be checked,
preferably as early as possible after they have opened. Experienced staff will rapidly spot any
problems and can put these right before they develop further. Use of a check list setting out what
needs to be examined helps - see Polling Site Check List - USA for an example of a check list used in the United
States of America (US). This list is extensive and it would take some time to check all these
processes in the polling site, so shorter lists concentrating on key items can be prepared. If
polling sites are checked, the process should be organised so that the inspectors are all working
to consistent standards.
For further information see Voting Sites.
