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Polling Stations: Religious Buildings

Asked by Kevin HollinrakeConservativeSpeaker's Committee on the Electoral CommissionTabled Answered 28 April 2026UIN 129176

The question

To ask the Right hon. Member for Kenilworth and Southam, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 118900 on Polling Stations: Religious Buildings, what advice the Electoral Commission has issued on whether (a) synagogues and (b) mosques are deemed accessible.

Answered by Sir Jeremy Wright

The Commission provides guidance to Returning Officers on identifying suitable polling station venues. This includes evaluating the suitability of the polling stations that are available for use in the appropriate electoral areas.

The Commission has recently drawn Returning Officers’ attention to existing security guidance. It also provides accessibility guidance, which outlines the actions Returning Officers should take when assessing the accessibility of venues, including ensuring venues have sufficient space for voting to take place, and considering which equipment may be necessary to support voters, such as ramps or temporary floor coverings.

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