Under electoral law, the appointment of polling stations is a matter for the appropriate returning officer, who is required to provide a sufficient number of stations, conveniently distributed for the accommodation of the electors entitled to vote there. The electoral acts also provide that a returning officer may, for the purposes of taking a poll use, free of charge, any school or any room in a school and any premises (other than a dwelling house) owned or occupied by a local authority. Guidance issued to Returning Officers by my Department in advance of electoral events advises that it is open to returning officers to hire a hall or other premises if they consider it to be appropriate.
While electoral law is subject to ongoing review, there are no proposals to alter the existing arrangements.