The Walsall (Electoral Changes) Order 2025

Published: Fri 14th Feb 25

The Walsall (Electoral Changes) Order 2025 implements recommendations from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, abolishing existing wards in the borough of Walsall and establishing 20 new ones.

The order details the new ward names, boundaries (reference a provided map), and the number of councillors per ward (three).

It also establishes the election schedule, stipulating simultaneous elections in 2026, with subsequent elections staggered to return to the 'election by thirds' system.

The order's effective date is October 15th, 2025, for preliminary election-related procedures, with full implementation in 2026.

Arguments For

Improved Representation: Redistricting can ensure fairer representation by creating wards with more equal populations, preventing situations where some voters have more influence than others.
Increased Voter Engagement: Changes to ward boundaries may lead to increased political engagement and competitiveness in local elections by altering the composition of voter bases.
Efficiency and Effectiveness: Consolidating or restructuring wards may improve the effectiveness and efficiency of local government resource allocation and service delivery.
Compliance with Legal Requirements: The changes comply with the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, ensuring adherence to legal requirements for setting electoral arrangements and minimizing future legal challenges.

Arguments Against

Disruption to Existing Systems: Changing ward boundaries can disrupt established networks and relationships built around existing local political structures and local communities.
Potential for Gerrymandering: Concerns exist about the potential for manipulation of new boundaries to favor particular parties or groups which can decrease fairness and transparency in local democracy.
Cost of Implementation: Redrawing ward boundaries involves costs associated with updating electoral registers, voter information materials, and possibly adjusting polling station locations.
Public Confusion & Opposition: The change process may need to manage public understanding and potential opposition from individuals and communities affected by the new boundaries.

Citation, commencement, extent and application 1.

(1) This Order may be cited as the Walsall (Electoral Changes) Order 2025.

(2) This article and article 2 come into force on 15th October 2025.

(3) Articles 3 and 4 come into force— (a) for the purposes of proceedings preliminary or relating to the election of councillors, on 15th October 2025; (b) for all other purposes, on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026.

(4) This Order extends to England and Wales but applies in relation to England only.

This section provides the official title of the Order and its effective dates.

Section (1) gives the Order its name.

Section (2) states that parts of the Order come into effect on October 15th, 2025.

Section (3) specifies that other parts come into force on October 15th, 2025, for preliminary election purposes, and on the 2026 ordinary election day for all other purposes.

Section (4) confirms that the Order will affect England and Wales but only applies to England.

Interpretation 2.

(1) In this Order, “the map” means the map marked “Map referred to in the Walsall (Electoral Changes) Order 2025”, held by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.

(2) Where a boundary is shown on the map as running along a road, railway line, footway, watercourse or similar geographical feature, it is to be treated as running along the centre line of the feature.

This section clarifies the meaning of terms used in the Order.

Section (1) defines 'the map' as the specific map maintained by the Local Government Boundary Commission.

Section (2) explains that where boundaries are shown following geographic features, they run along the center line of such features.

Wards of the borough of Walsall and number of councillors 3.

(1) The existing wards of the borough of Walsall are abolished.

(2) The borough of Walsall is divided into the 20 wards listed in the Schedule.

(3) Each ward comprises the area identified on the map by reference to the name of the ward.

(4) The number of councillors to be elected for each ward is three.

This section outlines the changes to Walsall's electoral wards.

Existing wards were abolished.

The borough is divided into 20 new wards, specified in the attached schedule.

Each ward's geographic area is defined by the map.

Each ward will elect three councillors.

Elections of the borough of Walsall 4.

(1) Elections of all councillors for each ward of the borough of Walsall are to be held simultaneously on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2026.

(2) The councillors holding office for any ward abolished by article 3(1) immediately before the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in 2026 are to retire on that fourth day, and the newly elected councillors are to come into office on that fourth day.

(3) Of the councillors elected for a ward in 2026— (a) one is to retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2027; (b) one is to retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2028; (c) one is to retire on the fourth day after the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in 2030.

(4) Of the councillors elected for a ward in 2026— (a) the first councillor for each ward to retire is to be the councillor elected by the smallest number of votes; (b) the second councillor for each ward to retire is to be the councillor elected by the next smallest number of votes.

(5) In the case of an equality of votes between any persons elected which makes it uncertain which of them is to retire in any year, the person to retire in that year is to be determined by lot.

(6) If any election of councillors for any ward is not contested, the person to retire in each year is to be determined by lot.

(7) An election to replace a councillor who is to retire under paragraph (3) is to be held on the ordinary day of election of councillors in England in the year in which the retirement is due to take place, and any newly elected councillor is to come into office on the fourth day after that day.

(8) Where under this article any question is to be determined by lot, the lot is to be drawn at the next practicable meeting of the council after the question has arisen and the drawing is to be conducted under the direction of the person presiding at the meeting.

This section details the election process for the new wards.

All councillors will be elected simultaneously in 2026.

Councillors from abolished wards retire immediately after the election.

Subsequent elections are staggered over three years (2027, 2028, 2030).

The order of retirement amongst those elected in 2026 is based on votes received.

In the case of tied results or uncontested elections, a lottery randomly decides who retires.

Replacement elections occur on ordinary election days (stated in the order).