Current vacancies and elections

List of scheduled elections and when they will be held

Date	Scheduled election
May 2026	Suffolk County Council
May 2027	West Suffolk Council and parish and town councils
May 2028	Police and Crime Commissioner

Suffolk County Council (Tower Division) by-election - Thursday 3 July 2025

An election to fill the vacancy on Suffolk County Council (Tower Division) will be held on Thursday 3 July 2025.

If you are not already registered to vote, you can do so online - GOV.UK - Register to vote. To vote in the by-election on Thursday 3 July 2025, your completed application to register must be received no later than 11.59pm on Tuesday 17 June 2025.

Key dates

Registration to vote deadline - midnight on Tuesday 17 June 2025.

Receipt of postal vote applications deadline - 5pm on Wednesday 18 June 2025.

Receipt of proxy vote applications deadline - 5pm on Wednesday 25 June 2025.

A complete list of relevant dates can be found on the election timetable.

Guidance for candidates and agents

Candidates are encouraged to read the most recent guidance, which is provided by the Electoral Commission.

Guidance for Candidates and Agents at local government elections in England

Election expenses

The campaign spending limit for the regulated period is £960, plus 8p per local government elector in the division. The total spending limit for this election is £2327.28

All candidates at an election must submit a declaration and a return of expenses, to the Deputy Returning Officer, within a set timeframe. This is regardless of whether they were elected or not and even if no expenses were incurred. These documents are made available for inspection.

The deadline for receipt of candidates expenses is Thursday 7 August 2025.

Candidates are encouraged to read the supplementary electoral commission guidance with regards to providing expenses.

Please note: The Deputy Returning Officer and staff cannot provide guidance with regards to the campaign. Any concerns about the legality of a candidate's campaign should be reported to the police.

Request a copy of the electoral register and the absent voters list

Candidates are entitled to request a copy of the electoral register and absent voters list for the area in which they are standing. It can only be used to complete the nomination form, for election campaign purposes and to check that donations or loans are permissible.

The verification and count

The verification of ballot papers and the count will take place from 10pm on Thursday 3 July 2025 at West Suffolk House, Western Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3YU.

Current vacancies

To request that an election be held to fill one of the above vacancies, please print, fill in and sign the appropriate form below and email this to the Returning Officer at elections@westsuffolk.gov.uk by the specified deadline.

Please be aware that, under section 228 of the Local Government Act 1972, the names of those who have called for an election are subject to public inspection. If you are canvassing for people to call for an election, please ensure that individuals are made aware that, if they do support the request for an election, their name is subject to public inspection in accordance with section 228 of the Local Government Act 1972.

Casual vacancies

If a councillor leaves their seat during the course of their term, a casual vacancy will occur. This may happen because a councillor has resigned, passed away, become disqualified (or ceased to be qualified) or because of a failure to take up office.

The rules for casual vacancies are different depending on whether the seat is for a district or county council, or for a parish or town council, however, a notice of vacancy will be displayed to advertise the vacancy.

The list of current vacancies can be found above.

By-elections

If an election is called following a notice of vacancy being displayed, a by-election would be held. The date for the by-election will be set within required timescales and it would be advertised by the publication of a notice of election which marks the start of the election process.

Details of any by elections can be found above.

How to request an election

District and county councils

When a councillor's seat becomes vacant, a notice of vacancy will be displayed to advertise that vacancy.

The notice explains that an election can be called by a request, made in writing, to the council's proper officer by two electors from the authority’s area.

If an election is called, it must be held within 35 days of the notice. The exception to this is that if a vacancy occurs within six months of the date of the next scheduled elections, the vacancy is carried over to the next elections. The seat will remain vacant during that time and no by-election will be held.

Parish and town councils

The parish or town clerk will display a notice of vacancy in the parish area. The notice shall explain that an election can be called by a request, made in writing, to the district council's proper officer by 10 electors from the parish area, within 14 working days of the date of the notice.

If an election is called, it must be held within 60 days of the notice. If no request is received then the town or parish council may choose to appoint someone by co-option into the vacant seat.

The notice of vacancy must run its course before the town/parish council has the opportunity to co-opt a new councillor as this gives the electors of the parish a chance to call an election if they wish to.

If the vacancy occurs within six months of the date of the next scheduled elections for that council then no election will be held, and the seat may remain vacant until it is filled at the next elections, or the council may choose to appoint someone by co-option into the vacant seat.

Past election results

For details of past election results, visit our election results pages.