Current vacancies and elections

Current elections

West Suffolk Council (Haverhill West Ward) by-election - Thursday 10 September 2026

An election, if contested, to fill the vacancy on West Suffolk Council (Haverhill West Ward) will be held on Thursday 10 September 2026.

If you are not already registered to vote, you can do so online – Gov.UK To vote in the by-election on Thursday 10 September 2026, your completed application to register must be received no later than 11.59pm on Monday 24 August 2026.
• West Suffolk Council (Haverhill West Ward) – Thursday 10 September 2026 – Notice of Election

• West Suffolk Council (Haverhill West Ward) – Thursday 10 September 2026 – Timetable of key events

Key dates

Registration to vote deadline - midnight on Monday 24 August 2026.

Receipt of postal vote applications deadline - 5pm on Tuesday 25 August 2026.

Receipt of proxy vote applications deadline - 5pm on Wednesday 2 September 2026.

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

Nomination papers

The nomination period commences at 9am on Thursday 6 August 2026 until 4pm on Thursday 13 August 2026.

Nomination forms must be submitted by hand, and we offer appointments between the hours of 9am and 5pm to deliver your nomination form to our West Suffolk House office in Bury St Edmunds.

To book an appointment, please email elections@westsuffolk.gov.uk with details of the date and time that you would like to attend. We will confirm your appointment by email.

Informal checks of nomination papers

Until Wednesday, 12 August 2026, we offer an informal check on your nomination paper, ahead of an appointment to deliver your nomination papers. These can be undertaken by scanning and emailing a pdf version of your nomination pack to elections@westsuffolk.gov.uk This will help to ensure any issues or corrections required are resolved before the nomination papers are formally delivered. We will aim to respond to any of these requests by the end of the next working day.

• West Suffolk Council (Haverhill West Ward) – Thursday 10 September 2026 – Nomination Papers

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 £1,298.72

All candidates at an election must submit a declaration and a return of expenses, to the 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 candidate’s expenses is Thursday 15 October 2026.

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

• Candidate Spending at Local Government Elections in England
• Candidate Spending Return

Please note: The 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.
• Electoral register request form
• Absent voters list request form

The verification and count

The verification of ballot papers and the count will take place from 10pm on Thursday 10 September 2026 at Haverhill Rugby Club, Castle Playing Fields, School Lane, Haverhill, Suffolk, CB9 9DE.

Current Referendums

A referendum relating to the Barningham Neighbourhood Plan will be held on Thursday 10 September 2026.

Current vacancies

Mildenhall High Town Council (Queensway ward) - 30 July 2026

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 or 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.