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 |
Suffolk County Council elections - Thursday 7 May 2026
Elections to Suffolk County Council will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026 and West Suffolk Council will be administering the election for the 15 county divisions in the West Suffolk area on behalf of Suffolk County Council.
Notices
| Electoral division | Notice of election |
| Abbeygate and Minden | Notice of election - Abbeygate and Minden |
| Barrow and Thingoe | Notice of election - Barrow and Thingoe |
| Blackbourn | Notice of election - Blackbourn |
| Brandon | Notice of election - Brandon |
| Clare | Notice of election - Clare |
| Eastgate and Moreton Hall | Notice of election - Eastgate and Moreton Hall |
| Exning and Newmarket | Notice of election - Exning and Newmarket |
| Hardwick | Notice of election - Hardwick |
| Haverhill East and Rural | Notice of election - Haverhill East and Rural |
| Haverhill North West and Withersfield | Notice of election - Haverhill North West and Withersfield |
| Haverhill South | Notice of election - Haverhill South |
| Mildenhall | Notice of election - Mildenhall |
| Newmarket and Red Lodge | Notice of election - Newmarket and Red Lodge |
| Row Heath | Notice of election - Row Heath |
| St Olaves and Tollgate | Notice of election - St Olaves and Tollgate |
Voting at the election
This election will be held on new division boundaries for Suffolk County Council. Maps of the new boundaries can be viewed on the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) website - LGBCE - Suffolk
If you are not already registered to vote, you can do so online at GOV.UK - Register to vote. Applications to register to vote must be received no later than 11.59pm on Monday 20 April 2026. More information on registering to vote can be found West Suffolk Council - Register to vote
All electors who are registered and eligible to vote will receive a poll card before polling day, which will let you know where you need to cast your vote. You can find the address of your polling station at West Suffolk Council - Find My Nearest
If you are unable to attend the polling station, you can apply to vote by post: GOV.UK - Apply for a postal vote. You are also able to apply for a proxy vote: GOV.UK - Apply for a proxy vote. The deadline for an application to vote by post is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026 and the deadline for an application to vote by proxy is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026.
More information regarding the election, including the list of candidates, will be published on this webpage. The counting of the ballot papers will take place on Friday 8 May 2026 and the results will be published on this webpage.
Information for candidates
Information regarding Suffolk County Council and role of a councillor is available on the Suffolk County Council website Suffolk County Council - Elections
Candidates and agents for the Suffolk County Council elections in the West Suffolk area are encouraged read the most recent guidance at The Electoral Commission - Guidance for candidates and agents at local government elections in England
More information on the nomination process, and accessing registers, can be found via this webpage, alongside any key dates.
Safety and Security
The Government has produced candidate security guidance for local elections in England: May 2026 Candidate Security for Local Elections
A video has also been published by Government regarding the safety and security of candidates for forthcoming elections At the end of the video, you will be able to click on a QR code to take you to more detailed advice and guidance from relevant websites - Security Video for Election Candidates
Candidates and agents will be asked to provide candidates contact details when submitting nomination papers. At close of nominations these will be communicated to the Suffolk Police Force Elected-Official Advisor (FEOA). More information about the FEOA can be found on the Electoral Commission website - Electoral Commission - Working with your local police force.
Nomination papers
Nomination period
The nomination period commences at 9am on Monday 30 March 2026 and the deadline for nominations is 4pm on Thursday 9 April 2026.
Nomination papers must be submitted by hand, and we offer appointments between the hours of 9am and 5pm to deliver your nomination paper 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 Tuesday 7 April 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 that 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.
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 paper, for election campaign purposes and to check that donations or loans are permissible.
Division boundaries
This election will be held on new division boundaries for Suffolk County Council. Maps of the new boundaries can be viewed on the Local Government Boundary Commission for England website: LGBCE - Suffolk
- The West Suffolk polling districts, district wards, current county divisions and the new county divisions which take effect at the 7 May 2026 election PDF version
- The West Suffolk polling districts, district wards, current county divisions and the new county divisions which take effect at the 7 May 2026 election Excel version
Election expenses
Please refer to the The Electoral Commission - Guidance for candidates and agents at local government elections in England for guidance on election spending and completing the spending return.
The spending limit for the regulated period is £960, plus 8p per local government elector in the division registered to vote on the last day for publication of the notice of election. The spending limits for each electoral division can be found here - Spending limits by electoral division
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 11 June 2026.
The spending return templates can be found at The Electoral Commission - Guidance for candidates and agents at local government elections in England
West Suffolk District Council (Abbeygate ward) by-election - Thursday 7 May 2026
An election, if contested, to fill the vacancy on West Suffolk Council (Abbeygate Ward) will be held on Thursday 7 May 2026.
If you are not already registered to vote, you can do so online at GOV.UK - Register to vote. Applications to register to vote must be received no later than 11.59pm on Monday 20 April 2026. More information on registering to vote can be found West Suffolk Council - Register to vote
All electors who are registered and eligible to vote will receive a poll card before polling day, which will let you know where you need to cast your vote. You can find the address of your polling station at West Suffolk Council - Find My Nearest
If you are unable to attend the polling station, you can apply to vote by post: GOV.UK - Apply for a postal vote. You are also able to apply for a proxy vote: GOV.UK - Apply for a proxy vote. The deadline for an application to vote by post is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026 and the deadline for an application to vote by proxy is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026.
More information regarding the election, including the list of candidates, will be published on this webpage. The counting of the ballot papers will take place on Friday 8 May 2026 and the results will be published on this webpage.
- West Suffolk Council (Abbeygate ward) by-election - Notice of Election
- West Suffolk Council (Abbeygate ward) by-election - Thursday 7 May 2026
Candidates and agents
Informal checks of nomination papers
Until Tuesday 7 April 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.
Request a copy of the electoral register and the absent voters list
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 paper, for election campaign purposes and to check that donations or loans are permissible.
Election expenses
Please refer to the Electoral Commission for guidance on election spending and completing the spending return.
The spending limit for the regulated period is £1,257.84 which equates to £960, plus 8p per local government elector in the division registered to vote on the last day for publication of the notice of election.
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 11 June 2026.
The spending return templates can be found on the Electoral Commission website Resources for Candidates and Agents at local government elections in England | Electoral Commission
Safety and Security
The Government has produced candidate security guidance for local elections in England: May 2026 Candidate Security for Local Elections
A video has also been published by Government regarding the safety and security of candidates for forthcoming elections At the end of the video, you will be able to click on a QR code to take you to more detailed advice and guidance from relevant websites - Security Video for Election Candidates
Candidates and agents will be asked to provide candidates contact details when submitting nomination papers. At close of nominations these will be communicated to the Suffolk Police Force Elected-Official Advisor (FEOA). More information about the FEOA can be found on the Electoral Commission website - Electoral Commission - Working with your local police force.
Nomination papers
Nomination period
The nomination period commences at 9am on Monday 30 March 2026 and the deadline for nominations is 4pm on Thursday 9 April 2026.
Nomination papers must be submitted by hand, and we offer appointments between the hours of 9am and 5pm to deliver your nomination paper 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 Tuesday 7 April 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 that 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.
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 paper, for election campaign purposes and to check that donations or loans are permissible.
West Row Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - Thursday 7 May 2026
- West Row Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - Information Statement
- West Row Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - Notice of Referendum
- West Row Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations
- West Row Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - Timetable of Key Events
Withersfield Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - Thursday 7 May 2026
- Withersfield Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - Information Statement
- Withersfield Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - Notice of Referendum
- Withersfield Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations
- Withersfield Neighbourhood Planning Referendum - Timetable of Key Events
Current vacancies
- Stoke by Clare Parish Council - 20 March 2026
- Great Wratting Parish Council - 24 March 2026 (1)
- Great Wratting Parish Council - 24 March 2026 (2)
- Withersfield Parish Council - 25 March 2026
- Kentford Parish Council - 26 March 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.
- Request for an election - parish or town council - 1 signatory per page
- Request for an election - parish or town council - 10 signatories per page
- Request for an election - local government - 1 signatory per page
- Request for an election - local government - 10 signatories per page
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.