Current vacancies and elections

Freckenham Parish Council - Thursday 22 June 2023

Local elections 4 May 2023

Full district and parish elections were held in West Suffolk on Thursday 4 May 2023. West Suffolk Council and the 81 parish and town councils across West Suffolk held elections for councillors. These elections were the first time that Voter ID was be required to be shown by all voters at a polling station. This has been introduced under the Elections Act 2022.

Local election results were posted after they were declared at the count on Friday 5 May 2023:

Key dates

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

Election notices

Information for candidates and agents

Boundaries

Information on the West Suffolk district ward and parish and town council boundaries can be found on Find My Nearest

Election expenses

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 candidates expenses for town and parish elections is Thursday 1 June 2023.

The deadline for receipt of candidates expenses for the district council elections is Thursday 8 June 2023.

The Electoral Commission provides guidance on electoral spending which can be found on Spending and Donations Local Elections May 2023

Expenditure for local elections is limited by law and is £806 plus 7p for each entry in the register of electors for the appropriate electoral area. The number of eligible electors for each area can be found below.

The verification and count

The verification of ballot papers took place on Thursday 4 May 2023 from 10pm at Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre, Beetons Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3TT.

The count took place on Friday 5 May 2023 at Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre, Beetons Way, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 3TT.

List of scheduled elections and when they will be held

Date Scheduled election
May 2024 UK Parliamentary (to be held by the end of 2024)
Police and Crime Commissioner
May 2025 Suffolk County Council
May 2026 No scheduled elections

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.