Current vacancies and elections

UK Parliamentary Election

A UK Parliamentary election was held on Thursday 4 July 2024.

The results will be published after the overnight count has been completed and the results have been declared on 5 July 2024: UK Parliamentary Election 4 July 2024 results

Timetable of key events

UK Parliamentary Election timetable

Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket Constituency election notices

West Suffolk Constituency election notices

Information and resources for candidates and agents

Brandon Town Council (Central Ward and West Ward)

An election, if contested, to fill the vacancies on Brandon Town Council (Central Ward and West Ward) will be held on Thursday 8 August 2024.

If you are not already registered to vote, you can do so online at Register to vote. To vote in the election on Thursday 8 August 2024, your completed application to register must be received no later than 11.59pm on Tuesday 23 July 2024.

Timetable of key events

Brandon Town Council Election Timetable

Election notices

Nomination papers

The nomination papers are available can be found at: Nomination pack for parish council election

The nomination period commences at 9am on Friday 5 July 2024 until 4pm on Friday 12 July 2024.

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.

An informal check on your nomination paper, ahead of your appointment, can be undertaken by scanning and emailing your nomination pack to elections@westsuffolk.gov.uk This will help to ensure any issues or corrections required are resolved before the paper is formally delivered. We will aim to respond to any of these requests by the end of the next working day.

Information and resources for candidates

Guidance for candidates at parish council elections in England

Newmarket Town Council (Scaltback Ward)

A by-election for the Newmarket Town Council (Scaltback Ward) was held on Thursday 4 July 2024.

Newmarket Town Council (Scaltback Ward) by-election results 4 July 2024

Timetable of key events

Newmarket Town Council election timetable

Election notices

Information and resources for candidates

Guidance for candidates at parish council elections in England

List of scheduled elections and when they will be held

Date	Scheduled election
4 July 2024	Parliamentary Election
May 2025	Suffolk County Council
May 2026	No scheduled elections
May 2027	West Suffolk Council and parish and town councils

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.