More information relating to these election will be published on the Suffolk County Council website.
All electors who are currently registered and eligible to vote will receive a poll card before polling day. On 7 May, polls will be open from 7am to 10pm.
| Key dates and deadlines for electors | |
|---|---|
| Monday 20 April | Deadline to register to vote (if you’re not already registered) |
| Tuesday 21 April (5pm) | Deadline for new applications to vote by post or postal proxy |
| Tuesday 21 April (5pm) | Deadline to make changes, or to cancel existing postal vote arrangements |
| Tuesday 28 April (5pm) | Deadline to appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf |
| Tuesday 28 April (5pm) | Deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) – you will need to make an application if you are voting at the polling station and do not have one of the accepted forms of photo ID |
| Thursday 30 April | First date replacements can be issued for lost postal votes |
| Thursday 7 May | Polling day – polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm |
| Thursday 7 May (5pm) | Deadline for replacing lost or spoilt postal votes |
| Thursday 7 May (5pm) | Deadline for applying for an emergency proxy vote |
How to vote
To vote in an election, you must be registered.
If you have recently turned 18 or moved house, you may not be registered. You can register to vote online: Register to vote - GOV.UK
If you would like to vote in person at the polling station, you will need valid voter ID: Voter photo ID | East Suffolk Council
If you cannot attend the polling station, or would prefer to vote by post, you can make an application online: Apply for a postal vote - GOV.UK. You can also apply to vote by proxy online: Apply for a proxy vote - GOV.UK.
Election notices
Election notices for this election can be found on the elections page.
Contact us
If you need further information, please contact us.
Info for candidates and agents
Prospective candidates and agents for the Suffolk County Council elections in the East Suffolk area divisions are encouraged to register their details with the Deputy Returning Officer (DRO). This will enable the DRO to keep candidates and agents updated.
Please email: elections@eastsuffolk.gov.uk and include the following information:
Name
Email address
Phone number
Role (candidate or agent)
Candidate and agents briefings
Briefings for candidate and agents have been arranged for Tuesday 17 March (3pm) and Wednesday 15 April (10.30am) – these will be delivered virtually via MS Teams.
Please email: elections@eastsuffolk.gov.uk with your contact details if you would like to attend.
Further information can be found on our election notices page.
Police Force Elected-Official Advisor (FEOA)
Candidate and agents will now be asked to provide the contact details for candidates. At close of nominations, the Deputy Returning Officer will share these details with the FEOA. More information about the FEOA can be found on the Electoral Commission website.
Cabinet Office Security Guidance
The Cabinet Office has a collection of guidance for which sets out what candidates need to know and dop about their security.
Candidate Security Guidance Collection - GOV.UK
New county division boundaries
The election will be held on the new county division boundaries as per the Suffolk (Electoral Changes) Order 2022. A breakdown of the new boundaries is available on our election notices page.
Election notices, nomination forms and more information
Election notices, nomination forms and more information can be found on our election notices page.
Candidate expenses information
Please refer to the Electoral Commission website for resources and good practice. East Suffolk Council cannot provide further advice or guidance on candidate expenses.
When do the candidate spending laws apply?
Spending laws apply from the ‘regulated period’.
The regulated period begins on the day after the date you officially become a candidate and ends at close of poll on 7 May 2026.
When does a person officially become a candidate?
The earliest date that someone can officially become a candidate is the last date for publication of the notice of election, Monday 30 March 2026.
You will become a candidate on this date if you or others have already announced your intention to stand. For example, your party may have issued a statement when you were selected, or you might have mentioned your intention at a residents’ meeting.
If your intention to stand has not been announced before the publication of the notice of election, you will officially become a candidate on;
- the date your intention to stand is announced, or
- the date when you submit your nomination papers, whichever is the earliest
Spending Limits
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 in the division you are standing for.
A schedule of electorate figures will be published on our election notices page