Notice of Election Dorset Council Election of Councillors for the Dorset Council Wards listed below
11 March 2024

Notice of Election - Dorset Council - Election of Councillors - for the Dorset Council Wards listed below

Notice of Election Dorset Council Election of Councillors for the parish and town areas listed below
11 March 2024

Notice of Election - Dorset Council - Town & Parish areas 02 May 2024

Nominations for Shillingstone Parish Council - Dorset Council area election 2 May 2024
17 January 2024

There are elections taking place for all parish and town councils within the Dorset Council area on Thursday 2 May 2024.

2nd May 2024 will be election day for

  • Dorset Council - 84 member seats
  • Town & Parish Councils – SHILLINGSTONE PARISH COUNCIL - 9 vacancies
  • Police & Crime Commissioner
  • Potentially a Parliamentary Election

This page will be updated with news and information as it's released, but please do not hesitate to contact the Parish Clerk, David Green or any one of the Councillors if you would like more information.

The notices of election will be published on 11 March 2024.

The counts for these elections will take place on Saturday 4 May 2024 and the results will be published as soon as possible after.

Information for candidates

View the Electoral Commission's guidance for candidates at parish council elections in England.

Nomination papers

You can read guidance on the nominations process and download nomination papers for parish council elections in England from the Electoral Commission website. Please contact us if you require a paper copy of the nomination pack.

You can also view a video on how to fill out your nomination papers. Subtitles can be turned on/off by using the "subtitles/closed captions" button in the YouTube player toolbar. If you have a disability or impairment which prevents you from viewing the video and require additional support to complete your nomination papers, please contact us.

Please note the following:

  • the nomination papers must be printed off as electronic signatures are not permitted
  • to check the registration status of the proposer and seconder and obtain their electoral numbers, please contact us

Completed nomination papers must be hand delivered to the Returning Officer, Dorset Council, County Hall, Colliton Park, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XJ between 9.30am and 4pm on any working day after the date of publication of the notice of election on Monday 11 March 2024 (excluding bank holidays) but no later than 4pm on Friday 5 April 2024.

You will need to make an appointment to deliver your nomination papers - view a schedule of available venues, dates and times. Please contact us to make an appointment for the delivery of your nomination papers.

Paperwork confirming the nomination will be posted to the candidate.

Candidate expenses

Read the Electoral Commission guidance for candidates at parish council elections in England on candidate spending and completing your candidate spending return (you can also download the spending return and declaration for completion)

Your completed spending return and declaration should be returned to Electoral Services (please note: we require paper copies).

Campaigning activity

Guidance on campaigning at parish council elections in England is available from the Electoral Commission website.

Information for voters

Register to vote

Your details must be included on the electoral register if you want to vote in elections, polls and referendums. Please see the table below for the registration deadline for this election.

If you are already registered to vote at your current address, you do not need to register again.

To check if you are registered to vote, please contact us.

You can register to vote on Gov.uk.

Your poll card

If you are registered to vote, you will be sent a poll card a few weeks before the election which will tell you when the election is due to take place and how you can vote.

If you already have a postal vote in place, you will be sent a postal poll card a few weeks before the election which will tell you when the election is due to take place and give details of your postal voting arrangements.

If you already have a proxy vote in place, you will be sent a proxy poll card a few weeks before the election which will tell you when the election is due to take place and give details of your proxy voting arrangements. Your nominated proxy voter will also be sent a proxy poll card, telling them how to vote on your behalf.

Voting at a polling station

You do not need to take your poll card with you to the polling station to vote, unless you are a registered anonymous voter, but you must bring photo ID.

Find out more about what photo ID you can bring and how to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate if you don't have any of the accepted forms of ID.

Registered anonymous voters must also bring an Anonymous Elector's Document to the polling station.

Find out more about registering to vote anonymously and the Anonymous Elector's Document.

If you are registered as an anonymous voter and want to vote at your local polling station but do not have an Anonymous Elector's Document or haven't applied for one, please contact us.

Your poll card will give the address of your polling station but for a map or directions you can use the Democracy Club's polling station finder.

Read more about voting at a polling station.

Voting by post or proxy

If you are unable to get to your polling station on polling day, you can apply to vote by post or proxy instead. Please see the table below for the deadlines for applying to vote by post or proxy for this election.

Please note that if you vote by proxy, your nominated proxy will need to go to your local polling station and take their own photo ID. If they do not have photo ID, they can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate.

Apply online to vote by post or download an application form.

Apply online to vote by proxy or download an application form.

If you need a paper application form sent to you, please contact us.

If you are not applying online to vote by post or proxy, your completed application form should be sent to Electoral Services and must be received by us by the relevant deadline below (please note: you can email us a scan or photo of your completed form).

Voters with a disability

Read about support available for voters with a disability.

Key dates for this election

View the keys dates for this election.

Deadline to register to vote

Midnight on Tuesday 16 April 2024

Deadline for postal vote and postal proxy vote applications to be received by us:

5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024

Deadline for changes to any existing arrangements for postal and proxy votes to be received by us:

5pm on Wednesday 17 April 2024

Deadline for Voter Authority Certificate and Anonymous Elector's Document applications to be received by us:

5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024

Deadline for new proxy vote applications to be received by us:

5pm on Wednesday 24 April 2024

First date that voters can apply for a replacement for lost postal votes:

Friday 26 April 2024

Polling day:

Thursday 2 May 2024 (polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm)

Deadline for emergency proxy vote applications to be received by us:

5pm on Thursday 2 May 2024