30/04/2026
With only one week until election day, we are urging voters to make sure they have their say on Thursday 7 May. 🗳️
This is your first chance to vote for who represents you and your area on your new East Surrey Council.
It is important you vote in these elections because from 1 April 2027, this new unitary council will take over delivering all the local government services you rely on including education, waste collection, roads, housing, play areas, planning, children’s services, adult social care and more.
Councillors elected on Thursday 7 May will initially form a Shadow Authority that will establish the new council including set budgets and council tax, agree staffing structures and governance arrangements, adopt codes of conduct for councillors’ allowances and schemes and prepare for the transfer of responsibilities.
Other elections on the same day
In Warlingham, there is also a by-election to elect a Surrey County Councillor. In Caterham, Chaldon and Whyteleafe there is a referendum on the revised neighbourhood plan. Residents living in these areas will be given an extra ballot paper.
If you’re voting in person at a polling station:
▪️Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm on 7 May.
▪️Remember to bring accepted photo ID, including if you’re acting as someone’s proxy, you won’t be able to vote without it.
▪️If you arrive without an accepted form of ID, you’ll be asked to come back with one that is.
▪️Check your poll card before going to vote as your polling station may have changed (you do not need your poll card to vote).
▪️If you are voting on behalf of someone else, remember that you need to go to their polling station to do so, rather than yours.
▪️If you’ve lost your poll card, you can still vote without it. Find your polling station.
▪️Our polling stations are accessible. If you need any support to cast your vote, just ask your polling station staff.
▪️If you’re feeling unwell or have an emergency that means you are unable to vote on the day, or your photo ID has been damaged or lost, you can apply for an emergency proxy vote until 5pm on polling day.
▪️At the polling station, take your time, read the ballot paper carefully and complete it in line with the instructions.
▪️Acceptable forms of photo ID include: your UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK or EEA drivers’ licence; a biometric immigration document; some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card and the free Voter Authority Certificate. You can still use expired photo ID, if it looks like you. The name on your ID must be the same name you used to register to vote. To see the full list of accepted photo ID visit the Electoral Commission’s website.
If you have chosen to vote by post:
▪️Read all the instructions carefully.
▪️Mark your vote for up to two different candidates on your ballot paper in secret.
▪️Take care filling in the postal voting statement.
▪️Put all the documents in the correct envelopes.
▪️Seal the envelope yourself.
▪️Post your ballot paper back as soon as possible to make sure it’s counted.
▪️You can hand it in at your polling station until 10pm on polling day, if you don’t manage to post it in time.
All the information you need is at https://f.mtr.cool/ldthuzqbtm For residents without access to the internet, call the Elections Team on 01883 722000.
