Elections coming up in Essex on Thursday 7 May 2026

A Notice of Election has been published today ahead of the Essex County Council elections taking place on Thursday 7 May.

Chelmsford City Council also published a Notice of Election for a local by-election in the Broomfield and The Walthams ward to be held on the same day following the resignation of Cllr Nicola Bugbee.

Voting in the Essex County Council elections

Voters across the county will be going to the polls to select their Essex County Councillors. There are nine councillors who sit on the county council to represent Chelmsford, and they help make important decisions about county-wide issues such as roads and highways, education and schools, children’s services, adult social care and libraries.

The names and parties of those who will be standing for election will be published on the council’s website on Friday 10 April.

Look out for your poll card from 30 March 

Registered voters will begin receiving their poll cards from Monday 30 March 2026. This year, your poll card will be in the form of a letter, so look out for a clearly labelled envelope in the post.

You poll card will contain all the information you need to vote. It will tell you which polling station you should attend and the hours it is open. Your polling station might be somewhere different this year, so don't forget to check before you set out. You can also find your designated polling station online by entering your postcode.

If you do not receive a poll card by Friday 10 April, you can call the council’s Electoral Services team on 01245 606449 to check that you are registered to vote. You do not need to show your poll card at the polling station.

Changes to electoral boundaries

You poll card will also tell you which division you are voting in. Since the last election, the Local Government Boundary Commission England (LGBCE) has reviewed the Essex electoral boundaries, so the division you are voting in may have changed.

In Chelmsford, the biggest change to voting boundaries is the abolition of the Stock division. It has been replaced by Danbury and The Hannningfields, with Stock and Margaretting now included in the Broomfield and Writtle division.

The new divisions are:

• Broomfield and Writtle
• Chelmer
• Chelmsford Central
• Chelmsford North
• Chelmsford West
• Danbury and The Hanningfields
• Great Baddow and Galleywood
• Springfield
• Woodham Ferrers

You can find out more about these changes and view a map on the LGBCE website.

Chelmsford City Council by-election in the Broomfield and The Walthams ward

A local by-election in the Broomfield and The Walthams ward will also take place on Thursday 7 May.

Residents of Broomfield and The Walthams will vote for a new Chelmsford City councillor to represent them as Cllr Nicola Bugbee has decided to step down.

Chelmsford City Council is responsible for a wide range of services including parks, licensing, waste collection and recycling, planning policy and community events and culture.

If you live in the Broomfield and The Walthams ward, you will receive two ballot papers at the polling station: a white ballot paper for the Essex County Council election and a lilac ballot paper for the Chelmsford City Council by-election.

The names and parties of those who will be standing for election will be published on the council’s website on Friday 10 April.

Get ready to vote

Voting in these elections gives you the chance to choose who will represent you and make important decisions about the area you live in. Make sure you’re ready to vote by taking note of the upcoming deadlines. 

Monday 20 April 2026 by midnight – register to vote 
You can register to vote online via the gov.uk website.  

Tuesday 21 April 2026 by 5pm – postal vote registration 
If you’ll be away or can’t get to the polling station on 7 May, you can apply for a postal vote.

Tuesday 28 April 2026 by 5pm – apply for a postal vote
You can apply for a proxy vote if you need someone you trust to vote on your behalf.

Don’t forget your voter ID

You’ll need to show an accepted form of photo ID to vote in person on 7 May. Accepted forms of ID include things like your passport, photocard driving licence, PASS approved ID card or a Blue Badge. Don’t worry if your ID has expired; as long as it still looks like you, polling staff can accept it.

If you don’t have an accepted form of ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. You’ll need to know your National Insurance number and be able to provide a digital photograph of yourself to apply. Make sure you complete your application by 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026 to ensure your Voter Authority Certificate is ready in time for the upcoming elections. 

You can keep up to date with the latest information about upcoming elections on Chelmsford City Council’s website or sign up to our City News email newsletter to get local stories straight to your inbox.