County Council publish formal notice of May elections
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL have announced that they have published the statutory Notices of Election today (March 25) for the upcoming votes later this spring; thus making the start of their official timetable ahead of polling day on May 7 (Thursday).
On this date, residents across Hampshire will elect a total of seventy-eight County Councillors to represent them on the County Council, who are responsible for delivering important services used by 1.4 million people. These services range from schools and education, to roads, social care for vulnerable children / adults, libraries, tips and country parks.
County Returning Officer and Hampshire County Council Chief Executive, Gary Westbrook, said: “Voting is one of the simplest and most important ways to have a say in the services that affect all our daily lives from the roads we use every day to support for vulnerable people in our communities. I would encourage everyone who is eligible to take part in this year’s County Council elections.”
To take part in the County Council elections, people must be on the electoral register before the registration deadline on April 10 (Friday). Residents can vote in person, by post or by proxy, and anyone voting in person will need to bring an accepted form of photo ID. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on April 21 (Tuesday), and for a proxy vote the deadline is 5pm on April 28 (Tuesday).
Candidates standing in the elections will be formally announced by 4pm on Friday 10 April, whilst the results will be counted overnight on May 7, They will then be published on the Hampshire County Council as soon as possible after they are declared by returning officers across the region.
The current political make-up of Hampshire County Council has fifty seats represented by the Conservatives with the Liberal Democrats having nineteen. The Labour Party have three seats with two Independents; whilst the Green Party, Reform UK and the Whitehill & Bordon Community Party have one alongside an unaffiliated seat.
Readers can find out more information about how to register to vote through the Hampshire County Council elections webpage, whilst they can register to vote through gov.uk/register-to-vote.
PICTURED BY HOLLY MASON: Final notes are carefully counted during elections held in May 2022 at Gosport Leisure Centre.
