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From May 2023 onwards, the Elections Act 2022 requires voters to show photographic identification at polling stations before they are given a ballot paper. View our Voter ID requirements web page for more information.
This page provides details of elections which are due to be held over the next few years.
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Elections & Referendums 2026
Mayoral
The government has decided to postpone the Mayoral election that was due to take place this May until 2028.
East Sussex County Council
On 18 December 2025, the Government asked for applications for May 2026 local elections to be delayed to be submitted by 15 January 2026.
It has now been reported that the county elections will be cancelled for another year. However, the necessary legislation to cancel the elections is not yet in place. In addition, a political party is challenging the decision through the Courts at a hearing on 19-20 February 2026.
We will update this page once we have any further updates.
Currently no by-elections have been called.
DECLARATION OF RESULT OF POLL
Neighbourhood Planning Referendum
East Dean and Friston Neighbourhood Planning Referendum
I, Heather Blanshard, being the Deputy Counting Officer at the above referendum held on Thursday 12 February 2026, do hereby give notice that the results of the votes cast is as follows:
Question “Do you want the South Downs National Park Authority to use the Neighbourhood Plan for East Dean and Friston to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?” | ||
Votes Recorded | Percentage | |
Number cast in favour of a Yes | 557 | 94.89% |
Number cast in favour of a No | 30 | 5.11 % |
The number of ballot papers rejected was as follows: | Number of ballot papers |
A want of an official mark | |
B voting for more answers than required | |
C writing or mark by which voter could be identified | |
D being unmarked or wholly void for uncertainty | |
E rejected in part | |
Total | 0 |
Electorate: 1414 | Ballot Papers Issued: 587 | Turnout: 41.51% |
And I do hereby declare that more than half of those voting have voted:
YES
in response to the question: “Do you want the South Downs National Park Authority to use the Neighbourhood Plan for East Dean and Friston to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”
Heather Blanshard, Deputy Counting Officer
Dated: Friday 13 February 2025
NOTICE OF POLL
Wealden District Council
Referendum on the adoption of the East Dean and Friston Neighbourhood Plan
Notice is hereby given that:
1. A poll will be held on Thursday 12 February 2026 to decide on the question below:-
“Do you want the South Downs National Park Authority to use the Neighbourhood Plan for the parish of East Dean and Friston to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’
- The hours of poll will be from 7:00am and 10:00 pm.
- The situation of Polling Stations and the description of persons entitled to vote are as follows:
Situation of Polling Station | Station Number | Ranges of electoral register numbers of persons entitled to vote thereat |
Small Hall, East Dean and Friston Village Hall, Village Green Lane, East Dean, BN20 0DR | NPR-1 | LWSH-1 to LWSH-1414 |
Trevor Scott, Counting Officer
Dated: Wednesday 4 February 2026
Printed and published by the Counting Officer, The Elections Office, Wealden District Council, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AX
EAST DEAN AND FRISTON NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN AREA
NOTICE OF REFERENDUM
Referendum on the adoption of the East Dean and Friston Neighbourhood Plan |
- A Referendum will be held on Thursday 12 February 2026 to decide on the question below:
‘Do you want the South Downs National Park Authority to use the Neighbourhood Plan for the parish of East Dean and Friston to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?’
- Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 12 midnight on Tuesday 27 January 2026. Applications can be made online: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
- Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes and amendments or cancellations of proxy votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at The Elections Office, Wealden District Council, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AX by 5 pm on Wednesday 28 January 2026. Applications for new postal votes can be made online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
- Applications for a Voter Authority Certificate or an Anonymous Elector’s Document valid for this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer by 5pm on Wednesday 4 February 2026. Applications can be made online: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate
- New applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at The Elections Office, Wealden District Council, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AX by 5 pm on Wednesday 4 February 2026. Applications for some new proxy votes can be made online at www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote
- Applications to vote by emergency proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer at The Elections Office, Wealden District Council, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 2AX by 5pm on Thursday, 12 February 2026.
Trevor Scott
Counting Officer
Dated: Thursday 8 January 2026
As the South Downs National Park Authority is the planning authority for the neighbourhood planning area, you can view more information about the neighbourhood plan on their website South Downs National Park Authority.
Time Table
Election event | Time | Date |
Last day for applications to be included in the register of electors to be used at this election | Tuesday 27 January 2026 | |
Last time for receipt of applications to vote by post and for changes to existing postal or proxy applications | 5:00 pm | Wednesday 28 January 2026 |
Last day for Voter Authority Certificates | 5:00 pm | Wednesday 4 February 2026 |
Last day and time for the receipt of proxy vote applications for this election | 5:00 pm | Wednesday 4 February 2026 |
Last day for the Appointment of Polling Observers and Counting Observers | Thursday 5 February 2026 | |
First Day to Issue Replacement Lost Postal Ballot Papers | Friday 6 February 2026 | |
Last day and time to make alterations to the register to correct a clerical error or to implement a court (registration appeal) decision | 9:00 pm | Thursday 12 February 2026 |
Last Time and Day to Issue Replacement Spoilt or Lost Postal Ballot Papers | 5:00 pm | Thursday 12 February 2026 |
Final deadline for receipt of proxy applications made on the grounds of unforeseen illness, physical incapacity, employment or service | 5:00 pm | Thursday 12 February 2026 |
Day of Poll | 7:00 am to 10:00 pm | Thursday 12 February 2026 |
Candidates & Agents
If you are looking to stand for the next election and are appointing agents, the link below provides guidance and resources to help you comply with the rules.
You will need to select the area under the ‘Where am I’ drop down, and then select the ‘Election Type.’ This will filter all the results below. Alternatively, you can us the search box to look for specific guidance/resources. It does also explain this on the link.
If you would like to find out what polling station you will be voting at, you can find this at Where do I Vote