Elections and voting

Elections

Electoral Services are responsible for the organisation of parish, district, county, parliamentary and european parliamentary elections, together with all aspects of electoral registration.

Parish Elections

Within the Forest of Dean area there are 40 parish councils who elect councillors every 4 years. These elections will be held on the same day as the District elections.
View: Parish council details and contacts

District Elections

There are currently 48 councillors representing 27 wards within the Forest of Dean. To view ward boundaries see document: Map - Ward Boundaries.  There are elections in every ward every four years with the next elections being held in 2011.  However vacancies may arise from time to time if a councillor resigns from office.
View: Councillor details and contacts

County Elections

Elections for councillors to serve on Gloucestershire County Council are also held every 4 years with the last election being held on Thursday 4th June 2009.
View: County Councillor details and contacts

Parliamentary Elections

Parliamentary elections have to take place within 5 years from the date of the last election.  The next Parliamentary election will be held on the 6th May 2010.  The Constituency of the Forest of Dean comprises all wards of the Forest of Dean district and the Highnam with Hawbridge ward of Tewkesbury Borough.  Mark Harper (Conservative) is the current MP for the Constituency of the Forest of Dean. 

You can keep up to date with the latest information on our Parliamentary Elections 2010 here: 
Parliamentary Election for the Forest of Dean District 2010

Parliamentary Prospective Candidates/Agents

Nomination packs for the forthcoming election are now available.  Please contact electoral services on 01594 812626 for details.

The pack contains the Nomination paper, Candidate's Home address form, Candidate's Consent to Nomination, Registration of Political Partes and use or party emblem, Appointment of Election Agent, Guidance for Candidates and Agents and details regarding the required £500 deposit.

Voters

Are you ready for this year's General Election?

A General Election will be held on May 6th 2010.  Registering to vote only takes a few minutes: print off a form from www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or telephone 01594 812692.

The Council wrote to each household in September/October last year.  If you are not sure you returned your form, or if you have moved house since then and have not re-registered, then take a few minutes to do so now, and make sure nothing stops you from having your say on election day.

Remember: if you are not registered, you can't  vote!

European Parliamentary Elections

European parliamentary elections are held in June every five years. The last election took place between 4th – 7th June 2009.

Forest of Dean is included in the South West Region, which returns six MEPs to the European Parliament. The South West region comprises the county areas of Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucester, Somerset, Wiltshire together with the Isles of Scilly and Gibraltar.

Further information can be obtained from the european parliament website.