Norfolk County Council Election 7 May 2026
The election of County Councillors for Norfolk County Council will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026. All statutory notices and election information will be published on this page.
Further information relating to the election across Norfolk can also be found on the Norfolk County Council election page.
County division boundaries
There have been changes to Norfolk County Council division boundaries since the last County Council election. These changes follow a review carried out by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England.
Finding your county division
To find out which county division you live in, you can use the Ordnance Survey election maps tool. A list of polling stations for each county division is provided below under polling stations.
Broadland District Council covers the following county divisions: Acle, Aylsham, Blofield and Brundall, Coltishall and Spixworth, Drayton and Horsford, Hellesdon, Old Catton, Reepham, Sprowston, Taverham, Thorpe St Andrew, Woodside, Wroxham.
South Norfolk Council covers the following county divisions: Costessey, Diss and Roydon, East Depwade, Forehoe, Henstead, Hethersett, Hingham, Loddon, Long Stratton, Waveney Valley, West Depwade, Wymondham, Yare Valley.
To view a map of each division, please visit the Norfolk County Council information page for Broadland or South Norfolk.
Further information below
For Broadland District Council:
- Election timetable
- Notice of Election
- Statement of Persons Nominated
- Notice of Election Agents
- Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations - available on 28 April 2026
- Results for this election - available from Friday 8 May 2026
For South Norfolk Council:
- Election timetable
- Notice of Election
- Statement of Persons Nominated
- Notice of Election Agents
- Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations - available on 28 April 2026
- Results for this election - available from Friday 8 May 2026
The deadline to register to vote for this election is midnight on Monday 20 April 2026.
You can register online at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
You can also use this service to update your name or re-register if you have moved house.
If you wish to vote by post in this election, deadlines apply.
The deadline to:
- apply for a postal vote
- change or amend an existing postal vote
- apply to vote by postal proxy
- cancel an existing postal vote
is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026.
You can apply online for a postal vote or download a paper application form from: www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
If you apply using a paper application form, please return this to:
- Electoral Services, Horizon Centre, Peachman Way, Broadland Business Park, Norwich, NR7 0WF.
A scan of your paper application form can also be returned by email.
To cancel your postal vote, please contact us: elections@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk
Postal votes for this election will be dispatched between 20-24 April 2026 (please see Postal vote dispatch and delivery for more information)
We know postal voters are keen to know when their ballot pack will arrive.
This will depend on:
- when you applied to vote by post
- how long post takes to be delivered to you – particularly if your postal vote is being sent to an overseas address.
For existing postal voters plus anyone who made a new application to vote by post by 7 April 2026
Your postal vote pack will be dispatched on 20 April 2026. Postal votes are sent by Royal Mail using first-class, priority post.
For electors who made a new application to vote by post between 8 April and 21 April 2026
Your postal vote pack will be dispatched on 24 April 2026. Postal votes are sent by Royal Mail using first-class, priority post.
Why aren’t postal votes sent out as soon as an application comes in?
Candidate nominations for this election closed at 4pm on Thursday 9 April 2026. This means that ballot papers could not be finalised or sent to print until after this deadline.
Postal vote packs are personalised for each voter. They must include the correct ballot paper for the electoral division you live in, as well as personalised instructions and envelopes to ensure your vote can be returned correctly.
Before postal votes are issued, we also carry out essential security checks. These checks, together with the printing and preparation of personalised packs, mean that it takes time to prepare and send postal votes once nominations have closed.
What if I’m going on holiday before my vote is likely to arrive?
If you applied for a postal vote and don’t think you’ll be home to return it by post (it must reach us by 22:00 on 7 May 2026) you can drop your completed postal vote pack in to your polling station on polling day.
Postal votes can also be handed in during office hours at The Horizon Centre, Peachman Way, Broadland Business Park, Norwich, NR7 0WF.
You must complete a form when you hand in your postal vote.
If you will not be back in time to use your postal vote, you can instead appoint someone you trust as a proxy to vote on your behalf. To do this you need to:
-
- cancel your postal vote by 5pm on 21 April 2026. This will happen automatically when you appoint a proxy, but you can contact us to talk about other options to cancel.
- make a proxy application by 5pm on 28 April 2026
- the person you appoint as a proxy must:
- be a registered elector who can vote in this election.
- only be a proxy for up to two electors living in the UK, plus up to two people living abroad, or up to four people living abroad.
- Your proxy can:
- vote in person on your behalf at your polling station. They will have to show their own accepted form of photo ID to be able to vote or
- vote by post for you but must apply for a proxy postal vote by 5pm on 21 April 2026.
If you are unable to attend the polling station on Thursday 7 May 2026, you can apply to vote by proxy. This means choosing someone you trust to vote on your behalf.
Your proxy must attend your polling station on polling day and show their own photo ID. They can also apply to vote on your behalf by post, subject to deadlines.
The deadline to apply to appoint a proxy for this election is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026.
You can apply online at: www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote
If you vote in person at a polling station, you must show photo ID before you are given a ballot paper.
A list of accepted photo ID is included on your poll card and is available on the Electoral Commission Voter ID page
If you do not have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. This is a photographic ID specifically for voting.
You must be registered to vote before applying. If you need a Voter Authority Certificate, please apply as early as possible. The deadline to apply in time for this election is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026.
You can apply online for a Voter Authority Certificate at https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate
To find out which polling station you are registered to vote from, you can use the Democracy Club ‘Where do I vote?’ service.
A list of polling stations by county division can be accessed below:
Everyone should be able to register and vote without facing barriers. Broadland District Council and South Norfolk Council provide a range of services and support to help make voting as accessible as possible.
We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support voters with disabilities and to continually improve the range and quality of assistance available. If you would like to know more, please contact us.
Ace Anglia, an independent advocacy organisation, has produced a set of easy‑read guides to help explain your poll card and what to expect when voting in person at the polling station. You can access the guides for your council area using the links below:
For more information on accessibility and voting, please visit our accessibility page.
Candidate Briefing
A briefing for candidates and agents intending to stand in this election was held on Monday 16 March 2026. The presentation from the briefing is available below:
Nominations
The nomination period for this election runs from 9:30 am on Monday 30 March to 4pm on Thursday 9 April 2026.
Nomination papers, together with guidance on how to complete them, are available on the Electoral Commission website.
Nomination papers must be submitted by hand to the Deputy Returning Officer at either South Norfolk Council or Broadland District Council. Nominations may be delivered between 9:30 am and 4:00 pm on any working day during the nomination period.
All nomination papers must be hand delivered to:
The Horizon Centre
Peachman Way
Broadland Business Park
Norwich
NR7 0WF
Due to the high volume of nomination papers expected for this election, candidates are strongly advised to book an appointment in advance to submit their nomination papers.
To arrange an appointment, please contact the Electoral Services team:
- email elections@southnorfolkandbroadland.gov.uk
- or call 01603 430483
Nomination papers received after the deadline of 4:00 pm on Thursday 9 April 2026 will not be accepted.
Candidate Safety and Security
The Government has published updated candidate security guidance for the May 2026 local elections, along with a candidate safety video offering practical advice on staying safe during the election period. The video includes a QR code linking to further guidance from national security and policing bodies.
When nomination papers are submitted, candidates and agents are required to provide contact details. After the close of nominations, this information will be shared with Norfolk Police to support candidate safety, in line with FEOA (Female Election Online Abuse) and wider candidate safety arrangements.
Candidate Expenses
Candidates should refer to the Electoral Commission’s guidance for candidates and agents for full details on election spending and completing the expenses return.
The spending limit for the regulated period is £960 plus 8p per local government elector in the division, based on the number of electors registered on the last day for publication of the Notice of Election. The confirmed spending limit will be published on Monday 27 March 2026.
All candidates must submit a declaration and return of election expenses to the Deputy Returning Officer within the statutory timeframe, even if no expenses were incurred. All returns are available for public inspection.
The deadline for receipt of candidates’ expenses is Friday 12 June 2026.
Spending return templates are available in the Electoral Commission’s guidance for candidates and agents.
Electoral Services Team
Contact Us
Address: Horizon Centre Peachman Way Broadland Business Park Norwich NR7 0WF
Telephone: 01603 430483 or 01508 533704