2026 elections

Although central government have now announced that the West Sussex County Council elections will be postponed, we are awaiting the outcome of a judicial review which will take place over 19 and 20 February, which seeks to overturn that decision. This page will be updated once we have more information.

Key dates 

Key dates to note

Date	Event
30 March	Notice of Election is published.
30 March to 12 April	Everyone in your household who is eligible will receive a poll card.
10 April	Statement of Persons Nominated, notice of poll and situation of polling stations are published.
20 April	Today is the last day you can register to vote in these elections
21 April - by 5pm	Today is the last day you can apply for and return your postal vote form or make amendments to any existing voting arrangements. If you would like to vote by post, apply now to make sure your application is processed early.
28 April - by 5pm	Today is the last day you can apply for and return your: - Proxy vote application - Voter authority certificate application
22 to 30 April	Ballot papers posted to those that have applied to vote by post.
7 May - 7am to 10pm	Get ready to vote - today is polling day.
10 May	Declarations of Result of Poll are published

Election timetable

Election timetable

Date	Note / Deadline	Electoral event
Tuesday 3 March 2026	6pm	Candidates and agents briefing (Council Chamber)
Monday 30 March to Sunday 12 April 2026	-	Poll Card hand delivery
Monday 30 March 2026	-	Publication of Notice of Election
Tuesday 31 March 2026	Nominations must be delivered by hand within normal office hours	1st date to deliver nomination papers to the deputy county returning officer at Arun District Council
Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April 2026	-	Easter bank holiday weekend
Thursday 9 April 2026	Not later than 4pm	Deadline for the delivery of nomination papers to the deputy county returning officer at Arun District Council Civic Centre, Maltravers Road, Littlehampton BN17 5LF Deadline for withdrawals of nomination Deadline for Appointment of Election Agents Publication of Notice of Election Agents
Thursday 9 April 2026	-	Publication of 1st interim Notice of Alteration to Register of Electors
Friday 10 April 2026	Not later than 4pm	Publication of Statement of Persons Nominated  In an uncontested election, returning officer to: Declare elected the person remaining validly nominated Give public notice of the name of the person elected
Monday 20 April 2026	- 12	Deadline for registration applications to vote in the election
Tuesday 21 April 2026	Not later than 5pm - 11	Deadline for requests for new postal votes or to change or cancel an existing postal vote or proxy appointment
Wednesday 22 April 2026	Publish between -18 and -6 days	Publication of 2nd interim Notice of Alteration to Register of Electors
Wednesday 22 April to Wednesday 29 April 2026	-	Hand delivery of postal vote packs
Monday 27 April 2026	-	Post out of postal vote packs - 2nd issue
Tuesday 28 April 2026	1.30pm	Postal vote opening starts (1)
Tuesday 28 April 2026	- 6 Not later than 5pm - 6 Not later than 5pm - 6	Publication of Notice of Poll and Notice of Polling Stations Deadline for new applications to vote by proxy (except for emergencies)  Deadline for applications for a Voter Authority Certificate
Wednesday 29 April 2026	- 5 - 5	Publication of final Notice of Alteration of Register for late applications Deadline for appointment of polling and counting agents
Wednesday 29 April 2026	1.30pm	Postal vote opening (2)
Thursday 30 April 2026	- 4	First day to issue replacement postal ballot papers where lost
Friday 1 May 2026	1.30pm	Postal vote opening (4)
Saturday 2 May 2026	9am	Postal vote opening - Contingency (5)
Monday 4 May 2026	-	Bank holiday Monday
Tuesday 5 May 2026	1.30pm	Postal vote opening (6)
Tuesday 5 May 2026	1.30pm	Postal vote opening (7)
Wednesday 6 May 2026	1.30pm	Postal vote opening (8)
Thursday 7 May 2026	Hours of Poll - 7am to 10pm Not later than 5pm Not later than 5pm Not later than 9pm Not later than 10pm	POLLING DAY  Deadline for new applications to vote by proxy on grounds of emergency  Deadline to issue replacement postal ballot papers where lost or spoilt  Deadline to make alterations to the Register due to clerical error  Deadline for production of temporary Voter Authority Certificates
Thursday 7 May 2026	1.30pm 9.00pm - final session	Postal vote opening (9), Civic Centre Postal Vote opening (Final) (10), Civic Centre
Sunday 10 May 2026	Arrive for 8.30am for a 9am start	VERIFICATION AND COUNT Verification and count of all ballot papers at Littlehampton Wave
Monday 25 May 2026	-	Bank holiday Monday
Thursday 11 June 2026	-	Last day for receipt of election expenses to the county returning officer at West Sussex County Council, County Hall, West Street, Chichester PO19 1RQ.
Thursday 6 August 2026	Within 3 months beginning with the date of poll	Last day to send postal vote identifier rejection notices

Candidate information will be available on our website or by calling our helpline on 01903 737616 from 4pm on Friday 10 April 2026. We will not be able to provide this information in the polling station.

We hope to have live updates on this page and social media if there are large queues at any polling station, so that you can decide what time is best for you to vote. 

Voting in a polling station

DO YOU HAVE PHOTO ID?

A full list of accepted photo ID can be found at www.gov.uk/voting-photo-id. If you do not have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate at www.voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk.

What to expect if you're voting at a polling station

If your photographic identification document has expired it will still be accepted so long as the photograph is still a good likeness of you, unless it is a temporary Voter Authority Certificate which is not valid for use on the date of poll. Only original documents can be accepted. 

You may be required to provide further proof of identity if there is any discrepancy between your name as shown on your form of photographic identification and the name of the elector that you claim to be. 

• Please expect to queue as this will be a longer process than normal. 
• As well as your ID please bring your poll card with you to make it easier, as this can be scanned at the desk. 
• If you vote by proxy, your proxy will need to show their photo ID or apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. They must also be eligible to vote in this election. 
• Abuse to staff will not be tolerated. Police may be called if this occurs. Any extra measures, including queuing arrangements, are in place due to the new legislation. 
• If you would prefer to bring your own pencil or pen then this is fine. 
• There will be no toilet facilities available to use so please make alternative arrangements.

Accessible polling stations

We work hard to make sure that polling stations are accessible for all electors. 

To find out about the accessibility measures we have put in place at polling stations and to view more information on this or take part in our survey, visit our accessibility page.

Voting by post

VOTING BY POST IS QUICK, EASY AND SECURE

When applying to vote by post, you will be required to provide your national insurance number, date of birth and submit a photograph of your signature.

Once registered to vote by post, you will receive a postal vote pack containing your ballot papers for the next election.

To apply:

Complete the application on the secure government portal at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote.

Or

If you would like a form posted to you, please request this by emailing or phoning us.

Completed postal vote applications returned by 1 April will be hand-delivered between 22 and 29 April 2026.

Completed postal vote applications returned between 2 April and the deadline of 5pm on 21 April will be posted on 27 April 2026.

Information on how you can complete your postal pack can be found at: www.arun.gov.uk/postal-votes.

You can return your postal ballot pack by post in the pre-paid envelope provided.

Alternatively, you can drop your completed postal pack to the Arun Civic Centre reception in Littlehampton; by completing a return form during our reception opening times: 

Civic Centre opening times

Day	Opening times
Monday	9am to 4pm
Tuesday	9am to 4pm
Wednesday	11am to 4pm
Thursday	9am to 4pm
Friday	9am to 4pm
Saturday	Closed
Sunday	Closed

• Please note that you cannot drop postal packs outside of these hours as a form needs to be completed before we can process the return.

• You can also drop completed postal packs to any polling station within the district on polling day; again a form will need to be completed for us to be able to accept the return.

• You can only hand in your own postal vote and those of up to five others.

• Due to new legislation, any postal vote left at any council building (or elsewhere) without the relevant form being completed will be rejected.

Further information

If someone you live with isn't registered

Everyone is now responsible for registering themselves. Anyone whose name is not included in this letter should go to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote to register by Monday 20th April 2026 in order to vote in the May elections. We can also provide paper application forms on request. 

Previous registration does not always mean you are currently registered

Even if you have registered for council tax or council services, you still need to apply to register. We are writing to every household to make sure everyone who is eligible is registered. You may have voted in the past but you may not be registered currently. 

Elections taking place in your area

For information on upcoming elections in your area, please visit www.arun.gov.uk/2026-elections 

If you are entitled to vote at an election, you will receive a poll card with more information. 

Eligibility to vote in upcoming elections

You need to be included on the electoral register in order to vote. 

There are some people who are entitled to be registered but won't be entitled to vote at the next election. 

For example, while you can register to vote before you turn 18, you have to be 18 or older on election day in order to vote. 

EU nationals (other than those who are British, Irish or Commonwealth) cannot vote at UK Parliamentary elections, but they can currently register to vote at local and certain other elections. The Elections Act 2022 brought changes to the criteria for this so look out for more information on our website or information we send to your property.

Privacy Statement 

We collect information under the legal basis of a task carried out in the public interest, as set out in the Representation of the People Act 1983 and related regulations. We look after personal information securely and follow data protection legislation 

The electoral registration officer is the Controller. They must have a policy document known as a privacy notice setting out how they process personal data. Refer to the privacy notice at www.arun.gov.uk/privacy-notice-electoral services or contact us to request a copy.

For more information about voting email elections@arun.gov.uk or phone our Helpline on 01903 737616 (if you have no access to email)

Candidates and agents briefing 

A candidates and agents briefing will take place on Tuesday 3 March 2026 at 6pm, both in the Council Chamber at the Arun Civic Centre, Littlehampton. If you would like to attend this briefing, please email nominations@arun.gov.uk and we will send you the meeting invite. This will allow you to receive further information on the election arrangements, ask questions and see examples of how to complete a nomination paper.

Nomination Arrangements

1. Nomination packs will be available on the website from approximately the end of February 2026. This will include the papers as well as useful information to help you complete them. 
   If you require a paper copy of these, please email nominations@arun.gov.uk to request them; they will then be posted to you. 
2. We will be returning to a 15-minute appointment system for informal checks for up 3 nomination papers. For 4 nomination papers or abov,e they can be hand delivered to the Civic Centre office in Littlehampton and left to be checked. You will be issued a receipt for this. 
3. Contact details will need to be provided so that we can ask the candidate/agent back to complete any amendments before the papers are formally received. This must be completed before the deadline for nominations.
4. The deadline for us to receive the completed nomination papers at the Civic Centre is 4pm on Thursday 9 April 2026. We ask that nomination papers are not handed in on this day unless they have been informally checked beforehand. If any amendments are needed, it makes it very difficult to get them completed on the last day, and we cannot accept anything after the 4pm deadline.
5. For any questions or assistance that is needed, please use the nominations@arun.gov.uk email address.