Upcoming elections
County, Parish & District elections - 7 May 2026
West Sussex County Council and Horsham Parish Council Elections will take place on Thursday 7 May 2026. A district ward by-election will also take place for Itchingfield, Slinfold & Warnham.
For information about voting in a polling station, and voter ID, please visit our voting in person webpage.
If you have a postal vote, your pack will be despatched first class, around 17 April.
Information for Candidates & Agents
- For information about being a parish councillor please visit the National Association of Local Councils webpage.
- If you wish to submit nomination papers, please contact elections@horsham.gov.uk.
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Publication of Notice of Election | Monday 30 March 2026 | Notice of Election - West Sussex County Council Notice of Election - Horsham Parish Council Notice of Election - Horsham District Council |
| Delivery of nomination papers | 10am - 4pm, from Tuesday 31 March 2026 | Guidance on completing nomination papers for Parish Council elections Nomination Pack - Horsham Parish |
| Deadline for delivery of nomination papers | 4pm, Thursday 9 April 2026 | |
| Publication of Statement of Persons Nominated | By 4pm, Friday 10 April 2026 | |
| Deadline to Register to Vote | Midnight, Monday 20 April 2026 | Register to vote |
| Deadline to apply for a postal vote, or postal proxy, and for changes to existing postal or proxy votes | 5pm, Tuesday 21 April 2026 | Apply for a postal vote |
| Deadline to apply for a proxy vote, and voter authority certificate | 5pm, Tuesday 28 April 2026 | Apply for a proxy vote Apply for a VAC |
| Publication of Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations | Tuesday 28 April 2026 | |
| First date to apply for a replacement postal ballot paper | Thursday 30 April 2026 | |
| Polling Day | 7am - 10pm, Thursday 7 May 2026 | |
| Count & declaration of result | Friday 8 May 2026 |
Candidate Information
Please visit the Electoral Commission website for detailed information in relation to expenses. The deadline to return election expense for the County and District elections is Friday 12 June. The deadline to return election expenses for the parish elections is Thursday 4 June.
- Electoral Commission page on Candidate Spending for Local Government elections
- Electoral Commission page with forms for reporting on Local Government elections
- Electoral Commission page on Candidate Spending for Parish Council elections
- Electoral Commission page with forms for reporting on Parish Council elections
The expenses limits are detailed below:
Future elections
The following elections are scheduled to take place in the coming years:
- May 2027 - District & Parish Elections
- May 2028 - Sussex Mayoral Authority