Local Elections

What are the local elections?

On 4th May 2023, local elections will be taking place in Lewes, as well as in many other places across the country. In Lewes, there are elections taking place for Lewes Town Council, and for Lewes District Council.

Electoral services, such as voter registrations, poll cards, voter authority certificates and candidate nominations for both elections are provided by Lewes District Council.

Lewes Town Council is the most local form of government for Lewes, and is made up of 18 town councillors across 4 wards – Lewes Bridge (5), Lewes Castle (4), Lewes Central (1) and Lewes Priory (8). See the Notice of Election for all Town and Parish Councils within the District of Lewes.

Lewes District Council covers the whole of the Lewes District. There are 7 district councillors that represent the Lewes town area, across 3 electoral wards – Lewes Bridge (2), Lewes Castle (2) and Lewes Priory (3). See the of Notice of Election for Councillors for the wards within the District of Lewes.

Registering to vote

You must be registered to vote if you wish to take part in the local elections. The deadline for registration is Monday 17 April 2023.  

New Voter ID Rules

The UK Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections. This new requirement will apply for the first time in England at the local elections on Thursday 4 May 2023.

Which forms of ID can I use to vote?

Many people will already have a form of photo ID that is acceptable.  You can use any of the following:

• Passport
• Driving licence (including provisional license)
• Blue badge
• Certain concessionary travel cards
• Identity card with PASS mark (Proof of Age Standards Scheme)
• Biometric Immigration document
• Defence identity card
• Certain national identity cards

For more information on which forms of photo ID will be accepted, visit electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID  or call the Electoral Commission helpline on 0800 328 0280.

If you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID

If you don’t already have an accepted form of photo ID, or you’re not sure whether your photo ID still looks like you, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. You can apply for this online.

Alternatively, you can complete a paper application form available from Lewes District Council. You can find the form to download, as well as contact details if you need assistance, on their website: https://www.lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk/elections-and-voting/new-voter-id-requirements/

The postal voting process will not be changing, and you will not require photo ID to vote by post.

Key election dates

Monday 20 March – Notice of Election published
Tuesday 21 March 2023 – Delivery of Candidate Nominations commences
Tuesday 4 April 2023, 16:00 – Last day for delivery of Nominations
Monday 17 April 2023 – Deadline for submitting applications to register to vote
Tuesday 18 April 2023, 17:00 – Deadline for submitting new postal vote and postal proxy applications and for cancelling/changing existing postal or proxy votes
Tuesday 25 April 2023, 17:00 – Deadline for submitting new applications to vote by proxy
Tuesday 25 April 2023, 17:00 – Deadline for submitting new applications for Voter Authority Certificates (if you don’t have Voter ID)
Thursday 4 May 2023, 17:00 – Last day for new applications to vote by proxy on grounds of an emergency
Thursday 4 May 2023 – Polling day