We'll advertise vacancies as soon as the notice is received from the relevant clerk.

If anyone wishes to call a by-election for a town or parish by-election, our returning officer must be presented with a list of ten signatures from registered local electors for the relevant area. To assist, we've produced a form for electors to complete. Electors may send in individual requests by letter if they prefer.

If there is more than one vacancy in any area, electors must specify which vacancy they are calling to election.

For unitary vacancies, our returning officer must receive signatures from two registered electors, and the relevant form is available to download.

If no election is called, the clerk will advertise the vacant position locally to seek candidates for co-option, and all interested parties should contact the clerk direct.  For information purposes, we'll keep that vacancy on our webpage for approximately two months from the date that the original vacancy notice expired, regardless of whether a co-option has already taken place or not.

In the event of a by-election being held, when both the notice of election has expired and the deadline for withdrawals has passed, a poll will only be held if there are more candidates than seats available. For town and parish vacancies, if there is to be a poll, it must take place within 60 "computed days" from the date of the notice of vacancy. That means that Saturdays, Sundays and any other non-working days are not included in the 60 day period.

All election results will be published as soon as practicable after the announcement of the result, or after the deadline for withdrawal of candidature, in the case of an uncontested election.