District and Parish council elections and Lincolnshire County Council by-election on 4 May 2023

An election has now been called to fill a vacancy for the Eagle & Hykeham West division of the Lincolnshire County Council, which has arisen following the resignation of Councillor Thompson. If contested, this will be combined with the district and parish elections taking place on 4 May 2023. More information for potential candidates and agents can be found on the county council candidate page, a link to which can be found further down this page. All other deadlines for voters remain the same.

Boundary changes taking effect for these elections

The District Council wards have been subject to a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE). The resulting new district wards, and some consequential changes to North Hykeham and Sleaford parish wards, will take effect from the elections on 4 May 2023.

The overall number of district councillors will remain at 43 but the number of district wards is reduced to 24. 18 of the previous 26 district ward boundaries will change and all names will change. 

Further information on the review and the new wards.

Voter ID in polling stations

From May 2023, all voters at a polling station will need to show an accepted form of photographic identification (photo ID) in order to be able to cast their vote. This has been introduced under the Elections Act 2022. Anyone who does not have an accepted form of ID can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate to use at the polling station.  

More information on presenting voter ID and Voter Authority Certificates.

Key dates

•  Nomination period during which prospective candidates can submit nomination papers - Thursday 16 March to Tuesday 4 April (10am to 4pm)
• Register to vote deadline - midnight on Monday 17 April
• Apply to vote by post deadline - 5pm on Tuesday 18 April (this deadline is also for cancellations and amendments of all current postal and proxy votes)
• Apply to vote by proxy deadline - 5pm on Tuesday 25 April
• Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate deadline - 5pm on Tuesday 25 April
• Polling day - 7am to 10pm on Thursday 4 May

Standing as a candidate

Important information regarding standing for election, briefing dates and nomination packs can be found on the following pages:

• District Council candidate information
• Parish/Town Council candidate information
• County Council Candidate and Agent Information

Poll cards

From May 2023, in order to list the suitable form of photo ID acceptable at a polling station, some poll cards will be A4 size and delivered in an envelope. 

The poll card will list the electoral areas - ward and parish council, though not all areas will have both elections as many parishes are likely to be uncontested. At the polling station and with postal votes, electors will be presented with one or two ballot papers - different colours.  It will say how many votes you have on each ballot paper.

Poll cards will be issued to all registered electors as soon as possible after the Notices of Election have been published in March.

If you have not received a card by 6 April it may mean you are not registered. If you have moved in early 2023 you need to have ensured you have re-registered at your new address. Please phone Customer Services on 01529 414155 if you have not received a poll card.

Postal votes

If you usually receive a postal vote, you will receive a postal poll card before the postal vote pack.

Postal votes will be issued as soon as possible after the close of nominations. These are sent by first class post. However if you applied near the deadline these will be posted by the Friday before polling week.

More about postal voting.

Proxy Voting

If you have appointed a proxy to vote on your behalf at your allocated polling station, both you and your proxy will be sent a poll card.  

More about proxy voting.

Polling stations

Your poll card will tell you which polling station you need to go to.

We'll publish a list of all the polling stations near to the time of the election.

More information regarding accessible voting.

Notices

The following Notices will appear here in accordance with the legal timetable:

• Notice of Election - District A3
• Notice of Election - Parish A3
• Notice of Election - County
• Statement of Persons Nominated (for each district ward, parish and parish/town ward) 
• Notice of Election Agents
• Notice of Poll (includes polling stations)

Results

• Uncontested election results - to appear here
• Contested election results - to appear here

Working at an election

If you are interested in working at an election there is more information in the Election Recruitment 2023 on our jobs page, from where you can also make an application.