Elections

Information about past and future elections for Suffolk County Council, including how you can stand for election

Suffolk County Council holds elections every 4 years.

The next Suffolk County Council election will be held on Thursday 7 May 2026.

At the 2026 elections Suffolk County Council will elect 70 councillors to the new divisions created following the review conducted by the Local Government Boundary Committee for England.

You can find details of both the current divisions and the new divisions on the Suffolk Observatory website.

If you are seeking election you may find it useful to read our councillor profile document.

This document gives an indication of the skills a councillor may need and responsibilities they may have during their term of office.

Profile documents have been developed for the following roles which attract Special Responsibility Allowances as detailed in the Members' Allowances Scheme in The Constitution. The profiles are in addition to the councillor profile document.

Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Council (PDF, 71KB)
Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council (PDF, 106KB)
Cabinet Member (PDF, 88KB)
Deputy Cabinet Member (PDF, 71KB)
Chairman of Audit Committee (PDF, 86KB)
Chairman of Development and Regulation Committee (PDF, 68KB)
Chairman of Education and Children's Services Scrutiny Committee (PDF, 103KB)
Chairman of Health Scrutiny Committee (PDF, 68KB)
Chairman of Pension Fund Committee (PDF, 72KB)
Chairman of Scrutiny Committee (PDF, 73KB)
Chairman of the Suffolk Health and Wellbeing Board (PDF, 94KB)
Member of the Permanence Panel (PDF, 286KB)
Leader and Deputy Leader of Opposition Group (PDF, 99KB)
Spokesperson for the largest Opposition Group (PDF, 77KB)

You may also find it useful to read our councillor induction programme which took place from 10 May - 10 November 2021. This gives you an idea of the events/ sessions available for you to attend when first elected as a county councillor.

Our frequently asked questions document may help to answer any queries about being a county councillor.

In July 2019 the Council agreed the following Parental leave policy for Councillors.

Find out more

You can also find further information about being a councillor on the Local Government Associations website: www.local.gov.uk/be-councillor

For further information about County Councillors in Suffolk please contact democratic services by:

emailing elections@suffolk.gov.uk
phoning 01473 265119 (weekdays, 9am to 5pm)

Pakefield Lowestoft by-election - 18 December 2025

Declaration of Result - Pakefield December 2025 (PDF 98KB)
Statement of Persons Nominated - Pakefield November 2025 (93KB)
Notice of Election Agents - Pakefield November 2025 (90KB)
Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations - Pakefield November 2025 (102KB)
Notice of election Pakefield November 2025 (PDF 96KB)
Notice of Casual Vacancy November 2025 (PDF 104KB)

Name	Party	Votes	%
Sonia Barker	The Labour Party	328	12.52
June Mummery	Reform UK	1286	49.10
Letitia Smith	The Conservative Party	357	13.63
Dom Taylor	The Green Party	508	19.40
Chris Thomas	Liberal Democrats	137	5.23
	Majority	778	29.71
	Turnout	2619	22.6

June Mummery was declared elected.

Tower Bury St Edmunds by-election - 3 July 2025

Declaration of Result - Tower July 2025 (PDF 17KB)
Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll - Tower June 2025 (PDF 51KB)
Notice of Election Agents - Tower June 2025 (PDF 48KB)
Situation of Polling Stations - Tower June 2025 (PFD 54KB)
Notice of election Tower May 2025 (PDF 58KB)
Timetable for Tower by-election May 2025 (PDF 12KB)
Nominations pack for Tower by-election May 2025 (PDF 344KB)
Notice of Vacancy Tower May 2025 (PDF 79KB)
Request for election form Tower May 2025 (PDF 74KB)

Name	Party	Votes	%
Clare Higson	The Green Party	1,155	24.93
Judith Moore	Labour and Co-operative Party	667	14.40
James Porter	Liberal Democrat	259	5.59
Joanna Rayner	The Conservative Party	808	17.44
Martin Robinson	Reform UK	1,332	28.75
Frank Stennett	Independent	407	8.78
	Majority	177	3.82
	Turnout	4,633	27.18%

Martin Robinson was declared elected.

St John's Ipswich by-election - 24 April 2025

Declaration of Result - St Johns April 2025 (PDF 16KB)
Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll - St Johns April 2025 (PDF 73KB)
Notice of Elections Agents - St Johns April 2025 (PDF 72KB)
Situation of Polling Stations - St Johns April 2025 (PDF 69KB)
Notice of Time and Place for the Opening Of Postal Votes - St Johns April 2025 (PDF 91KB)
Notice of election St John's March 2025 (PDF 64KB)
Notice of vacancy St John's January 2025 (PDF 55KB)

Name	Party	Votes	%
Michelle Bevan-Margetts	Reform UK	442	20.6
Adele Cook	Labour and Co-operative Party	600	27.9
James Harding	Conservative Party	318	14.8
Adria Pittock	Green Party	458	21.3
Kelly Turner	Liberal Democrats	323	15.0
	Majority	142	6.6
	Turnout	2144	30

Adele Cook was declared elected.

Hoxne and Eye by-election - 10 October 2024

Declaration of Result - Hoxne and Eye October 2024 (PDF, 85KB)
Notice of poll and statement of persons nominated Hoxne and Eye September 2024 (PDF, 111KB)
Postal vote opening notice Hoxne and Eye September 2024 (PDF, 154KB)
Situation of polling stations Hoxne and Eye September 2024 (PDF, 116KB)
Notice of election agents Hoxne and Eye September 2024 (PDF, 108KB)
Notice of election Hoxne and Eye September 2024 (PDF, 154KB)
Notice of vacancy Hoxne and Eye August 2024 (PDF, 78KB)

Name	Party	Votes	%
Joanne Brooks	Green Party	891	44
Timothy William Glenton	Liberal Democrats	102	5
Henry James Lloyd	Local Conservatives	895	45
Paul David Theaker	Labour Party	89	4
	Majority	4	0.2
	Turnout	1986	24.58

Henry Lloyd was declared elected.

Pakefield by-election - 4 July 2024

Declaration of Result - Pakefield July 2024 (PDF, 17KB)
Statement of person nominated Pakefield June 2024 (PDF, 15KB)
Notice of poll and situation of polling stations Pakefield June 2024 (PDF, 68KB)
Notice of election agents Pakefield June 2024 (PDF, 13KB)
Notice of election Pakefield May 2024 (PDF, 14KB)
Notice of vacancy Pakefield May 2024 (PDF, 57KB)

Name	Party	Votes	%
Mark Bee	Conservative Party	2,295	33.4
Peter Allen Byatt	Labour Party	2,680	39.0
Paul Anthony Light	Independent	767	11.1
Adam Robertson	Liberal Democrats	960	13.9
	Majority	385	5.6
	Turnout	6,864	57.8

Peter Byatt was declared elected.

Woodbridge by-election - 12 October 2023

Declaration of Result - Woodbridge October 2023 (PDF 15KB)
Notice of poll and situation of polling stations Woodbridge September 2023 (PDF 65KB)
Statement of persons nominated Woodbridge September 2023 (PDF 15KB)
Notice of election agents Woodbridge September 2023 (PDF 14KB)
Notice of election Woodbridge September 2023 (PDF 13KB)
Notice of vacancy Woodbridge August 2023 (PDF, 65KB).

Name	Party	Votes	%
Lorraine Ruth Leach	Liberal Democrats	990	51.03
Alan Harry Porter	Conservative Party	642	33.09
Paul Richards	Labour and Co-operative Party	301	15.52
	Majority	348	17.94
	Turnout	1940	30.5

Lorraine Leach was declared elected

Priory Heath by-election - 4 May 2023

Declaration of Result - Priory Heath 2023 (PDF 15kb)
Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll (PDF 67kb)
Notice of polling stations (PDF 64kb)
Notice of election agents (PDF 66kb)
Notice of time and place for the opening of postal votes (PDF 61kb)
Notice of Election Priory Heath March 2023 (PDF 18kb)
Notice of Vacancy Priory Heath March 2023 (PDF 10kb).

Name	Party	Votes	%
Thomas McGregor McNie	Conservative Party	567	31.15
Andrew James Patmore	Green Party	180	9.89
Trevor Arthur Powell	Liberal Democrats	143	7.86
Lucy Smith	Labour Party	918	50.44
	Majority	351	19.29
	Turnout	1820	27.25

Lucy Smith was declared elected

Felixstowe Coastal by-election - 4 May 2023

Declaration of Result - Felixstowe Coastal 2023 (PDF 15kb)
Statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and situation of polling stations (PDF 79kb)
Notice of election agents (PDF 66kb)
Notice of Election Felixstowe Coastal March 2023 (PDF 14kb)
Notice of Vacancy Felixstowe Coastal February 2023 (PDF 59kb).

Name	Party	Votes	%
Lesley Mary Bennett	Green Party	939	16.36
Seamus James Townsley Bennett	Liberal Democrats	2,519	43.89
Mark William Jones	Communist Party of Britain	150	2.61
Kevin John Sullivan	Conservative Party	2,060	35.89
	Majority	459	7.80
	Turnout	5,740	36.5

Seamus James Townsley was declared elected

Beccles by-election - 17 November 2022

Declaration of Result - Beccles Division (PDF 16kb)
Statement of Persons Nominated, Notice of Poll & Situation of Polling Stations (PDF 65kb)
Notice of Election Agents October 2022 (PDF 12kb)
Notice of Election Beccles September 2022 (PDF 13kb)
Notice of Vacancy Beccles September 2022 (PDF 57kb).

Name	Party	Votes	%
Ash Lever	Green Party	2,114	70.51
Christian Donald Newsome	Labour Party	260	8.67
Letitia Smith	Conservative Party	624	20.81
	Majority	1,490	49.70
	Turnout	2,998	25.7

Ash Lever was declared elected

Carlford by-election - 2020

Notice of Vacancy Carlford June 2020

Newmarket & Red Lodge by-election - Thursday 30 January 2020

Statement of Persons nominated Newmarket and Red Lodge January 2020 (PDF15kb)
Notice of Election Newmarket and Red Lodge January 2020 (PDF 13kb)
Notice of Vacancy Newmarket and Red Lodge January 2020 (PDF 42KB)

Name	Party	Votes	%
Andrew Jeffrey Appleby	West Suffolk Independents	248	13.9
Theresa Louise Chipulina	Labour Party	198	11.1
Andy Drummond	Conservative Party	893	50.1
Jonny Edge	Liberal Democrat	315	17.7
Alice Haylock	Green Party	123	6.9
	Majority	578	32.4
	Turnout	1,783	17

Andy Drummond was declared elected

Bosmere by-election - Thursday 25 October 2018

Statement of persons nominated Bosmere October 2018 (PDF 14kb)
Notice of poll and polling stations Bosmere October 2018 (PDF 22kb)
Notice of Election Bosmere October 2018 (PDF 14KB)
Notice of Vacancy Bosmere October 2018 (PDF 8KB)

Name	Party	Votes	%
Emma Olivia Bonner-Morgan	Labour Party	168	10.2
Kay Maxine Oakes	Conservative Party	747	45.3
Stephen A Phillips	Liberal Democrat	726	44.1
	Majority	21	1.27
	Turnout	1647	21.33

Kay Oakes was declared elected

St John's, Ipswich by-election - Thursday 7 September 2017

Statement of persons nominated and notice of polling stations St John's Ipswich September 2017 (PDF 75KB)
Notice of election agents St John's Ipswich September 2017 (PDF 11KB)
Notice of Election St John's Ipswich September 2017 (PDF 12KB)
Notice of Vacancy St John's Ipswich September 2017 (PDF 59KB)

Name	Party	Votes	%
Sarah Louise Adams	Labour Party	1,247	62.8
Charlotte Armstrong	Green Party	52	2.6
James Anthony Lymer Harding	Conservative Party	483	24.3
Edward Frederick Packard	Liberal Democrat Party	200	10.1
	Majority	764	38.4
	Turnout	1,987	29.71

Sarah Adams was declared elected.

Lowestoft South Vacancy November 2016 - By-election to take place Thursday 4 May 2017

An election for this vacancy will not be held until 4 May 2017 in accordance with Section 89(3) of the Local Government Act 1972, where the vacancy occurs within six months before the day on which the councillor whose office is vacant would regularly have retired, an election shall not be held under Section 89(1) of the above Act, and the vacancy will be filled at the next ordinary election of councillors on Thursday 4 May 2017.

Hadleigh by-election - Thursday 22 September 2016

Name	Party	Votes	%
Lisa Joy Gordon	Green Party	70	3.9
Kathryn Susanne Grandon	Conservative Party	460	25.9
Stephen John Laing	UK Independence Party	204	11.5
Sue Monks	Labour Party	397	22.3
Trevor Edward Sheldrick	Liberal Democrat Party	642	36.1
	Majority	182	10.2
	Turnout	1,777	26.9

Trevor Sheldrick was declared elected.

Carlford by-election - Thursday 7 July 2016

Name	Party	Votes	%
Jacqueline Barrow	Green Party	176	9.3
Revd Cannon Graham Hedger	Labour	344	18.2
Jon Neal	Liberal Democrats	228	12
Robin Vickery	Conservative	1,142	60.2
	Majority	798	42.1
	Turnout	1,895	27.4

Robin Vickery was declared elected.

Bixley by-election - Thursday 5 May 2016

Name	Party	Votes	%
Colin Boyd	Liberal Democrat	154	6.8
Rob Bridgeman	Labour	634	28
Tony Gould	UK Independence Party	344	15.2
Paul West	Conservative	1,117	49.3
	Majority	483	21.3
	Turnout	2,264	41

Paul West was declared elected.

Haverhill Cangle by-election - Thursday 5 May 2016

Name	Party	Votes	%
John Burns	UK Independence Party	1,273	36.6
Margaret Marks	Conservative	1,168	33.6
Ken Rolph	Liberal Democrat	178	5.1
David Smith	Labour	838	24.1
	Majority	105	3
	Turnout	3,480	26

John Burns was declared elected.

Newmarket and Red Lodge by-election - Thursday 18 February 2016

Name	Party	Votes	%
Andrew Appleby	West Suffolk Independent	123	7.6
Roger Dicker	UK Independence Party	494	30.4
Tim Huggan	Liberal Democrat	76	4.7
Michael Jefferys	Labour	284	17.5
Robin Millar	Conservative	644	39.6
	Majority	150	23.3
	Turnout	1,625	18

Robin Millar was declared elected.

Haverhill Cangle by-election - Thursday 7 May 2015

Name	Party	Votes	%
John Burns	UK Independence Party	2,313	29.6
Maureen Byrne	Labour	2,004	25.6
Tim Marks	Conservative	3,001	38.3
Ken Rolph	Liberal Democrat	404	5.2
	Majority	688	8.8
	Turnout	7,825	57.7

Tim Marks was declared elected.

2 May 2013

The Suffolk County Council Election results for 2 May 2013 can be found in this document:

Election Results - May 2013

Bixley - Thursday 3 May 2012

Name	Party	Votes	%
Peter Bagnall	Liberal Democrat	127	6.4
Barry Broom	Green	189	9.5
John Cook	Labour and Co-operative	566	28.5
Alan Murray	Conservative	866	43.6
Chris Streatfield	UK Independence	229	11.5
	Majority:	300	15.1
	Turnout:	1988	35

Alan Murray was declared elected.

Kesgrave and Rushmere St Andrew - Thursday 9 February 2012

Name	Party	Votes	%
Kevin Eric Archer	Labour	804	30.4
Derrick Peter Fairbrother	Liberal Democrat	514	19.4
Christopher Gerard Hudson	Conservative	1302	49.3
	Majority:	498	18.9
	Turnout:	2639	17.1

Christopher Hudson was declared elected.

Wilford - Thursday 5 May 2011

Name	Party	Votes	%
Roy Burgon	Labour	758	21.7
Christine Hancock	Liberal Democrats	796	22.8
Andrew Reid	Conservative	1913	54.7
	Majority:	1117	32
	Turnout:	3495	54.1

Andrew Reid was declared elected.

Tower - Thursday 11 November 2010

Name	Party	Votes	%
David Chappell	Liberal Democrats	300	8.6
Kevin Hind	Labour	759	21.6
Pippa Judd	Green	479	13.7
David Nettleton	Independent	950	27.1
Stefan Oliver	Conservative	1005	28.7
	Majority:	55	1.5
	Turnout:	3505	20.86

Stefan Oliver was declared elected.

Aldeburgh and Leiston - Thursday 6 May 2010

Name	Party	Votes	%
Joan Girling	Independent	1439	28.7
Terry Hodgson	Labour	1243	24.8
Richard Smith	Conservative	2240	44.7
	Majority:	801	15.9
	Turnout:	5009	66.2

Richard Smith was declared elected.

4 June 2009

The Suffolk County Council Election results for 4 June 2009 can be found in this document:

Election Results - June 2009 (PDF, 93KB)

If you would like results prior to 2009, please contact councillor.services@suffolk.gov.uk or 01473 265119 (weekdays, 9.30am to 4pm).

Full Suffolk County Council 2021 Election Result Map

District	Notices and results
Babergh	Notice of election Babergh (PDF, 25KB) Statement of persons nominated Babergh (PDF,92KB) Notice of poll Babergh (PDF,167KB) Notice of election agents Babergh (PDF, 121KB) Declaration of Result of Poll (PDF, 99KB) Belstead Brook Cosford Great Cornard Hadleigh Melford Peninsula Samford Stour Valley Sudbury Sudbury East and Waldingfield
East Suffolk	Notice of election East Suffolk (PDF, 17KB) Statement of persons nominated and situation of polling stations East Suffolk (PDF, 1.1MB) Notice of election agents East Suffolk (PDF, 150KB) Declaration of Result of Poll (PDF, 239KB) Aldeburgh and Leiston Beccles Blything Bungay Carlford Felixstowe Coastal Felixstowe North and Trimley Framlingham Gunton Halesworth Kesgrave and Rushmere St Andrew Kessingland and Southwold Lowestoft South Martlesham Oulton Pakefield Wickham Wilford Woodbridge
Ipswich	Notice of election Ipswich (PDF, 64KB) Statement of persons nominated Ipswich (PDF, 100KB) Situation of polling stations Ipswich (PDF, 109KB) Notice of election agents Ipswich (PDF, 73KB) Declaration of Result of Poll (PDF, 100KB) Bixley Bridge Chantry Gainsborough Priory Heath Rushmere St Helen's St John's St Margaret's and Westgate Whitehouse and Whitton
Mid Suffolk	Notice of election Mid Suffolk (PDF, 25KB) Statement of persons nominated Mid Suffolk (PDF, 89KB) Notice of poll Mid Suffolk (PDF, 179KB) Notice of election agents Mid Suffolk (PDF, 117KB) Declaration of Result of Poll (PDF, 96KB) Bosmere Gipping Valley Hartismere Hoxne and Eye Stowmarket North and Stowupland Stowmarket South Thedwastre North Thedwastre South Thredling Upper Gipping
West Suffolk	Notice of election West Suffolk (PDF, 241KB) Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll West Suffolk (PDF, 168KB) Situation of polling stations West Suffolk (PDF, 144KB) Notice of election agents West Suffolk (PDF, 118KB) Declaration of Result of Poll (PDF, 140KB) Blackbourn Brandon Clare Eastgate and Moreton Hall Exning and Newmarket Hardwick Haverhill Cangle Haverhill East and Kedington Mildenhall Newmarket & Red Lodge Row Heath Thingoe North Thingoe South Tower

District	Notices
Babergh	Notice of election Babergh (PDF,12KB) Statement of persons nominated Babergh (PDF, 98KB) Notice of poll Babergh (PDF, 158KB) Notice of election agents Babergh (PDF,62KB) Babergh Declaration of Results 2017 (PDF, 107KB)
Forest Heath	Notice of election Forest Heath (PDF, 31KB) Statement of persons nominated & Notice of poll Forest Heath (PDF, 44KB) Notice of election agents Forest Heath (PDF, 43KB) Forest Heath Declaration of Results 2017 (PDF, 53KB)
Ipswich	Notice of election Ipswich (PDF, 7KB) Statement of persons nominated Ipswich (PDF, 85KB) Notice of poll Ipswich (PDF, 185KB) Notice of election agents Ipswich (PDF, 42KB) Ipswich Declaration of Results 2017 (PDF, 153KB)
Mid Suffolk	Notice of election Mid Suffolk (PDF, 12KB) Statement of persons nominated Mid Suffolk (PDF,90KB) Notice of poll Mid Suffolk (PDF, 164KB) Notice of election agents Mid Suffolk (PDF, 60KB) Mid Suffolk Declaration of Results 2017 (PDF, 102KB)
Suffolk Coastal	Notice of election Suffolk Coastal (PDF, 182KB) Statement of persons nominated Suffolk Coastal (PDF, 214KB) Notice of poll Suffolk Coastal (PDF, 206KB) Notice of election agents Suffolk Coastal (PDF,116KB) Suffolk Coastal Declaration of Results 2017 (PDF, 221KB)
St Edmundsbury	Notice of election St Edmundsbury (PDF, 50KB) Statement of persons nominated and Notice of poll St Edmundsbury (PDF, 74KB) Notice of election agents St Edmundsbury (PDF, 74KB) St Edmundsbury Declaration of Results 2017 (PDF, 90KB)
Waveney	Notice of election Waveney (PDF, 13KB) Statement of persons nominated Waveney (PDF, 83KB) Notice of poll Waveney (PDF, 143KB) Notice of election agents Waveney (PDF, 67KB) Waveney Declaration of Results 2017 (PDF, 221KB)

Elections

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County Council 2026 election

County Council elections and by-elections