Upcoming elections

We are following advice from the Electoral Commission and the Director of Public Health at ECC to ensure polling stations are as safe as possible.

We are putting covid-safe measures in place, which you will already be familiar with when shopping. These measures include:

• face coverings, worn by staff and the public (unless you are exempt)
• social distancing
• hand sanitation stations at the entrance of each polling station
• limited number of people allowed into a polling station at any one time (this may lead to queues at peak times)

We will also introduce some extra measures, such as:

• encouraging you to bring your own pen/pencil to cast your vote, if you wish
• asking you to take away your own poll card for disposal, if you bring it with you
• requiring tellers to station themselves safely outside polling stations (tellers are volunteers from political parties who record turnout)

Our staff will be regularly cleaning the polling station but we will also provide wipes for you to wipe down the polling booth surfaces yourself, if you prefer.

About Essex County Councillors

Essex County Council elections take place every four years, to allow you to have a say in who represents you.

County Council Councillors represent you and make important decisions about things that affect you, including:

• highways
• education
• children’s services
• adult social care
• libraries

You can find out more about Essex County Councillors and what they do.

About the ECC election

The ballot paper for this election will be white and you can only vote for one candidate.

There are nine electoral divisions in Chelmsford, each of which has one elected representative. They are: 

• Broomfield and Writtle
• Chelmer
• Chelmsford Central
• Chelmsford West
• Chelmsford North
• Great Baddow
• Springfield
• Stock
• South Woodham Ferrers

We will publish details of who you can vote for on 9 April, after the nominations period has closed.

If you are a potential candidate or agent, you can find out more information about standing for election.

About the PFCCs

Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) make sure that local police meet the needs of the community.

In Essex, the PCC also oversees Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and is called the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex.

You can find out more about your local PFCC and what they do.

About the PPFC election

The ballot paper colour for this election will be buff. 

The election will use the 'supplementary vote system', meaning you can vote for a first and second choice candidate. However, you do not have to cast your second choice vote if you do not wish to.

We will publish details of who you can vote for on 9 April, after the nominations period has closed.

This election is being run by Colchester Borough Council, so you will need to contact them if you are interested in standing. However, you do not need to contact them about voting in this election if you live in the Chelmsford area. 

About Chelmsford City councillors

We will hold an election for the Moulsham Lodge ward of Chelmsford City Council. There is one vacant seat, after a councillor resigned.

Our councillors, as well as dealing with individual queries and concerns, make important decisions that affect you on subjects including:

• Council Tax and benefits
• housing
• environmental health and waste collection
• planning
• parks and open spaces

About the Moulsham Lodge election 

We will only issue you a ballot paper for this election if you live in the Moulsham Lodge ward. You can find your ward by using our myhome tool.

The ballot paper for this election will be pale green and you can use it to vote for one candidate only.

We will publish details of who is standing at this election on 9 April, after the nomination period closes.

If you are a potential candidate or agent, you can find out more information about standing for election. 

There are two parish council elections taking place, for:

• Great Baddow Parish Council (Rothmans ward only)
  
• Stock Parish Council

We will publish details of who is standing at these election on 9 April, after the nomination period closes.

If you are a potential candidate or agent, you can find out more information about standing for election.

The ballot paper for these elections will be lilac and you may use them to vote for one candidate only.

We will only issue you a ballot paper for a parish council election if you live in one of the areas where the parish council election is taking place. You can find your parish by using our myhome tool.

About parish councillors

Parish Councillors listen to and represent the views of their community as well as having responsibility for:

• some allotments
• community centres
• issuing fines for littering and dog offences
• some play areas 

You can find out more about  Great Baddow Parish Council and Stock Parish Council.

• Notice of Election published: Friday 19 March 2021
• Delivery of poll cards: by Thursday 1 April 2021
• Notice of Agents published: Friday 9 April 2021
• Statement of Persons nominated: Friday 9 April 2021
  
• First issue of postal votes: around Friday 16 April 2021
• Registration deadline: midnight on Monday 19 April 2021
• Deadline to apply for postal vote: Tuesday 20 April 2021
• Notice of poll and location of polling stations published: Tuesday 27 April 2021
• Deadline to apply for proxy vote: Tuesday 27 April 2021
• Day of polling: Thursday 6 May 2021 (7am to 10pm)
• The count and declaration of ECC results: Thursday 6 May 2021
• The count and declaration of all other results: Friday 7 May 2021

To vote in these elections, you must be:

• registered to vote
• 18 years of age or over on polling day
• one of the following:

• a British citizen, a qualifying Commonwealth citizen, or a citizen of the European Union
• resident in the UK
• not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote

If you voted in the last election and have not moved or changed your details since, you do not need to register again.

If you are not currently registered to vote, you need to register on the GOV.UK website by midnight on Monday 19 April 2020.

You should receive your poll card for these elections in the week starting 22 April. If you do not receive a card by then, you need to call us on 01256 606449 to check whether you are registered to vote.

You will not need to take your poll card with you on polling day to vote.

We suggest you check your polling station before election day, as it may have changed since the last election. You can do so by either:

• checking your poll card
• using the Where Do I Vote website (the details will be available on this site closer to the election)

If you have registered for a postal vote for these elections, we will start sending these out from Friday 16 April.

You can find out more about how to apply for a postal vote, or other absent voter arrangements.

We will only send postal votes to new applicants after we have sent the first batch to existing postal voters.

If you do not receive your postal vote by Thursday 29 April, we can issue you a new postal voting pack. However, by law we cannot to send you a second postal vote.

Poll Clerk

Polling station staff are responsible for the conduct of the ballot in each polling station.  On Election Day, polling station staff have to work from 6am until after 10pm without leaving the polling station.

You are allowed to bring food and things to do (such as books/magazines) during the day. However, you must ensure there is always someone present and available to welcome electors and issue ballot papers.

If you have experience in working in a polling station, you should let us know. We may be able to offer you more responsibility, such as the role of Presiding Officer.

We provide training before each election.

Verification/Count Assistant

We employ counting staff to verify and count the votes either overnight following the election or the day after. We can’t guarantee the duration of the count and you should bear this in mind when accepting the appointment.

You will work in teams of varying sizes as decided by the Electoral Team. You can take a break when a team leader considers it appropriate. We will provide tea coffee, other beverages and snacks during these breaks.

You don’t need prior training for this role as team leaders will hold a briefing on arrival.

Register your interest

If you would like to work at an election, you can register your interest. The rate of pay may vary for different elections.

After you have submitted your application, we will contact you to arrange an informal chat at our Civic Centre. During this visit, you will need to bring some documentation about your right to work. You will also need to download and complete:

• a new starter form
• a criminal convictions form
• a monitoring form

You can upload these with your expression of interest form, or bring them with you on the day. If you are unable to print them off, you can fill them in when you visit us.