Local government in Surrey is changing to make the system simpler, more connected, and better able to meet local needs. This is called Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation. From April 2027, the existing county council and 11 district and borough councils will be replaced with two new unitary councils - East Surrey and West Surrey. On Thursday 7 May 2026, you will get the opportunity to elect who you want to represent you in your new West Surrey Council. Make sure you are ready to vote in these important elections.
What West Surrey Council will be responsible for
From April 2027, West Surrey Council will provide all the local council services you rely on - education, waste collection, roads, housing, play areas, children’s services, adult social care and more.
Your new West Surrey councillors
The councillors elected to West Surrey Council in May 2026 will initially operate as a ‘shadow authority’. During this period they will:
- develop budgets and service plans
- agree staffing structures and governance arrangements
- prepare for the transfer of responsibilities from the existing councils
- engage with residents and local partners to shape priorities.
- West Surrey Council will formally begin operating on 1 April 2027, when Surrey County Council and the district and borough councils will be dissolved.
- West Surrey Council will have 90 councillors made up of two councillors representing each of its 45 wards. They will serve for five years, until May 2031.
- There will be 14 councillors across 7 wards representing Spelthorne’s geographic area.
- Electors will be able to vote for up to two councillors in their ward.
- The two candidates with the highest number of votes will be elected (first past the post).
- Details of candidates standing for election in your area, will be available on our website www.spelthorne.gov.uk and surreylgrhub.gov.uk by 4pm on Friday 10 April 2026.
Existing county, borough and district councillors
- Your existing councillors will continue to represent you until 31 March 2027.
- There will be no elections for these councils in May 2026, unless a by-election is required in a particular ward.
- For now, nothing changes in the way you receive services.
All councils will continue to deliver services as usual
Are you election ready?
Register to vote
- Elections for councillors to represent you on the new West Surrey Council will take place on 7 May 2026. You can vote in person, by post or by proxy.
- You must be registered to be able to vote. If you’re not already registered, you have until midnight on
20 April 2026 to do so at gov.uk/register-to-vote
Voter ID
- To vote in person you must bring an accepted form of photo ID. These include a passport, a driving licence or a concessionary travel pass, such as an older person’s bus pass. You can use expired IDs as long as the photo still looks like you. For a full list of accepted photo ID visit electoralcommission.org.uk/voterid
- If you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) at gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate
- The deadline to apply for a VAC is 5pm on 28 April 2026.
- If you are voting on behalf of someone else as their proxy, you will need to bring your own photo ID.
Postal and proxy votes
- If you won’t be able to get to a polling station on election day, you can apply for a postal vote or proxy vote online at gov.uk/how-to-vote
- Apply as soon as possible to make sure you receive your postal vote pack or proxy vote in good time.
- The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026.
- For a proxy vote – when a friend or relative casts your vote for you – you must apply by 5pm on 28 April 2026.
Key dates
| 20 April 2026, midnight | Deadline for registering to vote |
| 21 April 2026, 5pm | Deadline to apply for a postal vote |
| 28 April 2026, 5pm | Deadline to apply for a proxy vote and Voter Authority Certificate (if you don’t have an accepted form of photo ID) |
| 7 May 2026 | Elections for new West Surrey councillors. Polling stations open for voting from 7am to 10pm |
| 7 May 2026, 10pm | Deadline for postal votes to be received |
| 8 May 2026 | Votes counted and successful candidates declared |
| May 2026 to March 2027 |
New West Surrey Council operates as a ‘shadow authority’ to prepare for the new councils to take on all local services. Residents continue to receive services as normal. |
| 1 April 2027 | West Surrey Council takes full responsibility for delivering all local services in its geography. Surrey’s 12 existing councils will formally dissolve. |
More information
For more about the upcoming changes in Surrey, scan the QR code or visit: surreylgrhub.gov.uk or email electoral.services@spelthorne.gov.uk
For more on voting and elections: electoralcommission.org.uk
If you don’t have access to the internet, you can call our elections line on 01784 444218.
