About the elections
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections
Elections are scheduled to take place on Thursday 7 May 2026 in the 13 wards listed below.
- Cranbrook, Sissinghurst and Frittenden
- Culverden
- Hawkhurst, Sandhurst and Benenden
- Paddock Wood
- Pantiles
- Park
- Pembury and Capel
- Rural Tunbridge Wells
- Rusthall and Speldhurst
- Sherwood
- Southborough and Bidborough
- St James’
- St John’s
Please note, there is no election scheduled to take place in the High Brooms ward.
Parish and town council elections
If contested, parish and/or town council elections are scheduled to take place on Thursday 7 May 2026 in the parish areas listed below.
- Benenden
Postal votes
If you apply for a postal vote before Wednesday 1 April, your postal vote pack will be dispatched around Wednesday 22 April.
If you apply for a postal vote on or after Wednesday 1 April, your postal vote pack will be dispatched around Monday 27 April.
Postal vote packs are sent by Royal Mail 1st Class. We cannot be held responsible for any delays to the delivery of your postal vote pack once we have dispatched it.
Key dates
| Activity | Date and time |
|---|---|
| Publication of Notice of Election | Wednesday 25 March |
| Delivery of nomination papers | From 10am, Thursday 26 March until 4pm, Thursday 9 April |
| Deadline for withdrawals of nomination | 4pm, Thursday 9 April |
| Publication of Statement of Persons Nominated | Thursday 9 April |
| Deadline for receiving applications for registration | Tuesday 21 April |
| Deadline for receiving new postal vote and postal proxy applications, and for changes to existing postal or postal proxy votes | Wednesday 22 April |
| Deadline for Voter Authority Certificate applications | 5pm, Wednesday 29 April |
| Deadline for receiving new applications to vote by proxy (not postal proxy or emergency proxies) | 5pm, Wednesday 29 April |
| Deadline for notification of appointment of polling and counting agents | Thursday 30 April |
| First date electors can apply for a replacement for lost/spoilt postal votes | Friday 1 May |
| Polling day | 7am until 10pm, Thursday 7 May |
| Last time electors can apply for a replacement for spoilt or lost postal votes | 5pm, Thursday 7 May |
| Deadline for emergency proxy applications | 5pm, Thursday 7 May |
| Last time to alter the Register or Electors due to a clerical error or court appeal | 9pm, Thursday 7 May |
| Deadline for production of a temporary Voter Authority Certificate | 10pm, Thursday 7 May |
| Delivery of return as to election expenses (parish council elections) | Not later than 28 calendar days after the date of election, Thursday 4 June |
| Delivery of return as to election expenses (borough elections) | Not later than 35 calendar days after the date of the election result is declared, Thursday 11 June |
| Deadline for sending postal vote identifier rejection notices | Within three months from the date of poll |