Pages in East Surrey Council elections
- 1. You are here: East Surrey Council elections
- 2. Who can vote in the East Surrey Council elections?
- 3. Information for candidates
- 4. Information for campaigners
- 5. Election Timetable and Notices
- 6. Election count and declaration of results
Local elections will take place across Surrey on Thursday 7 May 2026. These elections are part of a major change to local government in Surrey under Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).
Surrey is moving from a two-tier council system where residents receive services from Surrey County Council and one of eleven district or borough councils to a single tier system.
From 1 April 2027, Surrey’s existing county council and 11 district and borough councils will be replaced by two new unitary councils - East Surrey and West Surrey):
- East Surrey Council will be made up of the geographic areas of Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead and Tandridge
- West Surrey Council will be made up of the geographic areas of Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking
The two new councils will deliver all local government services for their areas - including education, waste collection, roads, housing, play areas, children’s services, adult social care.
Elections for East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council are scheduled to be held on 7 May 2026.
If you live in the current borough of Reigate and Banstead, you will vote in the East Surrey Council elections.
East Surrey Council will have 72 councillors made up of two councillors for each of its 36 wards. There will be 20 councillors across 10 wards representing Reigate & Banstead’s geographic area. New council wards will follow the updated County Council divisional boundaries
Councillors will be elected for a five‑year term, to May 2031. 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.reigate-banstead.gov.uk and www.surreylgrhub.gov.uk by 4pm on Friday 10 April 2026.
Councillors elected in the May 2026 elections will initially work as shadow authorities, helping to oversee the transition from 12 Councils to two.
Your existing county and borough 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.
East Surrey and West Surrey councils will formally begin operating on 1 April 2027, when Surrey County Council and the district and borough councils will be dissolved.
To find out more about Surrey’s devolution and local government reorganisation and what this means for you please visit Future Surrey – Surrey LGR Hub