Election announced in Leigh Ward with voting to take place on 10th December

November 6, 2026

A by-election has been called in the Leigh Ward of Southend-on-Sea City Council. If contested, electors within Leigh ward will vote on Thursday 10 December 2026. The formal Notice of Election was published on 5 November 2026.

Nominations are now open, with prospective candidates required to submit their nomination papers to the Returning Officer by 4pm on Friday 13 November 2026.

Leigh ward residents eligible to vote in the election are encouraged to check they are registered and make any necessary voting arrangements ahead of the upcoming deadlines. Residents can register to vote online https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

Key dates for voters will be:

Register to vote by midnight on Tuesday 24 November 2026.

Apply for a postal vote by 5pm on Wednesday 25 November 2026.

Apply for a proxy vote by 5pm on Wednesday 2 December 2026.

Apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (Voter ID) by 5pm on Wednesday 2 December 2026.

Further information on the election, voting methods and voter identification requirements is available on the Council's Elections 2026 webpage: https://www.southend.gov.uk/elections2026

Returning Officer, Colin Ansell, said “The Notice of Election for Leigh Ward has now been published, and I would encourage all eligible residents to make sure they are registered to vote and aware of the key deadlines ahead of polling day. Whether voting in person, by post or by proxy, it’s important to make any necessary arrangements in good time to ensure your vote can be counted.”

Find out more by visiting https://www.southend.gov.uk/elections2026