Durham County and Parish Council elections - 6 May 2021

Important dates for voters

Key dates in the run up to and on 6 May 2021.

Key facts

Elections to elect 126 County Councillors for 63 wards across the county will take place on the 6 May 2021. See Council's political make-up for details of the Council's current political makeup.
Parish/Town council elections will also take place on the 6 May 2021 for 13 town councils and 91 Parish Councils.
See Types of elections for further information about the elections being held.
Previous election results can be viewed at Election results.
To take part in the 6 May 2021 elections in your area, you must be registered to vote. You can do this at Register to vote.
You can vote in person on the day, by proxy or by post. See How to vote for further information.

Important registration dates

Event	Date (deadline)
Register to vote	Monday 19 April 2021
Apply to vote by post or vote by proxy by post, or make changes to existing ones	By 5.00pm, Tuesday 20 April 2021
Apply to vote by proxy (not emergency proxies)	By 5.00pm Tuesday 27 April 2021
Apply to get a lost / spoilt postal vote replaced	From Thursday 29 April 2021 to 5.00pm on Thursday 6 May 2021
Polling Day	Thursday 6 May 2021 from 7.00am to 10.00pm
Deadline for emergency proxy applications	By 5.00pm on Polling Day, Thursday 6 May 2021

Register to vote

The deadline to register to vote is 19 April 2021.

Register to vote

The deadline to Register to vote is 19 April 2021. If you're not registered to vote, you'll not be able to vote in this election.

Standing as a candidate?

Help and Guidance for people who want to stand as a candidate or act as an agent(County Council only) at the 6 May 2021 elections.

The nomination deadline for County Council and Parish elections is 4.00pm on Thursday 8 April 2021.

If you are a potential candidate or agent(County Council only), the following information is available:

Standing as a candidate

If you want to stand as a candidate at the 6 May 2021 Elections, nomination packs will be available from electoral services. See Nomination packs to request a pack.

The nomination period opens on Friday 26 March 2021 between the hours of 10.00am and 4.00pm, and close at 4.00pm on Thursday 8 April 2021.

Important dates for Candidates

Event	Date (Deadline)	Location of Delivery
Publication of the Notice of Elections	Thursday 25 March 2021
Delivery of Nominations Paper Commences	Between 10.00am - 4.00pm from Friday 26 March 2021	County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UL
Deadline for receipt of Nomination papers	By 4.00pm on Thursday 8 April 2021	County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UL
Deadline for withdrawals	By 4.00pm on Thursday 8 April 2021	County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UL
Deadline for the notification of election agents (no election agents at Parish/Town Council Elections)	By 4.00pm on Thursday 8 April 2021	County Hall, Durham, DH1 5UL

Apply to vote by post or by proxy by post

The deadline to vote by post or by proxy by post is 5.00pm on Tuesday 20 April 2021.

Apply for a postal vote or postal proxy vote

If you want to:

Vote by post or
Vote by proxy by post

the deadline to submit your application is 5.00pm on Tuesday 20 April 2021.

Apply to vote by proxy

The deadline to apply to vote by proxy is 5.00pm on Tuesday 27 April 2021

Apply for a proxy vote

If you want someone to vote on your behalf, you can vote by proxy. The deadline for this election to apply to vote by proxy is 5.00pm on Tuesday 27 April 2021.

This excludes emergency proxies. The deadline to apply for emergency proxy votes is 5.00pm, on 6 May 2021 (see vote by proxy for more information about emergency proxy votes).

Election notices

Election information notices, including election notice, nominations and polling station confirmation.

Notice of Election

A Notice of Election is a notice to inform you that the County and Parish elections will take place.

Statement of Persons Nominated

The Statement of Persons Nominated is a notice to inform you of where County and Parish elections will take place, and who is standing for each division (county council) and parish / ward council area.

Notice of Cancelled Election

Notice of Cancelled Election - Shotton Parish Council (PDF, 9.9kb)

Notice of Uncontested Election

The Notice of Uncontested Election is a notice to inform you of those divisions (county council) or parish / ward council areas where no elections will take place (for example because insufficient candidates are contesting seats).

Notice of Election agents' names and addresses

Agents can act for candidates in the County elections.

Notice of Election - Agents Names and Offices - Durham County (PDF, 352.9kb)

Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations

The Notice of Poll, is a notice informing you of the candidates standing in the County and Parish elections, the division (county council) and parish / ward council area they are standing for election in, and the polling stations for that division / parish / ward council area.

Results

County Council Election Results will be published from Friday 7 May 2021.

Parish Council Election Results will be published from Sunday 9 May 2021

When will you receive your polling card or postal vote

Find out when we'll delivering polling cards and sending out postal votes.

Polling card

If you Vote in person or Apply to vote by post, you'll receive your polling card from Monday 29 March 2021.

Postal votes

If you live abroad we will send your postal votes out to you on Thursday 15 April 2021.
If you're already registered as a postal voter, or we receive your application to vote by post before Tuesday 30 March 2021 (including overseas applications), we will send your postal vote out to you on Monday 19 April 2021.
If we receive your application to vote by post between Tuesday 30 March 2021 and Tuesday 20 April 2021, we'll send your postal vote out to you Monday 26 April 2021.

We send all postal votes out by Royal Mail.

Lost polling card or postal votes

What to do if you lose your polling card or postal vote.

Lost postal votes

If you lose your postal vote, you can contact us for a replacement postal vote from Thursday 29 April 2021.

Lost polling card

If you lose your polling card, you can still turn up to your polling station to vote on Thursday 6 May 2021.

Thursday 6 May 2021 - polling day

What you need to do on polling day.

Polling station opening hours

Your polling station (stated on your polling card) is open from 7.00am until 10.00pm on Thursday 6 May 2021.

See our Vote in person page for information about voting at polling station.

Forgotten to post your postal vote?

If you've forgotten to post your postal vote, you can bring your postal vote along to your local polling station until 10.00pm.

Election results

Information about when and where the count will take place.

County Council election results

The County Council election count will start on Friday 7 May 2021 at Louisa Centre, Stanley and Spennymoor Leisure Centre. This could be subject to change.

Parish Council election results

The Parish Council election count will be held at Louisa Centre, Stanley and Spennymoor Leisure Centre, timings to be confirmed. This could be subject to change.