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County Council elections

County Council elections are held every four years. The election was held on Thursday 6 May 2021.

Upcoming Elections

County Council Elections are due to take place in May 2025.

2023 By-Elections

Heathfield and Mayfield division by-Election - July 2023

Eastbourne - Meads division by-Election - August 2023

Following the by-elections in 2023, the County Council has:

  • Conservative – 25 (27)
  • Liberal Democrats – 12 (11)
  • Labour – 5 (5)
  • Green – 5 (4)
  • Independents – 3 (3)

(pre-by-elections number of seats in brackets)

A map of the current elected Members for East Sussex divisions following the 2023 by-elections is available.

County Council elections - 6 May 2021

The County Council elections were held on Thursday 6 May 2021.

50 Councillors were elected. The County Council has:

  • Conservative – 27 (30)
  • Liberal Democrats – 11 (11)
  • Labour – 5 (4)
  • Green – 4 (0)
  • Independents – 3 (5)

(pre-election number of seats in brackets)

Results map

map of the results of each division in the 6 May 2021 local elections is available.

Results

Eastbourne divisions 2021 

Hastings divisions 2021 

Lewes divisions 2021 

Rother divisions 2021 

Wealden divisions 2021 

Previous County Council Elections

Information about the County Council elections in 2017 and 2013.

Pre-election period guidance

Guidance for elected Members and local authority staff on the pre-election period, sometimes referred to as ‘purdah’:

East Sussex pre-election period - guidance for elected members and local authority staff [252.8 KB] [pdf]

Electoral boundaries

The number of voters represented by each county councillor should be roughly the same in every electoral division.

Because resident numbers change, electoral arrangements are regularly reviewed by The Boundary Committee for England to make sure voters are fairly represented.

East Sussex County Council, Local Government Act 2000 The Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions) (England) Regulations 2011

We are required by law to publish how many signatures of registered voters are required on a petition, which would require the council to hold a referendum on changing its model of governance. This figure is known as the verification number.