Elections 2026
Upcoming and Past Elections
This page provides links to notices of election, candidate information and results for the current year.
District Councillor Elections
Coggeshall Ward By-Election
Notice of Election - District Councillor for Coggeshall
May 2026
Essex County Council Elections - 7 May 2026
Elections will take place across the Braintree District on 7 May 2026 to elect Essex County Councillors.
Prospective Candidate Event
Essex County Council will be holding a prospective candidate event on Wednesday 25 February at 6.30pm online and Saturday 7 March 10am in person, these will focus on what it means to be an ECC councillor rather than the detail of how to stand. If you are considering standing for election you are encouraged to attend one of the sessions. Please tell the County Council by Registration for 2026 Essex County Council Prospective Candidate Events - Fill in form
Nominations
Nominations for candidates wishing to stand must be submitted in person in accordance with the legal timetable.
Nominations should not be completed until after 1 March. Nomination papers can only be submitted in person from Monday 30 March up to until the legal deadline of Thursday 9 April. Daily from 10am to 4pm, excluding Easter when the offices are closed from Good Friday 3 April until Tuesday 7 April.
You should contact the Elections Team to make an appointment to submit your nominations.
See guidance on how to complete the nomination on an annotated nomination papers (PDF, 710 KB). Guidance on your campaign and how to stand for election can also be obtained from the Electoral Commission.
Any queries regarding nomination papers should be emailed to elections@braintree.gov.uk or call 01376 557760.
Key Dates
Nomination Period - Monday 30 March to Thursday 9 April at 4pm - weekdays from 10am to 4pm.
Poll cards - TBC
Registration deadline - for those not already registered you have up to midnight on Monday 20 April.
Postal vote application deadline - anyone who wishes to vote by post and who has not already got a postal vote set up has until 5pm on Tuesday 21 April.
Postal ballot papers send out - TBC
Proxy vote application deadline - new applications for proxy vote - 5pm on Tuesday 28 April
Voter Authority Certificate deadline - anyone who has not got the legal required photo identification like a photo driving licence, passport, bus pass etc can apply up to 5pm on Tuesday 28 April
Postponed elections
Essex County Council Elections - Postponed
Essex County Council applied to the Government to cancel the County Council elections due in May 2025.
The planned elections did not go ahead in May 2025 and will take place in May 2026.
Mayor for Essex
Essex County Council (alongside Thurrock and Southend City Councils) has joined the Governement's Devolution Priority Programme' to introduce a directly-elected Mayor for Essex. These elections have been postponed until 2028.
Past Elections
Stambourne Parish Councillor - February 2025
Notice of election - One Parish Councillor
Notice of uncontested election - One Parish Councillor
Earls Colne Parish Councillors - July 2025
Notice of election - Five Parish Councillors
Notice of uncontested election - Five Parish Councillors
Earls Colne Parish Councillors - August 2025
Notice of election - Four Parish Councillors
Statement of Persons Nominated
