2025 Dorset Council
by-elections
Compulsory by-elections will be conducted by postal ballot to fill the vacancies of mayor and one councillor on the Dorset Council, following the resignation of Mayor Greg Howard on 23 January 2025.
The terms of office for the elected mayor and councillor will be until the completion of the next ordinary election, which is due to be held in September/October 2026.
Voting is compulsory.
Local government elections are conducted by postal ballot. Voting is compulsory.
Polling closed at 2 pm Monday 31 March 2025.
Nominations open
Enrolment closes
Nominations close
Nominations announced
Ballot packs delivered by post
Close of poll
Counting of ballot papers and results
The resignation of a mayor creates two vacancies on a local government council: one mayor and one councillor.
Electors will cast their vote for both positions.
Find out more in our handy fact sheet.
Voting has closed.
Voting in local government elections is compulsory.
The polling period for the Dorset Council by-elections is from Tuesday 11 March to 2 pm on Monday 31 March 2025.
Every Dorset Council elector was sent a personally addressed postal ballot pack, to be completed and returned before the close of the polling period.
Nominations have closed.
If you wish to stand as a candidate in these by-elections, nominations open at 9 am on Monday 24 February and close at 12 noon on Tuesday 4 March 2025.
A range of information is available for candidates, including instructions and guidance on the rules that candidates must follow.
Enrolment has closed for these by-elections.
To vote in these local government by-elections, you must be correctly enrolled before 6 pm on Thursday 27 March 2025.
If you are correctly enrolled for state and federal elections then you are automatically enrolled to vote in local government elections. If you don’t live in the Dorset municipal area, you may be eligible for inclusion on the General Manager’s roll.
Further information is available to assist you if you need to enrol to vote or update your enrolment.
Try our FAQ page for answers to commonly asked questions about enrolment, voting, campaigning and more.
This chart shows the number of ballot paper envelopes returned per day, and a cumulative total.
Returns (final): 4,308
Electors enrolled: 5,491
Response rate (final): 78.46%
Candidates, printers, publishers, and broadcasters are required to submit an electoral advertising return to the TEC, reporting particulars of election-related advertising.
This information must be returned no later than 45 days after the day on which the certificate of election is issued.
Further information and forms are available for candidates, printers, publishers, and broadcasters.
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