Fourteen County Council seats are within the South Kesteven District Council administrative area.  One councillor will be elected for each electoral division and each councillor is elected to serve a four year term.

  List of Electoral Divisions [42kb]

Details of the areas and boundaries of the electoral divisions can be viewed at www.election-maps.co.uk

For each police force area, one council will act as the lead authority dealing with the nomination of candidates and co-ordinating and declaring the results.  For Lincolnshire the Police and Crime  Commissioner election is co-ordinated by the Police Area Returning Officer of City of Lincoln Council.  For further information visit the City of Lincoln website.

Information can also be found on the Electoral Commission website

Supplementary Voting System

The elections for the Police and Crime Commissioner uses the Supplementary Voting System. This is the system used in Mayoral elections.

Voting will be by way of a simple majority system unless there are three or more candidates.  If there are three or more candidates then the Commissioner will be elected under the supplementary vote system.

Under the supplementary vote system, a voter is asked to indicate first and second preferences. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the first preference votes, the two candidates with the highest number of first preference votes go forward to the second round.

In the second round of counting, ballots indicating a first preference for a candidate that lost the first round are reallocated according to the second preference indicated in the ballot paper.

Contact our elections team on 01476 406080 or email elections@southkesteven.gov.uk for further help or guidance.

By-elections have been called to fill a number of vacancies.  By-elections for the following areas will be taking place on 6 May 2021, alongside the County Council and Police and Crime Commissioner elections:

• Glen Ward of South Kesteven District Council - 1 vacancy
• Stamford Town Council - St George's Ward - 1 vacancy
• Corby Glen Parish Council - 2 vacancies
• Pointon and Sempringham Parish Council - 5 vacancies

The Notice of election  for all of the above by-elections will be published  from 22 March 2021. Nomination papers can be submitted  by candidates between 22 March and 4pm on  8 April 2021.

Candidate nomination packs can be  obtained from the Electoral Services Section.  Email elections@southkesteven.gov.uk or telephone 01476 406080. 

Parish and Town Council Elections - Nomination forms and candidate information:

Stamford Town Council-St George's ward nomination papers [352kb]

Corby Glen Parish nomination papers [352kb]

Pointon and Sempringham Parish nomination papers [352kb]

Parish Candidate nomination checklist [76kb]

Electoral  Commission Guidance to Candidates at Parish Council elections

Forms and information for all candidates

Electoral Register request form [100kb]

Absent Voter List request form [56kb]

Candidate imprint factsheet [176kb]

2021 Election Timetable [61kb]

When is the election? What elections are taking place?

On Thursday 6 May 2021, residents in South Kesteven will be voting for:

• Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire
• Lincolnshire County Councillors
• District by-election for the Glen Ward of South Kesteven District Council
• Town Council by-election for the George's ward of Stamford Town Council
• Parish Council by-elections for the Parishes of Corby Glen and Pointon and Sempringham

The Police and Crime Commissioner election will be held in May after being postponed in May 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

In addition, Neighbourhood Plan Referendums will be held in some areas.

How can I vote at the May 2021 elections?

There are a number of ways to have your say in May - you can vote in a polling station, by post, or by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf, known as a proxy vote.

How can I apply to vote by post or proxy?

To vote in the elections - either at a polling station, by post, or by appointing someone you trust to vote on your behalf as your proxy - you must first be registered to vote, which can be done online in just 5 minutes. You can register at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

To then apply to vote by post you need to download, print and fill in a postal vote application form. Once you have completed the form and signed it, you need to send it to the electoral services team for South Kesteven District Council.  Application forms can be sent by post to our offices - Council Offices, St Peter's Hill, Grantham, NG31 6PZ or alternatively copies can be sent by email to elections@southkesteven.gov.uk.

If you're thinking about voting by post, you can apply to do this now. This will make sure your application is processed early, and your postal vote can be sent to you more quickly once the candidates for the elections are confirmed.

If you aren't able to cast your vote in person, you can ask someone you trust to cast your vote for you. This is called a proxy vote and the person casting your vote is often referred to as your proxy. The person voting on your behalf can either go to your polling station to cast your vote, or can apply to vote for you by post.

To apply for a proxy vote, complete the form to vote by proxy, explaining why you can't get to your polling station in person.

How do I register to vote?

To vote in any election in the UK, you must be registered to vote. It takes 5 minutes to register and you can do this online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

If you're unable to register online, you can apply by post. You can download the relevant forms at www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/register-vote-and-update-your-details or you can contact our elections team to request a form on 01476 406080.

Is voting by post safe?

Yes, voting by post is safe and proven cases of electoral fraud are rare. When voting by post, you should mark your vote on the ballot paper in secret, and seal the envelope yourself.

You will also be asked to give your date of birth and signature when applying for a postal or proxy vote. This makes postal voting safe, because when you return your postal voting pack your signature and date of birth are checked against those you provided before to confirm your identity.

Your signature and date of birth are separated from your ballot paper before it is looked at or counted, so giving this information will not affect the secrecy of your vote.

How are you making polling stations safe?

We are putting arrangements in place to help ensure polling stations are safe places to vote. You can expect many of the measures you've become used to over recent months in shops and banks, such as hand sanitiser, floor markings and face coverings.

We will continue our discussions with public health authorities as we prepare for the elections to make sure we are following the most up to date guidance. We will continue to update this page as more information and guidance becomes available.

Will I need to bring my own pen or pencil?

Guidance in this area is still being developed, but you are always welcome to use your own pen or pencil. We are working with the UK's governments, members of the electoral community and public health authorities to help ensure polling station are safe places to vote at the May 2021 elections.

We will update this page with new information as it becomes available.

Is it safer to vote by post, instead of going in person?

We are working hard to ensure that polling stations will be safe places to vote in May, but you can choose to apply to vote by post or by proxy instead.

What should I do if I find out closer to the time that I need to self-isolate, or my area goes into a local lockdown?

We want to make sure that everyone who is entitled to vote is able to do so, regardless of the pandemic. We will be providing more information nearer the time on how you can vote if you need to self-isolate, or live in an area under local lockdown.

You do have different options for voting at the May 2021 elections - you can vote in person, by post or by proxy. You can find more information on: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter.

For the elections being held on 6 May 2021, a number of the polling station locations are likely to change.

A list of the proposed polling station changes can be viewed below.

 Proposed Polling Station Changes 2021 [209kb]

Anyone who has any comments on the proposed changes can submit their comments to the Elections Team by email to elections@southkesteven.gov.uk by 22 January 2021.

Register to Vote

If you are unsure if you are registered to vote, contact our Electoral Services team on 01476 406080 or email elections@southkesteven.gov.uk.

If you haven't already registered, you can register to vote online.  The deadline to register for the May elections is Monday 19 April 2021.

Poll cards will be sent to all registered electors on 22 March 2021.

Postal and Proxy Voting

If you are unable to vote at your polling station on polling day you can choose to apply to vote by post or by proxy (appointing someone else to vote at the polling station for you).

The deadline to applying for a postal vote or to change/cancel an existing postal or proxy appointment is 5pm on Tuesday 20 April 2021.  

The deadline for applying for a proxy vote is 5pm on 27 Tuesday April 2021.  

Application forms can be downloaded from https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/how-cast-your-vote.   You do not need to wait until you receive your poll card to apply - if you would prefer to vote by post at these elections, you can apply at any time.

How to submit a postal or proxy application

Postal and proxy vote applications cannot be completed online and must signed and returned to the Electoral Registration Officer, South Kesteven District Council, Council Offices, St Peter's Hill, Grantham NG31 6PZ and be received by the deadlines above to be effective for the May elections. Signed copies can also be sent by email to elections@southkesteven.gov.uk.

If you can't or don't want to vote at your polling station on polling day, make sure you get your application to us as early as possible.

Contact our elections team on 01476 406080 or email elections@southkesteven.gov.uk for further help or guidance.

Despatch of Postal Ballot Papers

If you apply for a postal vote, your postal vote will be sent out on the following dates:

• If we have received and accepted your postal vote application by 9 April, your postal vote will be despatched 19/20 April;
• If we receive your application after 9 April and before the deadline of 5pm on 20 April, your postal vote pack will be despatched 25 April 2021.