West Surrey Elections Information

Published: 14 April 2026

Local elections will take place across Surrey on Thursday 7 May 2026. These elections are part of a major change to local government in Surrey and will not follow the usual district, borough or county format. Instead, voters will elect councillors to the two new unitary councils being created under Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

Councillors elected in May 2026 will initially sit on shadow authorities for their respective new councils. During this period, they will:

• Develop budgets and service plans
• Agree staffing structures and governance arrangements
• Prepare for the transfer of responsibilities from the existing councils
• Engage with residents and local partners to shape priorities
• The new unitary councils will formally begin operating on 1 April 2027, when all 12 legacy councils in Surrey will be dissolved. 

Information about the elections — including who is standing as a candidate, important dates, and how to register or vote — is available through the Surrey Local Government Reorganisation Hub https://www.surreylgrhub.gov.uk/