Upcoming elections

Dates of upcoming elections for each type are provided below, as well as any key information you need to know. 

We also publish our previous election results. 

Further advice on the different types of elections is available on the Electoral Commission's website.

European Parliamentary elections

New Forest falls in the South East region of the UK.

Due to the UK exit from the European Union, there will be no European parliamentary elections in the future.

UK Parliamentary elections

The last election was held on 12 December 2019 and will next be held before 28 January 2025. 

Parliamentary elections are held every five years. They determine which political party becomes the UK government, and elect MPs from across the country to form Parliament.

To vote in a general election, you must:

• be registered to vote
• be 18 or over on the day of the election (polling day)
• be a British, Irish or qualifying Commonwealth citizen
• be resident at an address in the UK (or a British citizen living abroad who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years)
• not be legally excluded from voting.

MPs are elected using the 'first past the post' system. You vote once for a candidate in your constituency, and the candidate with the most votes becomes your MP.

The council's area contains two parliamentary constituencies: New Forest East and New Forest West.

New Forest East

The Member of Parliament for the New Forest East constituency is Dr Julian Lewis (Independent).

The New Forest East constituency comprises the following towns and parishes:

• Ashurst and Colbury
• Beaulieu
• Boldre
• Bramshaw
• Brockenhurst
• Copythorne
• Denny Lodge
• East Boldre
• Exbury and Lepe
• Fawley
• Hythe and Dibden
• Lyndhurst
• Marchwood
• Minstead
• Netley Marsh
• Sway
• Totton and Eling.

New Forest West

The Member of Parliament for the New Forest West constituency is Sir Desmond Swayne (Conservative).

The New Forest West constituency comprises the following towns and parishes:

• Bransgore
• Breamore
• Burley
• Damerham
• Ellingham Harbridge & Ibsley
• Fordingbridge
• Godshill
• Hale
• Hordle
• Hyde
• Lymington and Pennington
• Martin
• Milford-on-Sea
• New Milton
• Ringwood
• Rockbourne
• Sandleheath
• Sopley
• Whitsbury
• Woodgreen.

Hampshire County Council elections

The whole Hampshire County Council is re-elected every four years and was last held on 6 May 2021. 

The next election will be held in May 2025. 

County councillors use local knowledge to help make decisions on the essential services provided to its residents and communities.

For more information, visit the Hampshire County Council website.

To vote in a local government election, you must:

• be registered to vote
• be 18 or over (16 in Scotland) on the day of the election ('polling day')
• be a British, Irish, Commonwealth or EU citizen
• be registered at an address in the area you want to vote in
• not be legally excluded from voting.

Local government councillors in England and Wales are elected using the 'first past the post' system. You vote for one candidate in your local area, and the candidate with the most votes wins.

New Forest District Council elections

Elections for New Forest District Council are held every four years. The next election is scheduled to take place on 4 May 2023.

To vote in a local government election, you must:

• be registered to vote
• be 18 or over (16 in Scotland) on the day of the election ('polling day')
• be a British, Irish, Commonwealth or EU citizen
• be registered at an address in the area you want to vote in
• not be legally excluded from voting.

Local government councillors in England and Wales are elected using the 'first past the post' system. You vote for one candidate in your local area, and the candidate with the most votes wins.

Town and Parish Council elections

There are 37 town and parish Councils in the New Forest district. All councils are re-elected every four years. The last town and parish council elections were last held in May 2019.

The next Town and Parish Council elections are scheduled to take place on Thursday 4 May 2023.

To vote in a local government election, you must:

• be registered to vote
• be 18 or over (16 in Scotland) on the day of the election (polling day)
• be a British, Irish, Commonwealth or EU citizen
• be registered at an address in the area you want to vote in
• not be legally excluded from voting.

Local government councillors in England and Wales are elected using the 'first past the post' system. You vote for one candidate in your local area, and the candidate with the most votes wins.

Police and Crime Commissioner elections

The last police and crime commissioner elections took place on Thursday 6 May 2021 (deferred from 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic) and these elections are held every four years. 

New Forest district is part of the Hampshire Police Area. 

There are 41 Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales who are elected to make sure the police forces are run properly. There is no elected PCC for London.

To vote in a PCC election, you must:

• be registered to vote
• be 18 or over (16 in Scotland) on the day of the election ('polling day')
• be a British, Irish, Commonwealth or EU citizen
• be resident at an address in England or Wales (excluding London)
• not be legally excluded from voting.

PCCs are elected using the 'supplementary vote' system. You make a first and second choice when you vote.

By-elections

By-elections are held when an existing councillor vacates their seat due to resignation, death, disqualification or expulsion.

We will publish dates for any forthcoming by-elections as they are called.

There are currently no by-elections scheduled.

Referendums

Referendums are held when the public are asked to vote on a single political issue.

We will publish dates for any forthcoming referendums as they are called.

There are currently no referendums scheduled.

Neighbourhood planning referendums

The Localism Act 2011 places a duty on local authorities to hold referendums where a neighbourhood plan or order, or a Community Right to Build Order, has a successful examination. The local planning authority must be satisfied that it meets the basic conditions set out in the legislation.

The New Milton Neighbourhood Planning referendum was held on Thursday 6 May 2021. 

For more information please visit the New Milton Neighbourhood Plan page. 

We will publish dates for any forthcoming neighbourhood planning referendums as they are called.

There are currently no referendums scheduled.

Community governance reviews

Community governance reviews allow for the creation of new town and parish councils.

We will publish dates for any forthcoming community governance reviews as they are called.

There are currently no referendums scheduled.