About County & District Elections  

In England and Wales, Local Authorities include Metropolitan Districts, London Borough Councils, County Councils, District Councils and Unitary Authorities. Elections for Local Authorities take place on the first Thursday in May.

Elections for Hart District Council are generally "by thirds". This means that approximately one third of the councillors are elected each year on a 3 year election cycle. Councillors will normally be elected for a 4 year term, the fourth year of the election cycle is occupied by elections for Hampshire County Council. However, special arrangements applied for the election held on 2 May 2002.

This was because the Local Government Commission for England carried out a review of Hart's electoral arrangements and made recommendations for changes in Ward boundaries. For further information on boundary changes please click on the link.

The District is now divided into 18 Wards represented by 35 Councillors and because of the new Wards the whole council was elected on 2 May 2002. For details of the Wards in Hart and information about councillors please follow the links. From the election due on 1 May 2003, Hart District Council will revert to elections "by thirds". For information on how to become a District Councillor please select the link.

The electorate of Hart also elects 5 County Councillors to represent them on Hampshire County Council. The County Council is split into Divisions, each represented by a County Councillor. For details of the County Councillors for the Hart divisions please click on the link. Elections for Hampshire County Council are held every four years and take place in the year during which Hart does not hold elections "by thirds". The next County Council elections will take place in 2009.

For both Hampshire County Council and Hart District Council mid-term vacancies are filled by holding a by-election.

For further information on how to vote in elections, or for details of the next elections and for past elections results please click on the appropriate links.