Postal votes issued on 21 April 2026 to the Elmbridge area

We would like to clarify information relating to postal votes that were despatched on 21 April 2026 for the election of Councillors to East Surrey Council, taking place on Thursday 7 May 2026, for the following Wards:

• Cobham & Oxshott South
• Esher, Claygate & Oxshott North
• Hersham
• Long Ditton, Hinchley Wood & Weston Green
• Thames Ditton & East Molesey
• Walton
• Walton South & Oatlands
• West Molesey
• Weybridge 

The ballot paper correctly states that electors can ‘vote for no more than 2 candidates by putting a cross in the box next to each of your choices’. The instructions for voting by post, enclosed with the postal voting pack also correctly states 

• ‘The ballot paper tells you how many candidates you may vote for.
• Vote by putting a cross in the box(es) next to the name(s) of the candidate(s) you are voting for’.

Unfortunately, the instructions for voting by post printed on the reverse of Envelope A refer incorrectly to ‘vote for only one candidate by putting a cross in the box next to your choice on the ballot paper’. 

Accordingly, we are advising those who received these postal votes that all electors can vote for up to two candidates as correctly stipulated on the ballot paper.

In agreement with the Electoral Commission, we are writing to those who received these postal votes to clarify the number of candidates they are entitled to vote for. Where we hold email addresses, we will also issue this information by email. In addition, information will be published on the Elmbridge Borough Council website and shared on our social media channels to clarify that electors can vote for up to two candidates.

15,147 postal votes were sent on 21 April 2026.

We apologise for any confusion caused.