{"election_id":"local.east-surrey.2026-05-07","tmp_election_id":null,"election_title":"East Surrey local election","poll_open_date":"2026-05-07","election_type":{"name":"Local elections","election_type":"local"},"election_subtype":null,"organisation":{"url":"http://elections.democracyclub.org.uk/api/organisations/local-authority/ESY/2026-05-07/","official_identifier":"ESY","organisation_type":"local-authority","organisation_subtype":"UA","official_name":"East Surrey Council","common_name":"East Surrey","slug":"east-surrey","territory_code":"ENG","election_name":"East Surrey local election","start_date":"2026-05-07","end_date":null,"created":"2026-01-28T13:22:59.626989Z","modified":"2026-01-28T13:22:59.627019Z"},"group":"local.2026-05-07","group_type":"organisation","identifier_type":"organisation","children":["local.east-surrey.ashtead.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.banstead-woodmansterne-chipstead.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.bookham-fetcham-west.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.caterham-hill.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.caterham-valley.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.cobham-oxshott-south.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.dorking.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.dorking-hills.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.dorking-rural.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.earlswood-reigate-south.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.epsom-town-downs.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.epsom-west.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.esher-claygate-oxshott-north.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.ewell-court-auriol-cuddington.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.ewell-village-stoneleigh-nonsuch.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.godstone.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.hersham.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.horley-east.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.horley-west-salfords-sidlow.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.leatherhead-fetcham-east.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.lingfield.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.long-ditton-hinchley-wood-weston-green.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.merstham-banstead-south.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.nork-tattenhams.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.oxted.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.redhill-east-north-earlswood.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.redhill-west-meadvale.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.reigate.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.tadworth-walton-kingswood.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.thames-ditton-east-molesey.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.walton.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.walton-south-oatlands.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.warlingham.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.west-ewell.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.west-molesey.2026-05-07","local.east-surrey.weybridge.2026-05-07"],"elected_role":"Councillor","seats_contested":null,"division":null,"voting_system":{"name":"First-past-the-post","wikipedia_url":"https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-past-the-post_voting","description":"A first-past-the-post (abbreviated FPTP, 1stP, 1PTP or FPP) or winner-takes-all election is one that is won by the candidate receiving more votes than any others.","uses_party_lists":false,"slug":"FPTP"},"requires_voter_id":null,"current":true,"explanation":"This is an election for **unitary councillors**. \r\n\r\nCouncillors represent the people of their ward on the council. Councillors are elected for four-year terms. All Surrey wards elect two councillors, which is why you have two votes.\r\n\r\nUnitary councils are responsible for many different services, including:\r\n\r\n * Child and adult social care\r\n * Schools and education\r\n * Rubbish collection and recycling\r\n * Housing and planning\r\n * Libraries and museums\r\n * Roads and pavements\r\n * Sports facilities and public parks\r\n\r\nCouncils are funded by a combination of council tax, business rates, and grants from the UK government. Councillors are not paid a salary, but they do receive financial compensation and expenses to cover their time and travel commitments.\r\n\r\n[**Learn more about local government in Surrey.**](https://www.surreylgrhub.gov.uk/elections)","metadata":null,"deleted":false,"cancelled":false,"cancellation_reason":null,"replaces":null,"replaced_by":null,"by_election_reason":"","tags":{},"created":"2026-01-28T14:10:31.259405Z","modified":"2026-02-04T14:51:26.298494Z"}