{"election_id":"local.dorset.2017-05-04","tmp_election_id":null,"election_title":"Dorset County Council local election","poll_open_date":"2017-05-04","election_type":{"name":"Local elections","election_type":"local"},"election_subtype":null,"organisation":{"url":"http://elections.democracyclub.org.uk/api/organisations/local-authority/DOR/1997-04-01/","official_identifier":"DOR","organisation_type":"local-authority","organisation_subtype":"CTY","official_name":"Dorset County Council","common_name":"Dorset","slug":"dorset","territory_code":"ENG","election_name":"Dorset local election","start_date":"1997-04-01","end_date":"2019-03-31","created":"1997-04-01T00:00:00Z","modified":"2021-10-11T14:59:26.370579Z"},"group":"local.2017-05-04","group_type":"organisation","identifier_type":"organisation","children":["local.dorset.beaminster.2017-05-04","local.dorset.blackmore-vale.2017-05-04","local.dorset.blandford-forum.2017-05-04","local.dorset.bridport.2017-05-04","local.dorset.broadway.2017-05-04","local.dorset.burton-grange.2017-05-04","local.dorset.chickerell-chesil-bank.2017-05-04","local.dorset.christchurch-central.2017-05-04","local.dorset.colehill-east-and-staphill.2017-05-04","local.dorset.colehill-west-wimborne-minster.2017-05-04","local.dorset.commons.2017-05-04","local.dorset.corfe-mullen.2017-05-04","local.dorset.cranborne-chase.2017-05-04","local.dorset.dorchester.2017-05-04","local.dorset.ferndown.2017-05-04","local.dorset.gillingham.2017-05-04","local.dorset.hambledon.2017-05-04","local.dorset.linden-lea.2017-05-04","local.dorset.lodmoor.2017-05-04","local.dorset.lytchett-minster-upton.2017-05-04","local.dorset.marshwood-vale.2017-05-04","local.dorset.moors.2017-05-04","local.dorset.mudeford-highcliffe.2017-05-04","local.dorset.north-west-purbeck.2017-05-04","local.dorset.portland-harbour.2017-05-04","local.dorset.portland-tophill.2017-05-04","local.dorset.rodwell.2017-05-04","local.dorset.shaftesbury.2017-05-04","local.dorset.sherborne-rural.2017-05-04","local.dorset.sherborne-town.2017-05-04","local.dorset.south-purbeck.2017-05-04","local.dorset.stalbridge-the-beacon.2017-05-04","local.dorset.swanage.2017-05-04","local.dorset.three-valleys.2017-05-04","local.dorset.verwood.2017-05-04","local.dorset.walkford.2017-05-04","local.dorset.wareham.2017-05-04","local.dorset.westham.2017-05-04","local.dorset.weymouth-town.2017-05-04","local.dorset.winterborne.2017-05-04"],"elected_role":"Local 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":false,"explanation":"This is an election for **county councillors**. \r\n\r\nCouncillors represent the people of their division on the council. Councillors are elected for four-year terms. Each county division elects one councillor. \r\n\r\nCounty councils are responsible for many different services, including:\r\n\r\n * Child and adult social care\r\n * Schools and education\r\n * Libraries and museums\r\n * Roads and pavements\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 English local government from New Local.**](https://www.newlocal.org.uk/articles/local-government-explained-part-2-what-do-councils-do/)","metadata":null,"deleted":false,"cancelled":false,"cancellation_reason":null,"replaces":null,"replaced_by":null,"by_election_reason":"","tags":{},"created":"2017-03-09T00:00:00Z","modified":"2026-02-04T14:41:41.296153Z"}