{"election_id":"local.southend-on-sea.2026-05-07","tmp_election_id":null,"election_title":"Southend-on-Sea 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/SOS/1998-04-01/","official_identifier":"SOS","organisation_type":"local-authority","organisation_subtype":"UA","official_name":"Southend-on-Sea Borough Council","common_name":"Southend-on-Sea","slug":"southend-on-sea","territory_code":"ENG","election_name":"Southend-on-Sea local election","start_date":"1998-04-01","end_date":null,"created":"1998-04-01T00:00:00Z","modified":"2021-10-11T14:59:26.370579Z"},"group":"local.2026-05-07","group_type":"organisation","identifier_type":"organisation","children":["local.southend-on-sea.belfairs.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.blenheim-park.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.chalkwell.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.eastwood-park.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.kursaal.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.leigh.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.milton.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.prittlewell.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.shoeburyness.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.southchurch.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.st-laurence.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.st-lukes.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.thorpe.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.victoria.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.westborough.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.west-leigh.2026-05-07","local.southend-on-sea.west-shoebury.2026-05-07"],"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":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. Most wards elect more than one councillor, which is why you may have more than one vote.\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 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":"2025-11-11T15:40:47.773763Z","modified":"2026-02-11T10:43:18.895585Z"}