Current and future elections
Voters are now required to show photographic ID in the polling stations, further information can be found at www.fdean.gov.uk/voterid
Notice of elections
Upcoming elections
Forest of Dean District Council – Cinderford East Ward – Thursday 1 May 2025
A By-Election has been called for a vacant seat in the Cinderford East District Ward. If contested, the election will take place on Thursday, 1 May 2025.
Forest of Dean District Council - Newent & Taynton Ward – Thursday 1 May 2025
A By-Election has been called for a vacant seat in the Newent & Taynton District Ward. If contested, the election will take place on Thursday, 1 May 2025.
Gloucestershire County Council Election – Thursday 1 May 2025
The Forest of Dean district comprises of 8 electoral divisions.
| Electoral Divisions | Polling District |
|---|---|
| Blakeney and Bream | NC, NCA, OG, OV, PBY, PP, PU, PUA, PV, PW, PX |
| Cinderford | NIX, NIXA, NIXB, NIXC, NIZ, PBX |
| Coleford | NJ, NJA, NJB, NJC, NJD, PD, PQ |
| Drybrook and Lydbrook | NIY, NM, NN, NO, NY, OK, OL, ORA, PA, PS, PSA |
| Lydney | ND, OM, ON, OO |
| Mitcheldean | NE, NH, NK, OA, OE, OI, OR, PB, PHA, PI, PO |
| Newent | NF, NQ, NX, OF, OS, OSA, OSB, OX, OY, OZ, PE, PN |
| Sedbury | NA, OC, OT, OU, PF, PG, PJ, PK, PY |
One councillor will be elected for each division.
Key publication dates
- Notice of election – Tuesday 25 March
- Statement of election agents – Thursday 3 April
- Statement of persons nominated - Thursday 3 April
- Notice of poll – Wednesday 23 April
Information to Candidates
Nomination packs
If you would like a paper copy posted, please email your name, address, and the area you wish to stand to elections@fdean.gov.uk
Please note that you should not sign the consent to nomination form earlier than one month before the deadline for submitting your nomination papers (not to be signed before 2nd March).
Receipt of Nominations commences on Tuesday 25 March 2025 and closes at 4 pm Wednesday 2 April 2025. Nominations MUST be hand delivered to Deputy Returning Officer or his Assistant Deputy Returning Officer, Forest of Dean District Council, Council Offices, Reception, High Street, Coleford GL16 8HG
Key dates for candidates
- Poll cards will be dispatched around Tuesday 25 March
- First dispatch of postal vote will be around Monday 14 April
Further information on the role and responsibilities of a County Councillor can be found by visiting Gloucestershire County Council.
You can find more information and guidance on the Electoral Commission's website here Candidates and Agents - Electoral Commission
Information to voters
Key dates for voters
- Deadline to Register to vote – Friday 11 April. If you are not already registered or recently moved house, register now. Please go to gov.uk/registertovote (you will need your National Insurance Number).
- Deadline to apply for a Postal vote - 5pm Monday 14 April you can apply online www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote (you will need your National Insurance Number).
- Deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate - 5pm Wednesday 23 April You can apply online: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate (you will need your National Insurance Number).
- Deadline to apply for a Proxy vote - 5pm Wednesday 23 April you can apply online www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote
To request a paper application, email elections@fdean.gov.uk or call 01594 812638.
Voting in person on Thursday 1 May 2025
You can vote in person at your allocated polling station. Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm. If there is a queue, you can still vote if you join it before 10pm.
Voter ID You will be required to show an accepted form of photographic identification to polling station staff before being issued with a ballot paper.
If you do not already have any of the accepted forms of photographic identification, you will be able to apply either in person, by post or online, for a Voter Authority Certificate - a free photographic identification document specific for the purposes of voting.
You can apply online here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate. Alternatively, you can apply using a paper application form, please call 01594 812638 during office hours to request a paper application form.
The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm on Wednesday 23 April
You can find a list of the accepted form of identification here.
If your photographic identification document has expired, it will still be accepted as long as the photograph is still a good likeness of you.
Poll cards
Poll cards will be sent to everyone who is registered to vote in this election. You do not need a poll card to vote, but it makes voting quicker if you take it with you to your polling station.
Sending out postal votes
We will send out postal votes around;
- 14 April - for existing postal voters and new applications received before 4pm on 2 April
- 17 April - for postal vote applications received after 5pm 2 April
The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on 14 April.
If you think you will be away around these dates, we recommend applying for a proxy vote.
Postal votes are sent first class, but we cannot guarantee delivery dates as this depends on the postal service.
See also: How each type of election works