Elections
The next elections for the whole of the Town Council will take place on Thursday 2nd May 2024 and Councillors will then serve a five year term.
The elections in 2029 will then revert to a four year term.
The Notices of Election were published on 11th March 2024 and can be viewed below:
Notice of election – Parish and town areas – 2 May 2024. v110324
The elections for the wards in Blandford Forum cover:
Blandford Central Ward – six
Langton St Leonards Ward – three
Old Town Ward – three
Hilltop Ward – two
Badbury Heights Ward – two
There is also a Dorset Council election, with two candidates being selected to represent the Blandford area.
Notice of election – Dorset Council – 2 May 2024 v110324
Become a Councillor
If you would like to spare a few hours a week supporting and representing your community, by standing for election, please follow this link to find out if you are eligible and please do not hesitate to contact the Town Council for information about what we do and what is involved.
You can also view the following videos for a deeper insight into what the role entails:
- What do parish and town councils do in your community?
- What do parish and town councils do across Dorset?
- Why becoming a parish or town councillor in Dorset matters
- Parish and Town Councils are for Everyone
This link provides some answers to questions you might have about the role, and it is worth taking a look at our Services tab and the drop-down menu to get a better understanding of the responsibilities we have at this level.
You may also wish to attend some council meetings between now and submitting your nomination papers, to make sure this is something you would like to do. Please visit the Meetings page for the dates and times of our meetings. Please also take the opportunity of speaking to Councillors about their experiences.
The Dorset Association of Parish and Town Councils has provided us with this Dorset Council Area Elections Toolkit, prepared in conjunction with the Dorset Council. It includes a timeline, and an explanation of the nomination process and where to drop of your nomination forms.
This Electoral Commission link also provides a useful publication to read.
Information Evening for Prospective Councillors
We held two information evenings on 15th January 2024 and 19th February 2024 in the Corn Exchange.
Both sessions were informal, offered an opportunity to discuss the role with both existing Councillors and staff, followed by a council meeting at 7pm.
The Town Council has also prepared an Information Pack for prospective Councillors, but please do not hesitate to contact us should you require more information or have any specific queries.
Register to Vote
Please follow this link to register to vote online so you can exercise your right to vote in local and general elections.
Photo ID for Voting Purposes
Please follow this link to check you have the correct form of photo identification for voting in the May elections. If not, you can apply for a voting certificate.