Somerset voters face wait as no full local elections held this year
By Daniel Mumby - Local Democracy Reporter 28th Apr 2026
The first Thursday in May is traditionally when local elections are held across different parts of the UK.
Voters go to the polls, typically once every four years, to elect their local representatives, who will have the final say on everything from how often bins get collected to where new homes can be built.
Local elections are often seen as an opinion poll for the national government in Westminster – with people voting against the governing party to give it a 'bloody nose', sending a message in lieu of a general election that they are unhappy with its policies.
Numerous parts of the UK will go to the polls on May 7, with one-third of the seats on both Exeter City Council and Plymouth City Council being up for grabs.
But aside from one by-election, Somerset residents will have to wait until next year before they can give their verdict on the Liberal Democrat administration currently ruling at County Hall in Taunton.
Here's everything you need to know:
Why isn't there an election in Somerset this year?
Normally, local elections are held once every four years – with the last in Somerset taking place in May 2022.
Those elections, the first for the new unitary authority, saw the Lib Dems led by Bill Revans sweep to power, unseating David Fothergill's Conservatives and winning 61 out of 110 seats across 55 divisions.
But while these elections were the first for the new authority, Somerset Council did not technically come into being until April 1, 2023 – with those elected in May 2022 sitting effectively as county councillors until both the county council and the four district council were officially abolished.
As a result, the four-year term for Somerset Council won't officially end until the spring of 2027 – so you're stuck with your current councillors for another 12 months.
The same goes for the unitary authorities in Cumberland, North Yorkshire and Westmorland & Furness, which were created at the same time as Somerset Council.
After the next local elections in Somerset, scheduled for May 1, 2027, things will revert back to a four-year cycle – meaning the following elections will take place in May 2031.
Is there anyone I can vote for this year?
The only Somerset Council division which is being contested this year is one of two seats in the Mendip Hills division, which comprises numerous villages between Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Shepton Mallet and Wells.
This by-election came about as a result of the untimely death of sitting councillor Tony Robbins on February 8 – with six candidates throwing their hat into the ring to replace him:
- Terry Ledlie (Labour)
- Abi McGuire (Independent)
- Nicola Perold (Conservative)
- Sam Phripp (Liberal Democrat)
- Greg Stone (Reform UK)
- Victoria Welsh (Green)
Polling stations will be open across the Mendip Hills division on Thursday, May 7 between 7am and 10pm, with the result being announced early the following morning.
There are also a handful of town and parish council seats being contested on the same day – namely the West ward in Shepton Mallet, the Pyrland ward in Taunton and the St. Thomas ward in Wells.
An election for two seats on Porlock Parish Council was also due to take place on May 7, but this will not go ahead after no candidates were nominated (with the seats remaining vacant for the time being until people can be co-opted).
So, who can I vote for next year?
The list of candidates standing in next year's local elections in Somerset won't be published until some time after Christmas – giving the existing councillors plenty of time to decide whether they will stand again.
The next local elections will be fought on different boundaries, with the number of councillors being reduced from 110 to 96 across 93 divisions.
These new boundaries came about following a consultation by the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE), which delivered its final report in early-March.
Each councillor elected at the May 2027 local elections will be representing an average of 4,867 electors – though there will still be some variation from place to place.
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