Over 30,000 Islanders have the opportunity to vote in sixteen Town and Parish elections and three Isle of Wight council by-elections on Thursday 1st May. That’s more than one in five Islanders.
In Godshill, voters will be handed two ballot papers – one for their Parish Council election and another because the village is within the boundary of Central Rural electoral division, where one of three IWC elections take place.
By-elections
The three Isle of Wight council by-elections are:
- Central Rural
- Freshwater South
- Lake North
Town and Parish elections
The Town and Parish wards where elections are being held:
- Brading Town Council
- Calbourne, Newtown and Porchfield Parish Council – Calbourne Ward
- Calbourne, Newtown and Porchfield Parish Council – Porchfield Ward
- Cowes Town Council – Cowes South Ward
- East Cowes Town Council – Osborne Ward
- Godshill Parish Council
- Ryde Town Council – Ryde North West Ward
- Ryde Town Council – Ryde South East Ward
- Ryde Town Council – Ryde West Ward
- Sandown Town Council – Sandown North Ward
- Sandown Town Council – Sandown South Ward
- Shalfleet Parish Council – Shalfleet East Ward
- Shalfleet Parish Council – Shalfleet West Ward
- Shanklin Town Council – Shanklin Central Ward
- Yarmouth Town Council – Thorley Ward
- Yarmouth Town Council – Yarmouth Ward
In other Town, Parish and Community Council wards across the Island, the number of candidates did not exceed the number of vacancies, so no elections will take place.
- The elections involve seven Town Councils and Three Parish Councils. There are no elections taking place in Newport and Carisbrooke, the Island’s only Community Council.
- The smallest ward in terms of the numbers of voters where there is an election is Thorley ward on Yarmouth Town Council where 219 voters go to the polls to choose from four candidates who are seeking to fill two vacancies.
- At the other end of the scale, there are 3,208 voters in Osborne Ward (East Cowes Town Council) where five candidates are contesting four vacancies.
- Brading Town, Shanklin Central ward of Shanklin Town Council and Yarmouth ward of Yarmouth Town Council share the distinction of having the highest number of candidates in these elections – in each case, nine names will appear on the ballot paper.
- 24 polling stations will be used across the 19 elections.
- Voter ID is required in these elections. Those without approved photo ID (such as a passport or driving licence) can apply for free voter ID (known as a Voter Authority Certificate) and the deadline to apply is Wednesday 23rd April, 5pm
- Further information, together with links to the various forms for voters can be found on the Isle of Wight Council By-elections 2025 page and the Town, Parish & Community Council elections
- Polling stations for all these elections will be open from 7am to 10pm.
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
