Chesterton & Launton County Division - Thursday 3 September 2026
County Councillor Will Boucher-Giles resigned as Member for the Chesterton & Launton division on 16 July 2026.
Oxfordshire County Council have advertised the vacancy, and the relevant number of requests calling for a by-election have been received. The Returning Officer has confirmed that the by-election will be held on Thursday 3 September. The verification and counting of votes will take place at the close of poll at Chesterton Community Centre.
The Notice of Election has now been published.
Cherwell District Council will administer the by-election on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council, due to the division being within the Cherwell district. This means that completed nomination papers will need to be submitted in person to the Deputy Returning Officer via the Cherwell District Council offices at 39 Castle Quay, Banbury. Nominations can be delivered on weekdays between 10am and 4pm, from Thursday 30 July to Thursday 6 August. The statutory deadline for nominations is 4pm on Thursday 6 August. Please contact the Democratic and Elections Team via email democracy@cherwell-dc.gov.uk or call 01295 221534 to book an appointment.
Prospective candidates may wish to review the Electoral Commission guidance, which also includes a nomination paper that can be downloaded.
Key dates and deadline in relation to the by-election are as follows:
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Publication of Notice of Election |
Wednesday 29 July |
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Nomination period – delivery in person to the Deputy Returning Officer, 39 Castle Quay, Banbury, OX16 5FD. (Contact democracy@cherwell-dc.gov.uk or 01295 221534 to book an appointment) |
10am – 4pm, weekdays from Thursday 30 July to Thursday 6 August |
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Publication of Statement of Persons Nominated |
By 4pm on Friday 7 August |
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Posting out of poll cards – batch 1 – for those electors already on the Electoral Register |
Around 3 August |
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Last date for registration to vote in the by-election. |
11:59pm, Monday 17 August |
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Posting out of postal votes – batch 1 – for those electors with a permanent postal vote |
Around 13 August |
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Deadline to apply for a postal vote or amend an existing postal vote (i.e. change the address it is sent to) or to cancel an existing proxy or postal proxy arrangement |
5pm, Tuesday 18 August
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Posting out of poll cards – batch 2 – for those electors who registered between 24 July and 17 August |
Around 21 August |
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Posting out of postal votes – batch 2 – for those electors who applied for a postal vote between 24 July and 12 August |
Around 21 August |
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Publication of Notice of Poll |
Tuesday 25 August |
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Deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate |
5pm, Tuesday 25 August |
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Deadline to apply for a proxy vote |
5pm, Tuesday 25 August |
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Period for issuing of replacement postal votes |
From Thursday 27 August to 5pm on Thursday 3 September |
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Period for emergency proxy applications (only in particular circumstances) |
From 5pm on Tuesday 25 August to 5pm on Thursday 3 September |
Electors voting in person at the polling station will be required to show a valid form of photographic ID.
Electors who may be away on polling day are encouraged to apply for a postal or proxy vote as soon as possible.
Postal votes can be sent to an alternative address, however, do please bear in mind the dispatch dates mentioned above and postal delivery times when considering where to have your postal vote sent.
Postal votes are dispatched first class from our printers in London, there is no provision for postal votes to be collected from our offices at Castle Quay. Once they have been collected by Royal Mail, we are reliant on their service standards. Please note postal services may be impacted by the Bank Holiday on Monday 31 August.
Replacement postal votes can be issued from Thursday 27 August, until 5pm on Thursday 3 September. If a replacement postal vote is requested on or after 28 August, you or someone on your behalf will be required to collect the replacement from our offices at Castle Quay.