Local elections give residents the opportunity to choose the councillors who represent Alderstead on the council. Councillors are elected from wards using first-past-the-post. Ordinary elections are all-out every four years unless the applicable electoral law provides otherwise.

Wards and electoral arrangements

A ward is the local electoral area used to elect councillors. Alderstead's ward names, boundaries, council size and councillor numbers are determined through the Local Government Boundary Commission for Havenstead. The council uses the electoral arrangements that have been formally established for the election concerned.

Neighbourhood names and other informal place descriptions are useful for local information, but they do not become electoral wards simply because they are commonly used. The formal boundary record is what determines representation.

Information for an election

When a local election is due, the election record provides the information relevant to that poll. This includes the timetable and statutory notices, candidate information where required, arrangements for the poll and the declared result. Information is published for the specific election so that residents can distinguish a current contest from historic material.

Other elections

This section covers elections for Alderstead local government. Parliamentary elections, elections for the Steadfast & Hearth Combined Sphere Authority and any other electoral process use their own legal and administrative arrangements. Where another authority is responsible, Alderstead Council directs residents to the appropriate election information rather than presenting that contest as a council election.

For more about the geography used for local elections, see Local government boundaries and wards.