30,000 ISLANDERS CAN GO TO THE POLLS ON 1ST MAY – HERE IS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Over 30,000 Islanders will have the opportunity to vote in 16 Town and Parish elections and 3 Isle of Wight Council by-elections on Thursday 1st  May – and here is everything you need to know…

In Godshill, voters will be handed 2 ballot papers – 1 for their Parish Council election and another because the village is within the boundary of Central Rural electoral division, where 1 of 3 Isle of Wight Council elections take place.

The 3 Isle of Wight Council by-elections are:

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• Central Rural
• Freshwater South
• Lake North

A full list of candidates for the 3 by-elections can be found on Island Echo’s sister site, Isle of Wight.vote, at https://isleofwight.vote/candidates-local-elections-by-elections-2025/.

The Town & 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 & Community Council wards across the Island, the number of candidates did not exceed the number of vacancies, so no elections will take place.

A full list of candidates for the Town & Parish Elections can be found at https://isleofwight.vote/town-parish-elections-2025-candidates/.

Fact File

• The elections involve 7 Town Councils and 3 Parish Councils.

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There are no elections taking place in Newport & 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 4 candidates who are seeking to fill 2 vacancies.

• At the other end of the scale, there are 3,208 voters in Osborne Ward (East Cowes Town Council) where 5 candidates are contesting 4 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, 9 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 an 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 23 April, 17:00

• Polling stations for all these elections will be open from 07:00 to 22:00.