There’s three elections coming up, in which Swanage residents over the age of 18 can cast their vote and exercise their democratic right.
On Thursday 2nd May 2024, the electorate will be able to vote in the Swanage Town Council election, the Dorset Council election and the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner election.
Swanage Methodist Church doubles as a polling station for the day
Polling stations open from 7 am to 10 pm
There’s also parish council elections taking place on the same day in Studland, Langton Matravers, Corfe Castle, Church Knowle, Wool and most other parishes across the Dorset Council area. Wareham Town Council seats are also up for election.
Polling stations will be open from 7 am to 10 pm on Thursday 2nd May 2024 and in a change from previous years, voters must bring along photo ID in order to vote.
In Swanage there are two wards – Swanage North and Swanage South – and it depends exactly where in Swanage voters live, on who they can vote for.
Elections take place for parish councils across the Dorset Council area
Ballot count on Saturday 4th May 2024
All those registered to vote, should have received a poll card which says when the local elections are due to take place and the location of the nearest polling station.
Those registered to vote by post will receive a postal poll card a few weeks before the elections. Those who can’t vote in person or by post may nominate a proxy who will vote on the person’s behalf.
To be able to vote, a person must be registered on the electoral roll. The deadline to apply in time for this election is midnight on Tuesday 16th April 2024.
The ballot count for the local council elections will take place on Saturday 4th May 2024 and the results will be published shortly afterwards.
The door to Swanage Town Hall will welcome its new councillors after the May 2024 election
Swanage Town Council candidates for Swanage North ward
Residents who live in the Swanage North ward will be able to vote for six new members of Swanage Town Council on Thursday 2nd May 2024.
There are 12 candidates to choose from, who are listed here in alphabetical order by surname. If a candidate has requested not to make their home address public, a relevant electoral area is given instead:
- Sarah Elizabeth Amy Brookes – Independent – Kings Road West, Swanage
- Paul Raymond Chaston – Local Conservatives – address in Dorset Council area
- Megan Imogen Coward – Independent- Redcliffe Road, Swanage
- Tina Foster – Local Conservatives – Kings Road West, Swanage
- Woody Harding – Labour Party – Southcliffe Road, Swanage
- John Stuart Kaiser – Local Conservatives – Park Road, Swanage
- John Peter Lejeune – Local Conservatives – Victoria Road, Swanage
- Ian James McDavid – Independent – Hoburne Park, Swanage
- James Mercer – Labour Party – Gordon Road, Swanage
- Chris Moreton – Local Conservatives – Streche Road, Swanage
- Matt Piper – Liberal Democrats – Kings Road West, Swanage
- William Stanley Trite – Local Conservatives – Kings Road West, Swanage
Swanage Town Council candidates for Swanage South ward
Residents who live in the Swanage South ward will be able to vote for six new members of Swanage Town Council on Thursday 2nd May 2024.
There are 13 candidates to choose from, who are listed here in alphabetical order by surname. If a candidate has requested not to make their home address public, a relevant electoral area is given instead:
- Mike Bonfield – Local Conservatives – Priest’s Road, Swanage
- Jules Dorrington – Labour Party – address in Dorset Council area
- Philip Michael Eades – Independent – Mariners Drive, Swanage
- Caroline Freda May Finch – Local Conservatives – Bon Accord Road, Swanage
- Heidi Jane Lucas – Local Conservatives – Valley Road, Swanage
- Helen Mary McDavid – Independent – Mariners Drive, Swanage
- Debby Monkhouse – Labour Party – Salisbury Road, Swanage
- Gary Maurice Suttle – Local Conservatives – East Drove, Langton Matravers
- Cliff Sutton – Labour Party – Ulwell Road, Swanage
- Chris Tomes – Local Conservatives – Greensands Way, Swanage
- Sarah Vile – Labour Party – Queens Road, Swanage
- Michael Alan Whitwam – Local Conservatives – Kings Road West, Swanage
- Chris Wood – Independent – Park Road, Swanage
Dorset Council candidates for Swanage ward
All Swanage residents will be able to vote for two councillors to be elected for the Swanage ward on Thursday 2nd May 2024.
There are nine candidates to choose from, who are listed here in alphabetical order by surname. If a candidate has requested not to make their home address public, a relevant electoral area is given instead:
- Chris Bradey – Labour Party – Church Lane, East Stoke, Wareham
- Gill Calvin Thomas – Liberal Democrats – address in Dorset Council area
- Philip Michael Eades – Independent – Mariners Drive, Swanage
- Helen Mary McDavid – Independent – Mariners Drive, Swanage
- Debby Monkhouse – Labour Party – Salisbury Road, Swanage
- Matt Piper – Liberal Democrats – Kings Road West, Swanage
- Kia Pope – Green Party – address in Dorset Council area
- Gary Maurice Suttle – Local Conservatives – East Drove, Langton Matravers
- William Stanley Trite – Local Conservatives – Kings Road West, Swanage
Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner candidates
The office of police and crime commissioner (PCC) was created through the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, and the first elections took place in 2012.
David Sidwick, Dorset’s current PCC, is seeking re-election. The list of candidates in alphabetical order for the 2024 election is as follows:
- Howard Legg – Liberal Democrats – Whitecross Drive, Weymouth
- David John Sidwick – Conservative Candidate – address in the Dorset police area
- David Stokes – Labour and Co-operative Party – Bradpole Road, Bournemouth
- Marianne Storey – Independent – address in the Dorset police area
Further information
- Apply to be on the electoral register
- Information for voters on Dorset Council website
- Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner election information
