Six Surrey councils hold votes in local elections

Voters in four of Surrey's boroughs are going to the polls in May

Voters across Surrey go to the polls in May, with 136 seats in six local councils up for re-election.

With a general election expected later in 2024, the local vote is being seen as a crucial test for the government.

Voting takes place on 2 May, with counts taking place throughout the day on 3 May and results expected late in the afternoon.

Anyone planning to vote in person at a polling station must bring an approved form of photo ID.

Runnymede Borough Council

Voters in 13 of the 41 seats in Runnymede will be going to the polls on 2 May.

The council is currently controlled by the Conservatives, albeit as a minority administration. They are the largest party with 20 seats, followed by Runnymede Independent Residents with six, five independents, four apiece for Labour and the Liberal Democrats and two Greens.

A full list of candidates standing in Runnymede can be found here.

Chertsey is one of the towns which make up Runnymede Borough Council

Woking Borough Council

A third of the 30 seats in Woking are up for re-election.

The Liberal Democrats go into the election with a large majority, holding 20 seats, with the Conservatives having four, four independents and two Labour councillors making up the rest of the council.

The council's finances will play an especially large role in this election, with Woking having to declare effective bankruptcy by issuing a Section 114 notice in June 2023, with debts of £2bn.

A full list of candidates standing in Woking can be found here.

Woking council's finances have been making headlines with the authority £2bn in debt

Reigate and Banstead

This is another authority which elects by thirds, meaning 15 of its 45 seats are up for grabs this year. After the 2023 election the Conservatives emerged with a majority of one, having 23 seats, but lost this on 8 March when Councillor Zelanie Cooper announced she was leaving the party.

The Greens are the next largest party with 11, followed by the Residents Association with six, the Liberal Democrats with three. A single Labour councillor and an independent complete the council.

A full list of candidates standing in Reigate and Banstead can be found here.

The Conservatives in Reigate lost their majority when a councillor resigned in March

Elmbridge Borough Council

A third of Elmbridge's 48 seats are also being re-elected in 2024, with 2023's election leaving no party in overall control.

The authority is run by the Liberal Democrats, the largest party on the council with 20 seats, five short of an overall majority.

Of the seats being contested in May, six are currently held by the Conservatives, four by the Liberal Democrats and six by the various residents' associations which have a strong presence on the council.

A full list of candidates standing in Elmbridge can be found here.

No party is in overall control in Elmbridge going into 2024's vote

Tandridge District Council

The largest party in Tandridge is the Residents' Alliance with 18 seats, although with 11 Liberal Democrats, 9 Conservatives and four councillors from the Independent Group, no party holds an overall majority.

All the authority's 43 seats are up for re-election, an increase of one from the last time voters went to the polls here, after the Tandridge Parish, Lingfield and Crowhurst wards were combined to become a three-member ward.

A full list of candidates standing in Tandridge can be found here.

Mole Valley District Council

Fourteen of Mole Valley's 39 seats are up for election in 2024.

The Liberal Democrats go into the vote with a healthy majority, holding 29 seats, well ahead of the six informal independents and three Conservatives. One seat is vacant.

A full list of candidates standing in Mole Valley can be found here.

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