Tenbury ward by-election – Thursday 30 April 2026

A by-election will take place on Thursday 30 April 2026 to elect a councillor for the Tenbury ward of Malvern Hills District Council following the resignation of Councillor Andrew Willmott. 

Notice of Election will be published on Tuesday 24 March 2026, this notice is the start of the elections process. Nomination papers are available below. Nomination papers must be delivered by hand to the Returning Officer, Meeting Room 2, Council House, Avenue Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3AF on any working day from Tuesday 24 March, between 10am and 4pm (excluding bank holidays) but no later than 4pm on Wednesday, 1 April 2026. 

Nomination papers must be subscribed by two local government electors from the Tenbury ward. The Electoral numbers of subscribers are required for form 1a – Nomination paper. Candidates and agents may request the required electoral numbers by contacting Electoral Services using the contact details below or by requesting a copy of the Electoral Register. We will require the full name and full address of each subscriber to provide their electoral number. The nomination paper should be completed with the candidates details and political party (if applicable) before it is signed by the subscribers. 

Candidates or agents should book an appointment for an informal check of their completed nomination papers. Informal checks ensure the nomination paper is completed correctly and that minor errors or omissions are avoided. Minor errors may invalidate a nomination. An appointment must be booked to ensure the team is available to conduct the informal check. If an appointment is not booked the nomination paper can still be submitted but an informal check may not be available. To book an informal check call 01684 862200 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Further information about standing as a candidate, including qualifications, disqualifications and guidance on completing nomination papers is available from www.electoralcommission.org.uk/nominations 

Electors who would like to vote by post at this election can apply online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote before 5pm on Wednesday, 15 April 2026. Applications may also be made by post (please find the details below in the “Voting by Post” section). Information about voting by proxy is available below. 

The timetable for this election is available below. The elections timetable is prescribed by law; the Returning Officer cannot change any deadlines. 

• pdf SoPN Tenbury (90 KB)
• pdf Notice of Poll and Situation of Polling Stations (94 KB)
• pdf Notice of Election - Tenbury (97 KB)
• pdf Nomination papers (426 KB)
• pdf Election Timetable (55 KB)

Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick ward by-election – Thursday 21 May 2026  

A by-election will take place on Thursday 21 May 2026 to elect a councillor for the Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick ward of Malvern Hills District Council following the resignation of Councillor Peter Whatley. 

Notice of Election will be published on Wednesday 15 April 2026, this notice is the start of the elections process. Nomination papers are available below. Nomination papers must be delivered by hand to the Returning Officer, Meeting Room 2, Council House, Avenue Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3AF on any working day from Wednesday 15 April 2026, between 10am and 4pm (excluding bank holidays) but no later than 4pm on Thursday 23 April 2026. 

Nomination papers must be subscribed by two local government electors from the Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick ward. The Electoral numbers of subscribers are required for form 1a – Nomination paper. Candidates and agents may request the required electoral numbers by contacting Electoral Services using the contact details below or by requesting a copy of the Electoral Register. We will require the full name and full address of each subscriber to provide their electoral number. The nomination paper should be completed with the candidates details and political party (if applicable) before it is signed by the subscribers. 

Candidates or agents should book an appointment for an informal check of their completed nomination papers. Informal checks ensure the nomination paper is completed correctly and that minor errors or omissions are avoided. Minor errors may invalidate a nomination. An appointment must be booked to ensure the team is available to conduct the informal check. If an appointment is not booked the nomination paper can still be submitted but an informal check may not be available. To book an informal check call 01684 862200 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Further information about standing as a candidate, including qualifications, disqualifications and guidance on completing nomination papers is available from www.electoralcommission.org.uk/nominations

Electors who would like to vote by post at this election can apply online at Apply Postal Vote on GOV.UK before 5pm on Wednesday 6 May 2026. Applications may also be made by post (please find the details below in the “Voting by Post” section). Information about voting by proxy is available below. 

pdf Nomination papers (426 KB)

Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick ward by-election – Thursday 21 May 2026

pdf Notice of Election - Alfrick, Leigh & Rushwick (98 KB)

Future elections 

No elections are scheduled to take place in Malvern Hills on Thursday 7 May 2026. This is because all of our district and parish councillors are elected at the same time once every 4 years. The last scheduled election was May 2023. Other councils have different electoral cycles. The next scheduled elections in Malvern will take place on Thursday 6 May 2027. By-elections may be called before the scheduled elections if a seat on the council becomes vacant, for example if a councillor resigns.

The annual canvass is a legal requirement designed to maintain the accuracy of the electoral register.

Each year we contact every household to check whether we have the correct people registered to vote and to ask you to tell us of any changes. This year, we will be sending a letter to every household. Every household must respond to this letter to tell us about any changes or to confirm the information is correct. We may also contact households by phone, email or in person. 

How to respond

Full details will be provided on the letter sent to you so please follow this carefully.

The easiest way to respond is via the web:

Complete your response to the annual canvass

You must have your two security codes to register your response.

If there are NO changes to the information on your canvass form you can respond via:

Freephone: 0800 8840701
SMS: by texting your TWO security codes separated by a space to 80212

Read the frequently asked questions for the Annual Canvass

If you are unsure whether an email or phone call is genuine contact us on 01684 862200 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before replying or clicking on any links.

Search for your nearest polling station:
Visit the 'where do I vote' website

We have provided this link to another website solely to try and help you to find information. We are not responsible for the content of other websites, which are not controlled or endorsed by us. This is because it is an external webpage. The site is supported by the Electoral Commission and we provide the data but can’t guarantee its accuracy.

Register to vote on the Government's website. This is the fastest way of registering.

Voter ID

Voters must show photo identification (ID) before they vote at a polling station. This could be a photo driving licence, passport, older persons bus pass or PASS card. A full list of the ID documents we can accept is available on the Electoral Commission website. 

If you don’t already have any of the accepted forms of ID, you can apply online for a Voter Authority Certificate – this is a free photographic identification document. Applications for Voter Authority Certificates can be made online at GOVUK - Voter Authority Certificates. Applications can also be made by post or in person at The Council House, Avenue Road, Malvern WR14 3AF. Please contact Electoral Services 01684 862200 for further information.

If you are voting as a proxy on behalf of another elector you will need to present your own ID, not the ID of the person you are voting on behalf of.

If you have recently changed your name or your name on the Register of Electors does not match the name on your ID, you may be asked to provide further documentation.

Voting by post allows you to vote at home without needing to visit a polling station. Before each election we will send your ballot paper to you in the post with a form to complete with your date of birth and signature.

Apply for a postal vote online at www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote

You will need to supply a photo of your signature written in ink. Do not supply an electronically signed version of your signature, your postal vote may be rejected at the next election if an electronic signature is supplied. You will need your National Insurance number to hand to complete the process. 

You can also apply to vote by post on a paper application form. If possible, please send your paper application form via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Emailed forms will be received and processed faster, and we will be able to acknowledge receipt via email reply. Alternatively, you can send your form via post to Electoral Services, The Council House, Avenue Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3AF.

The deadline to apply to vote by post is 5pm, 11 working days before the poll.

The Government has changed the postal vote application process and the identity of each voter is now checked when registering to vote and again when applying for a postal vote. Due to these changes, you may be asked to supply evidence of your identity, such as a driving licence or passport, when you apply for a postal vote. Existing postal voters will not be subject to an identity check until January 2026.

If you cannot make it to a polling station on polling day then you can send someone else to vote on your behalf. This is called voting by proxy.

You can register for a one-off proxy vote online at www.gov.uk/apply-proxy-vote. You can also apply using a paper application form - pdf Proxy Particular 2023 form (107 KB) .

To apply for permanent proxy vote (on grounds of employment, education or disability), please complete a permanent Proxy Vote Application form. 

The deadline to apply to vote by proxy is 5pm, 6 working days before poll. However, in some circumstances emergency proxy voting is also available. Further information about voting by emergency proxy, including application forms. Download application forms from the Electoral Commission website. Please contact us for further information and guidance about voting by Emergency Proxy.

If possible, please send your form via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Emailed forms will be received and processed faster, and we will be able to acknowledge receipt via email reply. Alternatively, you can send your form via post to Electoral Services, The Council House, Avenue Road, Malvern, Worcestershire, WR14 3AF.

The Local Government Act 2011 requires the Council to publish a verification number notice which sets out the minimum number of signatures which would be needed to support a valid petition requiring the council to hold a referendum on whether the district should change to a different form of governance.

pdf Petition number 2026 (87 KB)

The minimum number, equal to 5 per cent of the local government electors for Malvern Hills District Council shown in the revised register published at 15 February 2025, is 3195

This is the minimum number of signatures needed to support any petitions to the council submitted after 31 March 2025 and before 1 April 2026.

The minimum number, equal to 5 per cent of the local government electors for Malvern Hills District Council shown in the revised register published at 15 February 2024, is 3146.

This is the minimum number of signatures needed to support any petitions to the council submitted after 31 March 2024 and before 1 April 2025.

The Register of Electors contains the names and addresses of everyone living in the district who are eligible to vote (British, Commonwealth and citizens of other European Union Members States). In order to vote your name must be on the Register of Electors for the area in which you live.

The information contained within the Register can only be used for certain purposes such as elections, law enforcement and credit referencing.

If you have any queries please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 01684 862200.

A Community Governance Review is taking place in Guarlford and Madresfield. This review will consider whether to amalgamate Guarlford Parish Council and Madresfield Parish Council to create a new single parish council for the area. For further information about the review, including details on how to respond, go to Consultations

pdf Terms of Reference Madresfield and Guarlford CGR (686 KB)

pdf CGR Timetable (104 KB)

pdf Madresfield and Guarlford CGR Notice of Review (197 KB)

Postal voters are now required to renew their postal vote application every three years. We are contacting all affected postal voters by post, email, and phone to ask them to re-apply for their postal vote.

The quickest and easiest way to renew is online at GOV.UK - Apply Postal Vote

Paper application forms will automatically be sent to all electors who do not renew their postal vote online, but a form can also be requested by calling 01684 862200.

If you applied for a postal vote before 31 January 2024, but do not renew your postal vote before 31 January 2026, your postal vote will be cancelled. You will only be able to vote at a polling station unless you apply again for a postal vote. The deadline to apply for a postal vote before an election is 5pm, 11 working days before poll.