Elections

How often are Elections held?

Elections for membership of the Board are held every 3 years, so if you’re not happy with our performance you have the opportunity to do something about it; either by exercising your vote as a drainage ratepayer or standing for election yourself.

Are there any other opportunities to be elected?

Occasionally a casual vacancy may arise when an elected member resigns or otherwise vacates their office. When this happens the Board will co-opt a member to fill the vacancy, in accordance with its Election of Members Policy.

When is the next Election?

The next election of members will take place in 2025. If we receive more than one valid nomination for any electoral division, a poll for the election will take place between 24 October 2025 and 1 November 2025. The exact date of the election, should a poll be required, will be published on our Public Notices webpage between 7 and 15 September 2025.

How many places are there and where are they?

The Board consists of 19 directly elected members, the number of which is set out in the constitution. One member represents a single electoral division and there are 19 such divisions in the Drainage District, which have been approved by the Environment Agency and are as follows A: Happisburgh | B: Horsey | C: Winterton | D: Thurne | E: Ormesby | F: Stokesby | G: Hickling | H: Ludham | I: Upton | J: Stalham | K: Martham | L: Runham | M: Tunstall | N: Halvergate | O: Reedham | P: Yare | Q: Postwick | R: Buckenham | S: Cantley

Who is my existing representative?

Please visit our Board Members webpage to identify your existing directly elected representative for any of these electoral divisions. The last election was not contested in any electoral division.

How do I stand for election or nominate someone?

To stand for election in a division you will either be a Drainage Ratepayer in that division, or you will be nominated by a landowner who pays Drainage Rates in that electoral division. Full details regarding qualification for membership and nominating candidates are included with the nomination paper, which can be downloaded from this webpage or otherwise obtained from the central office. Please note that your nomination paper must be validly completed and returned to us by the published deadline. This date will be published on our Public Notices webpage.

Who gets to vote, should a poll be required?

If the number of candidates exceeds the number of places available in any electoral division a poll will be held for those divisions. You will be entitled to vote in every electoral division that you’re liable to pay Drainage Rates in, providing you’ve actually paid your Drainage Rates as demanded and your entitlement is shown in the Register of Electors. This public register will be available for inspection at the central office in an election year from April onwards. Notice of this will be given on our Public Notices webpage and you will also have the opportunity to request that any errors or omissions in the Register are corrected before the Election. You will be sent a Voting Paper for each electoral division being contested that you’re entitled to vote in, which you’ll need to complete and return to the central office before the published election date, as stated on our Public Notices webpage.

When do we know who’s been elected?

If a poll is required, the count will take place here at the central office for those electoral divisions being contested on the election date and may be observed by an independent solicitor. Candidates and members of the public are also welcome to observe the count, subject to the usual security checks. The results will then be published on our Public Notices webpage. Where electoral divisions are not contested a ‘no poll declaration’ for those divisions will be published on our Public Notices webpage, shortly after the deadline for receiving nomination papers. The declaration will list the elected members who’ve been returned unopposed. Please note that the Board will no longer publish election notices in the local press, following receipt of the Ministerial Direction on publishing election notices on 27 April 2016.

What happens if there are no nominations?

If we do not receive at least one valid nomination for any electoral division the retiring member for the division will be reappointed, as per Regulation 17 of the Land Drainage (Election of Drainage Boards) Regulations, 1938 (SI 1938 No.558). However, if the retiring member is unable to be reappointed for any reason whatsoever the Returning Officer will request the Board to fill the vacancy at the earliest opportunity after the Election or consider reconstituting to reduce the number of members, in accordance with its Election of Members Policy.

How do I get more Information?

If you would like more information about the election process please contact the Returning Officer at the central office or send us an email to returningofficer@wlma.org.uk.