Residents of Hextable Ward in Sevenoaks District are preparing to vote in a by-election this Thursday, 5 March 2026. The poll will determine which candidate will represent the ward on Sevenoaks District Council, with voting taking place between 7am and 10pm.

Five candidates are contesting the single available seat in Hextable Ward. Lee Allen is standing for the Conservative Party, whilst Daniel Kersten represents Reform UK. The Liberal Democrats have fielded Ashley Francis Edward Wassall as their candidate, and Oliver Young is contesting the seat for the Green Party. Jackie Griffiths is standing as an Independent candidate.

The by-election follows the need to fill a vacancy in the ward, which ordinarily has two council seats. Voters in Hextable must be registered on the electoral roll to participate. The deadline to register was Tuesday 17 February 2026, and applications were accepted online through gov.uk.

For those unable to attend polling stations on the day, postal voting options were available. The deadline for postal vote applications was Wednesday 18 February 2026, with votes being dispatched from 20 February. Residents also had the opportunity to arrange a proxy vote, with applications accepted up until Wednesday 25 February.

The by-election uses the first-past-the-post voting system, meaning the candidate with the most votes will be elected to represent Hextable Ward. All polling stations within the ward will be open during the standard voting hours, with the Notice of Poll and polling station locations having been published by Wednesday 25 February.

This by-election comes ahead of the wider local elections scheduled for England on Thursday 7 May 2026, when voters across the country will elect over 4,850 councillors. Sevenoaks District Council will participate in those national elections alongside this earlier by-election in Hextable Ward.

Key Takeaways

• Five candidates from different political parties are standing in the Hextable Ward by-election on Thursday 5 March 2026
• Polling stations will be open between 7am and 10pm for residents to cast their votes
• Voters must have been registered by 17 February 2026 to be eligible to vote in the by-election

What This Means for Kent Residents

Residents of Hextable Ward now have the opportunity to select their local councillor through this by-election. Those who wish to vote on Thursday should ensure they know their polling station location and attend between 7am and 10pm. For any queries about voting eligibility or polling station details, residents should contact Sevenoaks District Council directly.