About the Electoral Services Office
Elections Office:
0191 424 7230
e-mail: elections@southtyneside.gov.uk
Elections Office
South Tyneside Council
Town Hall and Civic Offices
Westoe Road
South Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE33 2RL
The Electoral Services Office is responsible for electoral registration and administering all elections within the Borough of South Tyneside.
We aim to give every eligible resident in the Borough an opportunity to have their say at Local, National and European Elections and Referendums. We can also provide advice to all residents about their right to vote. We canvass every household on a yearly basis to compile an accurate register of electors.
Local Government Elections
The borough of South Tyneside is divided into 18 wards; each represented by 3 local councillors.
These councillors are elected in local government elections, the last one election was in May 2008.
Local government elections in South Tyneside are by thirds, and are traditionally held on the first Thursday in May.
Councillors are elected for a four-year term and one councillor per ward retires each year; there are no elections in the fourth year (i.e. elections held in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The next local government election will be 6 May 2010.)
The normal hours of poll at a local government election are between 7am and 10pm.
National and European Elections
The wards of South Tyneside are divided between two Constituencies, South Shields and Jarrow. These are represented by two MP's, who are elected at UK Parliamentary Elections (also known as General Elections).
Parliamentary Elections are held within 5 years of the last election; they can be called at any time by the Government in power, the last election was held on the 5 May 2005. The latest possible date for the next UK Parliamentary Election will be May 2010.
European Parliamentary Elections are held every 5 years, normally in June. The last European Parliamentary Election was held on 10 June 2004.
The Normal hours of poll at a parliamentary election are between 7am and 10pm.
Referendums
Referendums are held when the Government has a question that it wants to consult the electorate on, i.e entering the Euro Currency. Referendums can also be held on local issues such as elected mayors and regional assemblies. There was a referendum on the proposed regional assembly in November 2004.
