Voting abandoned following death of Southampton candidate
A new poll will be held within the next 35 days
Last updated 4th May 2023
Southampton Conservative councillor Graham Galton, who was standing for election for Coxford ward, has died.
As a result of his death, the poll for Coxford ward has been closed and abandoned, with a vote to be held at a later date.
The returning officer at the city council has issued this statement: “The law provides that where proof of death of a candidate is delivered to the Returning Officer after polls have opened, but before the declaration of result, the poll must be abandoned, and a new election must be held for that ward.
"Therefore, the Returning Officer has closed all the polling stations in Coxford ward.
“Our condolences go to Mr Galton’s family.”
Voters should NOT go to the following locations:
- Zoe Braithwaite Centre, Fraser Close
- Lordswood Community Centre (Small Hall), Sandpiper Road
- St Vincent De Paul RC Church (Hall Centre Section), Coxford Road
- Lordshill Community Centre (Small Hall), Cromarty Road
- Kinloss Court (Communal Lounge), Northolt Gardens
- Scout HQ (Main Hall), Aldermoor Road
- Coxford Community Centre (Main Hall), Olive Road
The other candidates standing in Coxford ward are:
- David Howarth Chapman – Liberal Democrats
- Ken Darke – Liberal Democrats
- Maggie Fricker – Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition
- Diana June Galton – Conservatives
- Peter Graham Galton – Liberal Democrats
- Rebecca May McCreanor – Labour
- Paul James Patrick Nolan – Conservatives
- Ash Phillips – Greens
- Matt Renyard – Labour
- Beccy Ruddick – Labour
- Ed Surridge – Independent
Cllr Galton became a councillor at Southampton City Council in 2019, representing Millbrook ward – and today’s (4th May) election was his first time to stand again.
With the poll abandoned, no verification or count will happen for Coxford ward, and a new poll will be held within 35 working days.
Voting in all other wards in Southampton are unaffected with polls closing at 10pm tonight.