A by-election has been called in the Market Ward of Frome Town Council. Should the vacancy be contested, meaning there is more than one person nominated, the election will take place on 9 October.
The by-election follows the decision by Mel Usher earlier this year to step down from the role. In a statement in July 2025, Mel Usher said: “Having moved from the town (admittedly only 3/4 miles away!) I have found it increasingly difficult to keep up with what is happening. Market Ward generates a lot of issues, and it is unfair on the other ward councillor, Mark Dorrington, to leave him to sort most of these out. It has been a privilege and time for someone else to pick up the baton.”
The Notice of Election and Nomination Pack are downloadable from this page and are also available on Somerset Council’s current election notices webpage.
Nomination papers may be also be obtained in person from the offices of the Returning Officer, Electoral Services, Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5BT, during the times stated below:
Nomination papers must be delivered by hand to the Returning Officer at Electoral Services, Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 5BT between 10am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm to 4pm on any working day from the date of publication of this notice (excluding bank holidays) but no later than 4pm on Friday 12 September 2025.
Somerset Council Electoral Services will publish a statement of persons nominated on 15 September 2025. If more than one nomination has been received, polling will take place on 9 October 2025. If only one nomination is received, polling will not take place and that person will be elected as a Market Ward councillor for Frome Town Council.
The next election for all town council wards will be in 2027.
Deadlines for voter registration
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Deadline to register to vote | 12 midnight on Tuesday 23 September 2025 |
| Deadline for new postal vote and postal proxy applications, or changes to existing postal or proxy votes | 5pm on Wednesday 24 September 2025 |
| Deadline for new applications to vote by proxy (in person) | 5pm on Wednesday 1 October 2025 |
| Deadline for applications for Voter Authority Certificates (free ID) | 5pm on Wednesday 1 October 2025 |
| First date that electors can apply for a replacement for lost postal votes | Friday 3 October 2025 |
| Last time that electors can apply for a replacement for spoilt or lost postal votes | 5:00pm on Thursday 9 October 2025 |
| Deadline for emergency proxy applications | 5:00pm on Thursday 9 October 2025 |
| Deadline for production of temporary Voter Authority Certificates | 10:00pm on Thursday 9 October 2025 |
Notice of Election and Nomination Pack
These links will open PDFs. The forms in the Nomination Pack must be printed before submitting them, by hand, to Somerset Council’s Returning Officer. Physical copies are available from Somerset Council as detailed above.
