An election to Somerset County Council took place on 4 June 2009 as part of the 2009 United Kingdom local elections, having been delayed from 7 May, to coincide with elections to the European Parliament. The result brought to an end 16 years of Liberal Democrat rule to a Conservative controlled administration. 58 councillors were elected from various electoral divisions, which returned one county councillor each. Members were elected by the first-past-the-post voting system for a four-year term of office. This was the last election before the number of seats was cut to 55 for the 2013 election. With a total of 58 seats being reduced to 55 for the next election.
All locally registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) who were aged 18 or over on Thursday 2 May 2013 were entitled to vote in the local elections. Those who were temporarily away from their ordinary address (for example, away working, on holiday, in student accommodation or in hospital) were also entitled to vote in the local elections, although those who had moved abroad and registered as overseas electors cannot vote in the local elections. It is possible to register to vote at more than one address (such as a university student who had a term-time address and lives at home during holidays) at the discretion of the local Electoral Register Office, but it remains an offence to vote more than once in the same local government election.
Summary The Liberal Democrats lost overall control of the council to the Conservatives who went on to form a majority administration. The Liberal Democrat group became the council's official opposition. Meanwhile the Labour Party had their number of seats halved from 4 to 2. No independents or candidates from other parties were elected as councillors.
Overall results
Results by division The candidates in bold were elected councillors on 4 June 2009.
Blackdown & Wellington East
Blackmoor Vale
Brent
Bridgwater East & Bawdrip
Bridgwater North & Central
Bridgwater South
Bridgwater West
Burnham on Sea North
Cannington
Castle Cary
Chard North
Chard South
Cheddar
Coker
Crewkerne
Curry Rivel
Dulverton & Exmoor
Dunster
Frome North
Frome Selwood
Frome South
Glastonbury
Highbridge & Burnham on Sea South
Huntspill
Ilchester
Ilminster
King Alfred
Langport
Lydeard
Martock
Mendip Central & East
Mendip North East
Mendip North West
Mendip South
Mendip West
Minehead
North Curry
North Petherton
Shepton Mallet
Somerton
South Petherton
Staplegrove
Street
Taunton & Trull
Taunton East
Taunton Fairwater
Taunton North
Taunton South
Taunton West
Upper Tone
Watchet & Quantocks
Wellington
Wells
Wincanton & Bruton
Yeovil East
Yeovil North & Central
Yeovil South
Yeovil West
References