This is a list of electoral divisions and wards in the ceremonial county of Essex in the East of England. All changes since the re-organisation of local government following the passing of the Local Government Act 1972 are shown. The number of councillors elected for each electoral division or ward is shown in brackets.
County council
Essex Electoral Divisions from 1 April 1974 (first election 12 April 1973) to 7 May 1981:The County of Essex (Electoral Divisions) Order 1973
Electoral Divisions from 7 May 1981 to 5 May 2005:The County of Essex (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1981
Electoral Divisions from 5 May 2005 to 7 May 2026:legislation.gov.uk - The County of Essex (Electoral Changes) Order 2004. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
† minor boundary changes in 2009 ‡ minor boundary changes in 2013
Electoral Divisions from 7 May 2026 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The Essex (Electoral Changes) Order 2024. Retrieved on 26 June 2026.
Unitary authority councils
Southend-on-Sea Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 6 May 1976:The County of Essex (District Wards) Order 1973
Wards from 6 May 1976 to 7 June 2001:The Borough of Southend-on-Sea (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975
Wards from 7 June 2001 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Southend-on-Sea (Electoral Changes) Order 2000. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Thurrock Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 3 May 1979:
Wards from 3 May 1979 to 1 May 1997:legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Thurrock (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
Wards from 1 May 1997 to 10 June 2004:legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Thurrock (Electoral Changes) Order 1997. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 10 June 2004 to 7 May 2026:legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Thurrock (Electoral Changes) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Thurrock (Electoral Changes) (Amendment) Order 2003. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
Wards from 7 May 2026 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The Thurrock (Electoral Changes) Order 2025. Retrieved on 25 June 2026.
District councils
Basildon Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 3 May 1979:
Wards from 3 May 1979 to 2 May 2002:The District of Basildon (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1978
Wards from 2 May 2002 to 2 May 2024:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Basildon (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 2 May 2024 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The Basildon (Electoral Changes) Order 2023. Retrieved on 25 June 2026.
Braintree Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 3 May 1979:
Wards from 3 May 1979 to 1 May 2003:The District of Braintree (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976
Wards from 1 May 2003 to 7 May 2015:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Braintree (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 7 May 2015 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The Braintree (Electoral Changes) Order 2014. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
Brentwood Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 6 May 1976:
Wards from 6 May 1976 to 2 May 2002:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Brentwood (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
Wards from 2 May 2002 to 2 May 2024:legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Brentwood (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 2 May 2024 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The Brentwood (Electoral Changes) Order 2023. Retrieved on 25 June 2026.
Castle Point Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 3 May 1979:
Wards from 3 May 1979 to 1 May 2003:The District of Castle Point (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976
Wards from 1 May 2003 to 2 May 2024:legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Castle Point (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 2 May 2024 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The Castle Point (Electoral Changes) Order 2023. Retrieved on 25 June 2026.
Chelmsford Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 6 May 1976:
Wards from 6 May 1976 to 7 May 1987:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Chelmsford (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
Wards from 7 May 1987 to 1 May 2003:legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Chelmsford (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1987. Retrieved on 4 November 2015.
Wards from 1 May 2003 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Chelmsford (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Colchester Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 6 May 1976:
Wards from 6 May 1976 to 3 May 1990:The Borough of Colchester (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975
Wards from 3 May 1990 to 2 May 2002:legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Colchester (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1989. Retrieved on 4 November 2015.
Wards from 2 May 2002 to 5 May 2016:legislation.gov.uk - The Borough of Colchester (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 5 May 2016 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The Colchester (Electoral Changes) Order 2015. Retrieved on 20 April 2016.
Epping Forest Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 3 May 1979:
Wards from 3 May 1979 to 2 May 2002:The District of Epping Forest (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1977
Wards from 2 May 2002 to 2 May 2024:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Epping Forest (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.legislation.gov.uk - The District of Epping Forest (Electoral Changes) (Amendment) Order 2002. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
† minor boundary changes in 2012legislation.gov.uk - The Epping Forest (Electoral Changes) Order 2011. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
Wards from 2 May 2024 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The Epping Forest (Electoral Changes) Order 2023. Retrieved on 25 June 2026.
Harlow Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 6 May 1976:
Wards from 6 May 1976 to 2 May 2002:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Harlow (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
Wards from 2 May 2002 to 2 May 2024:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Harlow (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 2 May 2024 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The Harlow (Electoral Changes) Order 2023. Retrieved on 14 May 2026.
Maldon Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 3 May 1979:
Wards from 3 May 1979 to 1 May 2003:The District of Maldon (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1976
Wards from 1 May 2003 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Maldon (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Rochford Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 6 May 1976:
Wards from 6 May 1976 to 2 May 2002:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Rochford (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
Wards from 2 May 2002 to 5 May 2016:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Rochford (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 5 May 2016 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The Rochford (Electoral Changes) Order 2015. Retrieved on 20 April 2016.
Tendring Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 6 May 1976:
Wards from 6 May 1976 to 1 May 2003:The District of Tendring (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975
Wards from 1 May 2003 to 2 May 2019:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Tendring (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
Wards from 2 May 2019 to present:
Uttlesford Wards from 1 April 1974 (first election 7 June 1973) to 6 May 1976:
Wards from 6 May 1976 to 1 May 2003:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Uttlesford (Electoral Arrangements) Order 1975. Retrieved on 19 November 2015.
Wards from 1 May 2003 to 7 May 2015:legislation.gov.uk - The District of Uttlesford (Electoral Changes) Order 2001. Retrieved on 4 October 2015.
† minor boundary changes in 2011legislation.gov.uk - The Uttlesford (Electoral Changes) Order 2008. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
Wards from 7 May 2015 to present:legislation.gov.uk - The Uttlesford (Electoral Changes) Order 2014. Retrieved on 3 November 2015.
Electoral wards by constituency Source:legislation.gov.uk - The Parliamentary Constituencies Order 2023. Retrieved on 25 June 2026.
Wards as they existed on 1 December 2020.
Basildon and Billericay Basildon: Billericay East; Billericay West; Burstead; Crouch; Fryerns; Laindon Park; Lee Chapel North; St. Martin’s; Vange.
Braintree Braintree: Bocking Blackwater; Bocking North; Bocking South; Braintree Central & Beckers Green; Braintree South; Braintree West; Bumpstead; Gosfield & Greenstead Green; Great Notley & Black Notley; Halstead St. Andrew’s; Halstead Trinity; Hedingham; Rayne; Stour Valley North; Stour Valley South; Three Fields; Yeldham.
Uttlesford: Felsted & Stebbing; The Sampfords.
Brentwood and Ongar Brentwood: Brentwood North; Brentwood South; Brentwood West; Brizes & Doddinghurst; Herongate, Ingrave & West Horndon; Hutton Central; Hutton East; Hutton North; Hutton South; Ingatestone, Fryerning & Mountnessing; Pilgrims Hatch; Shenfield; South Weald; Tipps Cross; Warley.
Epping Forest: Chipping Ongar, Greensted & Marden Ash; High Ongar, Willingale & The Rodings; Lambourne; Moreton & Fyfield; North Weald Bassett; Passingford; Shelley.
Castle Point Basildon: Pitsea South East (polling district DN).
Castle Point: Appleton; Boyce; Canvey Island Central; Canvey Island East; Canvey Island North; Canvey Island South; Canvey Island West; Canvey Island Winter Gardens; Cedar Hall; St George's ; St James; St Mary's; St Peter's; Victoria.
Chelmsford Chelsmford: Chelmer Village & Beaulieu Park; Goat Hall; Great Baddow East; Great Baddow West; Marconi; Moulsham & Central; Moulsham Lodge; Patching Hall; St. Andrews; Springfield North; The Lawns; Trinity; Waterhouse Farm.
Clacton Tendring: Bluehouse; Burrsville; Cann Hall; Coppins; Eastcliff; Frinton; Homelands; Kirby Cross; Kirby-le-Soken & Hamford; Little Clacton; Pier; St. Bartholomew’s; St. James; St. John’s; St. Osyth; St. Paul’s; The Bentleys & Frating; The Oakleys & Wix; Thorpe, Beaumont & Great Holland; Walton; Weeley & Tendring; West Clacton & Jaywick Sands.
Colchester Colchester: Berechurch; Castle; Greenstead; Highwoods, Lexden & Braiswick (polling districts AQ, AS & AT); Mile End; New Town & Christ Church; Prettygate; St. Anne’s & St. John’s; Shrub End.
Epping Forest Epping Forest: Broadley Common, Epping Upland & Nazeing; Buckhurst Hill East; Buckhurst Hill West; Chigwell Row; Chigwell Village; Epping Hemnall; Epping Lindsey & Thornwood Common; Grange Hill; Loughton Alderton; Loughton Broadway; Loughton Fairmead; Loughton Forest; Loughton Roding; Loughton St. John’s; Loughton St. Mary’s; Theydon Bois; Waltham Abbey High Beach; Waltham Abbey Honey Lane; Waltham Abbey North East; Waltham Abbey Paternoster; Waltham Abbey South West.
Harlow Epping Forest: Hastingwood, Matching & Sheering Village; Lower Nazeing; Lower Sheering; Roydon.
Harlow: Bush Fair; Church Langley; Great Parndon; Harlow Common; Little Parndon & Hare Street; Mark Hall; Netteswell; Old Harlow; Staple Tye; Sumners & Kingsmoor; Toddbrook.
Uttlesford: Broad Oak & the Hallingburys; Hatfield Heath.
Harwich and North Essex Colchester: Lexden & Braiswick (polling districts EJ, ET & EU); Mersea & Pyefleet; Old Heath & The Hythe; Rural North; Wivenhoe.
Tendring: Alresford & Elmstead; Ardleigh & Little Bromley; Brightlingsea; Dovercourt All Saints; Dovercourt Bay; Dovercourt Tollgate; Dovercourt Vines & Parkeston; Harwich & Kingsway; Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley; Stour Valley.
Maldon Chelmsford: Bicknacre and East & West Hanningfield; Galleywood; Little Baddow, Danbury & Sandon; Rettendon & Runwell; South Hanningfield, Stock & Margaretting; South Woodham–Chetwood and Collingwood; South Woodham–Elmwood and Woodville.