Voters in Clacton are casting their ballots today, 13 August 2026, in a by-election to elect their next Member of Parliament. A total of 34 candidates are standing in the Essex constituency, marking the highest number ever to stand in a British parliamentary election.
The electorate of 79,785 registered voters will use a 90cm (approximately 3ft) long ballot paper, which is the longest in British electoral history. Among the candidates are representatives from 12 political parties and 20 independents.
Fifty-one polling stations are open across Clacton, Jaywick, Frinton, Walton-on-the-Naze, and rural villages including St Osyth, Weeley, and Great Bentley. Voters are required to show an acceptable form of ID, such as a driver's licence or passport, to cast their vote. Polls opened at 07:00 BST and will close at 22:00 BST, with the count scheduled to take place overnight.