Ian Davidson
Chief executive of Tendring District Council and Acting Returning Officer for Clacton.
Ian Davidson ran the Clacton by-election of 13 August 2026, whose record 34 candidates needed a ballot paper about 90 centimetres long; he expected it to cost around four times a typical by-election ballot.
Last refreshed: 7 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why does Clacton's record 34-candidate ballot paper cost four times as much to print?
Timeline for Ian Davidson
Mentioned in: Holborn's by-election puts 15 on the ballot
UK Local Elections 2026Described the by-election as unusual and high-profile with additional practical challenges
UK Local Elections 2026: Farage wins Clacton back by 12,784 votesClacton's ballot paper runs to 90cm
UK Local Elections 2026Background
Ian Davidson is chief executive of Tendring District Council in north-east Essex and its returning officer. Council minutes record that he took up both roles on 4 January 2011. As chief executive he leads the council's paid staff and supports its elected members.
For parliamentary polls in the Clacton constituency he acts as acting returning officer. In August 2026 that meant a by-election with 34 candidates, a record, and a ballot paper about 90 centimetres long; the £500 deposit let that many afford to stand. No major party stood, and Nigel Farage won with 22,239 votes. Turnout on 13 August was 44.37%.
Davidson ran Clacton's record ballot
As acting returning officer for the Clacton by-election, Davidson had to print a ballot paper about 90 centimetres long listing 34 candidates, a field the £500 deposit made affordable. On 11 August 2026 he said printing it would cost around four times a typical by-election ballot paper.
Tendring District Council declared the result after the poll on 13 August. Nigel Farage won with 22,239 votes, a majority of 12,784 over the satirical candidate Count Binface, on a turnout of 44.37%.
Reference
Who is Ian Davidson at Tendring District Council?
What did Ian Davidson do in the Clacton by-election?
Why was the Clacton ballot paper unusual?
Who is running the Clacton by-election count?
Why is the Clacton by-election ballot paper so expensive?
