Members were elected by the first-past-the-post voting system for a four-year term of office.

They won 28 of the 54 seats contested on 2 May,[1] in addition to the division of Coker,[2] where the election was delayed until 16 May due to the death of one of the candidates.

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,[4] 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.

[5] The nomination of Judith Kendall (Liberal Democrats) was ruled as invalid David Wilson (UK Independence Party) was withdrawn as a candidate before the close of nominations Election was deferred until 16 May 2013, due to the death of the original UK Independence Party candidate, Audrey Spencer[24]