All 71 electoral divisions were up for election, which returned one county councillor each by first-past-the-post voting for a four-year term of office.

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,[2] 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.

[4] The Conservative Party also retained Imberdown which had been gained due to a defection from the Liberal Democrats.

This was due to comments made regarding the potential admissions policy of a proposed new boarding school in West Sussex.