Surrey County Council is elected every four years and was made in 1889 under the Local Government Act 1888.
Approximately a third of the population elect a further more localised third tier of local government to civil parishes such as Farnham, Claygate and Horley.
Major services provided include social services, minerals strategy and permissions, waste planning and substantial elements of transport (excluding railways) and education.
The number of electoral divisions on Surrey County Council was increased to 76, in time for the 1981 election.
The number of electoral divisions on Surrey County Council was increased from 76 to 80, in time for the 2005 election.