The 2002 Stratford-on-Avon District Council election took place on 2 May 2002 to elect members of Stratford-on-Avon District Council in Warwickshire, England. The whole council was up for election with boundary changes since the last election in 2000 reducing the number of seats by 2.^[1] The Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council.^[2]

All of the seats on the council were contested after boundary changes had reduced the number of seats from 55 to 53.^[3] Before the election the Conservatives ran the council with an overall majority of 1 seat.^[3]

The Liberal Democrats were the main opposition on the council and contested 46 of the 53 seats.^[4] They attacked the Conservatives for increasing council tax since taking control in 2000, while cutting grants to various groups and moving the council offices to a rented site.^[4] The Conservatives however defended their record saying that the move in council offices would save money and that they had introduced a new bus pass allowing cheaper travel.^[5] Other issues raised in the election included social housing, the environment, speeding traffic and recycling.^[5]

The results were counted electronically as part of a pilot scheme,^[3] while voters were able to use electronic voting in 140 electronic polling booths.^[6] This was expected to lead to results being declared much earlier than in many areas, with some expected within minutes of polls closing.^[5] However while turnout was quite high at around 40%, the results were delayed after the computers did not perform as well as expected.^[7]

The results saw the Conservatives retain an overall majority of just 1 seat on the council.^[7] They made gains in Ettington, Snitterfield and the new ward of Stockton and Napton, but lost seats in Studley and Harbury.^[7] The Liberal Democrats made gains primarily at the expense of independents, who lost the most seats in the election.^[7] Meanwhile, Labour retained their 2 seats in Southam, but failed to make any gains.^[7]