"The biggest set of elections since the 2024 general election"
The BBC has information on all the elections taking place on 7 may 2026, including the national parliaments in Scotland and Wales and local councils and mayors in England. (Local council and Assembly elections in Northern Ireland will take place in May 2027.)
Who can vote?
To vote in a local government election you must: · be registered to vote
be 18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’) (16 or over in Scotland and Wales)
be registered at an address in the area you want to vote in
not be legally excluded from voting
You must also be one of the following:
a British citizen
an Irish or EU citizen · a qualifying Commonwealth citizen
a citizen of another country living in Scotland or Wales who has permission to enter or stay in the UK, or who does not need permission
How to Register to Vote
The deadline for registering to vote in the May 2026 elections has already passed and if you are not on the registry, you may be ineligible to vote in the upcoming election. You can register for the next election through the UK government’s website or through your local authority. However, if you have registered to vote recently and your information has not changed, you should be able to vote.
If you would like to check the registry or contact your local Electoral Registration Office to confirm your details, you can access their information HERE.
Where is my polling place?
You can find details of your local elections Electoral Commission’s website HERE. This website will provide links to your local authority who will list the candidates and parties participating. You will also be able to see the location of your local polling station, how to access the site, and what information you might need in order to vote.
Voter ID requirement
Voters in England need to show photo ID to vote at polling stations in all elections.
Voters in Scotland will not need to show photo ID at Scottish Parliament elections or at council elections.
Voters in Wales will not need to show photo ID to vote at a polling station at Senedd elections or local council elections.
You can find full details of which elections require voter ID and what forms of ID are acceptable HERE