LOCAL ELECTIONS
In England, county councils are responsible for functions such as transport, social care and libraries. Local councillors oversee the work of the council and set the strategies and priorities. When you vote in local elections, you vote for councillors to represent your ward.
Councils spend a lot of your money: In England, local authorities spent £72.1bn (net current expenditure) on public services in 2023/24 (2025/26 prices), according to the Institute for Government
There are three ways to vote in the May 2026 elections:
- In person
- Head to your local polling station on Thursday 7 May 2026 07:00-22:00
- By postal vote
- You'll need to apply for a postal vote by Tuesday 21 April
- By proxy vote
- You'll need to apply for a proxy vote by Tuesday 28 April
Want to vote? Make sure you've registered to vote by Monday 20 April.