Local Elections 2026: Getting your voice heard
On Thursday 7th May 2026, local government elections will be taking place across London. This is the biggest set of local elections since the 2024 General Election.
Every vote matters. To ensure you're able to cast your vote, there are certain steps you must take before and on election day.
We want to ensure that as many older Londoners as possible have their voices heard. Below are a few short guides on registering to vote, making sure you have an accepted form of photo ID, as well as different methods of voting.
If you would like to find out more, you can follow this link: Key dates for voters in 2026 | Electoral Commission
Manifesto 2026
Age UK London has launched our manifesto called "Are London Council's Ready for Ageing?" The manifesto was created with input from our supporters and campaigners who told us what they want from their local council. Download our manifesto and share with your local candidates. Find out what they will do for older residents you can find out how to engage with your local councillors below.
Registering to vote
To be able to vote in the upcoming elections, you’ll need to register to vote. You can do this at any time, but it’s advised that you register at least two weeks ahead of the election date. In the case of the 7th May London elections, the deadline to register is midnight, Monday 20th April.
To be eligible to vote in the May elections, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:
- be 18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’)
- be a British citizen, or an Irish citizen. You can also vote if you have permission to stay in the UK, or you do not need permission and you're either a Commonwealth citizen; citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, or Spain; or a citizen of another EU country if you have had permission to enter or stay - or not needed permission - since 31st December 2020, and this has continued without a break.
- be resident at an address in Greater London
- not be legally excluded from voting
You can register online by following this link https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
Bringing photo ID
It is a requirement to present an accepted form of photo ID at the polling station, on the day of the election.
Below is a list of accepted photo ID:
- A UK passport
- A passport from a country in the EEA or Commonwealth
- Driving licence issued by the UK, any of the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, or an EEA state (this includes a provisional driving licence)
- An Older Person’s Bus Pass
- A Disabled Person’s Bus Pass
- A Freedom Pass
- A 60+ Oyster Card
- A biometric immigration document
- A Blue Badge
- A Voter Authority Certificate
- A PASS identity card
- A Ministry of Defence Form 90 (Defence Identity Card)
- A Ministry of Defence Form 100 (HM Armed Forces Veteran Card)
- National identity card issues in an EEA country.
Your form of photo ID can still be presented at the polling station if it’s past its expiry date, so long as the photo reasonably resembles you and the name on your ID is the same as the name you used to register to vote. It’s important to note that whether the photo resembles will be decided by polling station staff.
If you don't have an accepted form of photo ID, you can apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. More information can be found here: Applying for a Voter Authority Certificate | Electoral Commission
Voting by post
Alternatively, you can vote by post. In this case, you will not need to present a form of photo ID or a Voter Authority Certificate. You can register for a postal vote by following this link: https://www.gov.uk/apply-postal-vote
To register for a postal vote, you will need the following:
- The address where you are registered to vote
- Your National Insurance number or other identity documents, for example a passport
- The specific date of the election or referendum you want to make a postal vote, if you only want a one-off postal vote
You’ll also need to upload a photo of your handwritten signature in black ink on plain white paper.
The deadline to register for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 21st April.
Voting by proxy
If you’d prefer not to cast your ballot in-person, you can nominate someone to vote for you by proxy. To register for a proxy vote, follow this link Apply to vote by proxy
To register for a proxy vote, you will need your proxy voter’s permission, as well as:
- Your National Insurance number
- The address in which your proxy voter is registered to vote
- Your proxy voter’s contact details
- A photo of your handwritten signature
It’s important for your proxy voter to remember that, when they arrive at the polling station, they will have to present an accepted form of photo ID of themself – not of you.
The deadline to register for a proxy vote for these elections on 7th May is 5pm on Tuesday 28th April.
How can I engage with my local candidates?
There are lots of ways you can engage with your local candidates standing for election.
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You can organise a hustings. A hustings is a meeting where election candidates or parties debate policies and answer questions from the audience. Hustings provide voters with an opportunity to hear the views of candidates or parties. The Electoral Commission has lots of information here: Organising a hustings |
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You can write to candidates. You can write to candidates and local party groups to tell them about how they can support older Londoners. You can do this by sharing key things you would like the local council to do differently. You can also share the Age UK London manifesto with them. From early April you can find out your local list of candidates and their email addresses here: whocanivotefor.co.uk When writing, you can use of adjust the following message: Dear [place election candidate name here], I am writing to you as a local voter ahead of the upcoming elections. As an older person in your ward, I am getting in touch to ask you to commit to some key things that you would do, if elected, that would improve the lives of older residents.
As my prospective councillor, I would welcome your commitment to make sure these issues are addressed. You may wish to read and share with fellow candidates Age UK London’s short manifesto,which highlights key issues. I look forward to hearing your response from you soon. Yours, [YOUR NAME] The link for the manifesto is also here https://bit.ly/AgeUKLondonManifesto2026 Please do share wih us if you receive a response by emailing campaigns@ageuklondon.org.uk. We will be keeping track of commitments across London. |
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You can meet with candidates. Make time to meet with candidates to find out what they care about and ask them about their values and pledges. Our top tips for engaging with local candidates:
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