Local Elections 2026: Getting your voice heard

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. 

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

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.

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.