Apply to vote in the local elections by 11.55pm Monday 20th April 2026
If you have never registered to vote at your current location you have until 11.55pm tonight to register.
Local elections decide who runs the vital services that affect people’s every day lives. These services include things like schools, leisure centres, parks, libraries, bins – they also include the implementation of policies relating to housing services, temporary accommodation, money services such as crisis support funds and council tax.
Local elections are important as they are a chance to vote for who you think will best represent you and your needs in the local area.
We have put together the below information based on questions we were asked when talking to people in the local community.
I don’t want my personal information passed on to third party agencies, what can I do?
There are 2 versions of the electoral register – the full version and the ‘open register’.
Unless you register to vote anonymously, everyone who registers to vote will automatically go onto the electoral register. Local authorities use the electoral register to make sure only eligible people can vote and for other checks defined by law such as: checking credit applications, detecting crime and fraud, calling people for jury service.
The open register is an extract of the electoral register but is not used for elections. Any person, company or organisation can buy a copy of the open register. You can opt out of having your information accessible on the open register. If you have already registered to vote you can opt out by contacting the electoral service within your local council or deselecting the button when registering to vote.
Can I vote in the local election?
You can vote in the local election if :
You are aged 18 or over on the day of the election.
You usually live in England.
You are an English or Irish citizen.
You can also vote if you have permission to enter or stay in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man – or you do not need permission – and you are a:
- Commonwealth citizen
- citizen of Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal or Spain
- citizen of another EU country, if you’ve had permission to enter or stay –or not needed permission – since 31st December 2020, and this has continued without a break.
I am experiencing homelessness, can I register to vote?
Yes, your vote is very important because local elections will set the political direction of the politicians that oversee homelessness and housing policies in your local area.
I am experiencing homelessness, what do I need to do to register to vote?
You need to fill in this form and send it to your local electoral office:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-to-vote-if-you-havent-got-a-fixed-or-permanent-address
To register, you need to give an address where you would be living if it were not for your current situation or an address where you have lived in the past.
You can give details of the place you spend most of your time, that may be a service, place of work or hostel.
Once you have filled out the electoral registration form, return it to your electoral registration office in person or via email.
Click here to find out where to take or send the form via email. Civic offices may be staying open later than usual tonight.
I am a domestic abuse survivor and fear for my safety – can I register to vote anonymously?
Yes, you can register anonymously.
I am a domestic abuse survivor, what do I need to do to register to vote anonymously?
You need a copy of your court order in force on the day you apply to register anonymously, or an attestation from an authorised person (including managers of refuges).
Below is a link to a guide from Refuge that explains the benefits of signing up to vote anonymously: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67fce56d4f66a92e28546631/ITR-A-E_Anon.pdf
Once you have registered to vote you can attend hustings and/or track manifesto committments by following this website: Who Can I Vote For?
This update has been written by Rhi Hughes, Campaign, Community and Policy Manager at SWLLC