With the May local elections drawing ever nearer, we look at what voters should know before heading to the polling booths, and why they should vote in the first place. These local elections will see the largest election since the 2024 General Election.
It is important to note that the deadline for registering to vote is tonight at 23:59, the 20th April. It only takes a few minutes to do so.
University student voting
If you are a student, then you may need to re-register in the borough of your student accommodation. Although I registered to vote in my first year of university, and I remained living on campus in my second year, I only discovered I had to re-register when I got to the local polling booth – leading my friends and I to do a last-minute night drive across London to vote in my home borough! So, double-check that you are registered to vote in the borough of your accommodation, even if you believe you already are.
University students who live away from home are able to vote in two boroughs in some elections, including local (but excluding General or Parliamentary Elections); so, if you have the means, you absolutely should vote in both boroughs.
What to bring on May 7th
In 2023, public opinion research found that 4% of all people who said they did not vote cited the ID requirement as the reason, with 3% saying they did not have valid photo ID. Of those who went to the polling stations, 0.25% of people who tried to vote were not given a ballot paper due to a lack of photo ID; although the last figure may seem low, that amounts to 14,000 voters.
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Then, in 2024, council figures in London showed that 1 in 100 voters were turned away due to issues with ID, and that 31% did not return to vote with the correct ID. However, now in 2026, it doesn’t look like the voter ID legislation is going anywhere soon.
Thus, you must make sure that on voting day, you need to bring a valid photo ID, or you will be turned away. Valid forms of photo ID include, but are not limited to:
- A UK passport.
- A UK or Northern Ireland photocard driving license.
- A passport or photocard driving license issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man, or any of the Channel Islands.
- A PASS card.
- A Blue Badge.
- A biometric residence permit (BRP).
- A HM Armed Forces Veteran Card (MOD form 100).
- A Voter Authority Certificate.
You can also use one of the following travel cards as photo ID for voting:
- An older person’s bus pass.
- A disabled person’s bus pass.
- An Oyster 60+ card.
- A Freedom Pass.
The above is not an exhaustive list, so see the Government website for a full list of accepted photo ID.
However, if you do not have any of the aforementioned valid photo ID for whatever reason, you can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate for free. Also, if you have changed your name, you will need to re-register under your new name.
If you are voting as somebody’s proxy, you need your ID, not theirs – but, if you’re concerned, then bringing both won’t hurt.
Where to vote
If you’re unsure of what polling booths are in your area, you can find these on ‘Where Do I Vote?’ by typing your postcode. As well as this, it will let you know when your booth opens and closes for the day.
Every polling station is selected so that it is accessible for everyone – every polling station will have wheelchair accessible booths, as well as magnifiers, chairs, and large print and tactile ballot papers. You are also permitted to bring your phone into the booth to use a magnifier or text-to-speech app. However, do NOT take any pictures inside the booth or station.
If you need assistance with completing your ballot paper, you can ask a member of staff at the polling station, or take a friend or relative to accompany you into the booth.
Why should you vote?
Finally, why should you vote at all? The last few years in particular have seen a lot of people becoming jaded with the current political parties, and the state of a number of political crises in the UK, not excluding the cost of living crisis. This disappointment and frustration extends all across the political spectrum, from both left to right voters.
However, using your right to vote is an important one. Although this is ‘just’ a local election, it will be a good signifier of the results of the next General Election, and it will have a big impact on your local council, which will affect you. Whether it be your libraries, your roads, the homeless and vulnerable, your community centres, you will feel the impact of whoever your council seats go to. Around 5,000 seats across 136 local councils will be up for the vote.
Although I cannot tell you who to vote for, it is important that you vote according to what you truly believe, and that you heavily research the candidates and parties you are considering choosingbetween. Do not base your vote off of word-of-mouth, pub chat, social media, your parents, your partners, public figures, or tabloid articles. Read through the party manifestos yourself, and engage with your local community, because we are stronger together.
For a long time, many groups did not have the right to vote. Do not let their campaigning be in vain, and do not take voting for granted.
