Local elections 7 May 2026

Who can vote

To vote in Southwark's local council elections on 7 May 2026, you must:

• be registered to vote by midnight on Monday 20 April 2026
• be 18 or over on the day of the election (‘polling day’)
• be a British, Irish, qualifying Commonwealth or qualifying European citizen living in the UK
• not be legally excluded from voting

Register to vote

You must register to vote by midnight on Monday 20 April 2026 to vote in these elections. Visit GOV.UK to apply.

If you are already registered to vote, you do not need to register again unless you move your address or change your name.

Poll cards

We will send poll cards from Monday 30 March 2026.

If you're registered to vote, you do not need your poll card to vote in person. When you visit your polling station, give your name and address to the polling station staff. They will find your details on the register.

Polling stations

Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday 7 May 2026. 

Your polling station may have changed since the last general election. Check the map and address shown on your poll card.

You can also use the online polling station finder to check the location of your polling station.

If you need help finding your polling station, please call 020 7525 7373.

Voter ID

If you do not show a valid ID at the polling station, you will not be allowed to vote on polling day.

Approved forms of ID

Visit GOV.UK to see the types of ID to vote.

Expired photo ID documents can be accepted at the polling station if the photograph is still a good likeness of you.

If your name on your photo ID is different from your name on the electoral register, you should take evidence to support your change of name to your polling station, such as a marriage certificate or deed poll.

Voter Authority Certificate

If you do not have a form of acceptable ID, you should apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. This is an A4 document with your name and photograph. This document can only be used for voting purposes.

Visit GOV.UK to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. The deadline is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026.

How to vote

There are 3 ways that you can vote in these elections:

• in person at a polling station (you must show photo ID)
• sending your vote by post
• nominating someone to vote on your behalf (proxy voting)

Find out more about how to vote

Voting by post

The deadline to apply to vote by post is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026.

You can cancel or make changes to an existing postal vote up to 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026. To do so, email postal.votes@southwark.gov.uk with your name, address and the relevant details.

When you will get your postal vote

Postal votes will be sent as soon as possible after the close of candidate nominations. Apply early to ensure you can receive your postal vote in good time.

Replacement postal votes

If you have spoilt, lost or not received your postal ballot pack, you can apply for a replacement from Thursday 30 April 2026 until 5pm on Thursday 7 May 2026.

You'll need to collect your replacement ballot at:

Southwark Council
160 Tooley St
London 
SE1 2QH

between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. You must bring photo ID and proof of address with you.

If you cannot collect your replacement postal vote in person, or if you have any other questions, email us at postal.votes@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 7373 for more information. 

Returning your completed postal vote

Completed postal ballots packs must reach The Returning Officer by 10pm on Thursday 7 May 2026 to be counted.

If you miss the post, you can take your postal vote to any polling station in Southwark on 7 May. You can also hand it to a member of the Electoral Services team during normal office hours before close of poll at:

Southwark Council
160 Tooley St
London 
SE1 2QH 

You'll need to complete a form to go with any postal votes that you hand deliver.

You can hand in a maximum of 5 postal votes for other people, plus your own postal vote.

Voting by proxy

The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026.

If you have registered for a postal vote, but would prefer to vote by proxy, you must cancel your postal vote by 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026.

If the person you appoint to vote on your behalf does not live locally and cannot get to your polling station, your proxy can apply to receive your vote by post. This is called a postal proxy. 

If your proxy wishes to vote by post, both the proxy vote application and the postal vote application for the proxy voter must be received by 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026.

For further information about voting by postal proxy, email us at electoral.enquiries@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 7373.

Voting by emergency proxy

You can apply for an emergency proxy vote on the grounds of:

• a medical emergency that occurred after 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026
• work, employment or service reasons that you found out about after 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026
• the form of accepted photographic identification that you were intending to use to vote has been lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, or has not yet been received if applied for recently

The deadline to apply for an emergency proxy vote is 5pm on Thursday 7 May 2026. 

To apply, please download the relevant proxy voting application form and email a clear copy of your completed form to emergency.proxy@southwark.gov.uk.