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Local Government: Elections

Asked by David SimmondsConservativeMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentTabled Answered 10 February 2026UIN 109259

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2025 to Question 8777, on Local Government: Elections, whether local authorities which submitted bids to hold a May 2026 election pilot scheme subsequently submitted a request to the Department to cancel their May 2026 elections.

Answered by Samantha Dixon

In August 2025, local authorities were invited to apply to pilot a range of flexible voting methods at the May 2026 elections in England.

A number of local authorities expressed interest in participating, and we are currently engaging with those local authorities. A small number of authorities that submitted applications subsequently made requests to postpone their May 2026 elections.

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