Get Ready to Vote! Register by Monday 20th April
Local elections are taking place across the country on Thursday 7th May 2026. We want to encourage the people we support and our staff to use their vote and have their say.
Local elections are an opportunity for you to choose your local councillor, who will then join your local council. Your local council decides things like how often your bins are collected, what local events are taking place, and sometimes they also oversee budgets such as the local social care budget. Different councillors will have different ideas on the best way to spend money and run local services, so it’s good to take some time to learn about the candidates and what their plans are.
To vote in a local election, you must be registered to vote. People we support can ask their staff for support when registering to vote. The deadline to register to vote is Monday 20th April.
Download our poster with handy information to print and hang at your service by clicking the link here.
Click here to register to vote.
If you would like to vote by post, the deadline to submit your application for a postal vote or postal-proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday 21st April. You must be registered to vote before you can apply. Click here to register for a postal vote.
You will be asked your National Insurance Number, but you can still register if you don’t have one. If you’re not sure whether you’re registered, you can contact your local Electoral Registration Office by clicking the link here.
You will need to bring photo ID with you to vote. If you don’t have a valid form of ID, which you can check by clicking on the link here. Then you will need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate which you can do online by clicking the link here. You can also apply for a Voter Authority Certificate by contacting your local council.
To find out where your local polling station is, click the link here.
Important Information
The Elections Act 2022 provided increased flexibility for support at polling stations, to make it easier for disabled people to vote independently and in secret. Anyone who is 18-year-old or older can now accompany a disabled voter to the polling station and provide support.
If you are blind or have a visual impairment, you can call your local council’s election officer and ask to be registered.
If you have changed address, name or nationality, you will need to register to vote again.
If you have a disability, your local election office can tell you about:
- Physical access, for example wheelchair ramps and disabled parking spaces
- Low-level polling booths
- Any specific equipment you need
Every polling station must provide at least one large print display version of the ballot paper.
Please see below two official Easy Read guides to voting. Please print these off and discuss them with people you support when registering to vote:
Easy Read Guide to Registering to Vote
Voting is a human right that allows us a say in the way our local areas are run. It’s important to use your voice and make decisions that benefit you. If you find voting makes you feel anxious or you’re worried about the steps you have to take to vote, please know you can always speak to a friendly member of staff or a loved one who will be able to help. We’ll be sharing more information on voting soon, so please keep your eyes peeled for this. If you would like to share a story about politics, voting, or something similar, we would love to hear from you. Please email our Communications Team via communications@creativesupport.co.uk to get in touch.