English Local Elections 2026

Local Elections will take place in parts of England on Thursday, 7th May 2026.

There are two things students must do to be able to vote in the Local Elections.

 

How do I register to vote?

You need to register to vote on the UK Government’s website: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. You can also find information about registering using a paper form on this website.

You will be asked to provide your name, your date of birth, your nationality, your address(es) and your National Insurance number.

If you do not know your National Insurance number, you can get assistance in finding it here: https://www.gov.uk/lost-national-insurance-number  

The deadline to register to vote in the Local Elections is midnight on Monday 20th April 2026.

 

Do I need to register to vote again if I change address?

Yes, you need to register to vote every time you change address.

 

Can I register to vote at two addresses?

Yes, students are allowed to register to vote at more than one address.

We know that students often split their time between their term-time address and their home address, so it's important that you are registered at both.

At local elections, you can vote at both addresses, as long as they are in different council area.

 

Will I need photo ID?

Yes, you will need to show photo ID before being allowed to vote in Local Elections in England. 

You can find a full list of accepted voter IDs in each UK nation via the Electoral Commission here.

These include: Passport, Driving licence, Blue Badge, PASS card, Voter Authority Certificate and more.

The photo ID needs to be the original version and not a photocopy.

 

Does student ID count as voter ID?

No, student ID cards issued by universities or colleges do not count as valid photo ID in UK elections.

Many students and young people do not have valid ID - you can get a FREE voter authority certificate here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate

 

How old do I have to be to vote in the Local Elections?

You need to be aged 18 or over on polling day to be able to vote in Local Elections in England.

So, if you were born on or before 7th May 2008, you're eligible to vote in the 2026 Local Elections.

In England you can register to vote when you are aged 16 or over.

 

I'm an international student. Can I vote?

Some international students will be able to vote in the Local Elections.

British, Irish and qualifying Commonwealth citizens resident in the UK are allowed to vote in Local Elections in England.

Qualifying Commonwealth countries include India, Pakistan, Australia, Sri Lanka, Canada and many more.

Use NUS' Can I Vote? Tool to find our if you can vote in the General Election: https://www.nus.org.uk/can-i-vote

 

What if I'm away from home on 7th May?

If you are unable to vote in person on 7th May, you can apply for a postal vote or a proxy vote.

The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 21st April 2026.

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

 

More you can do to get ready to Turn Up

 

 

Campaign partners

We want Turn Up to be the biggest student and youth voter registration campaign ever, so we're partnering with organisations to help spread the word!

 

 

 

Generation Rent

Democracy Classroom

 

NUS Charity

 

If you're interested in partnering with NUS UK on the Turn Up campaign, email [email protected].