--- title: Local council elections in England date: 2026-01-26T15:05:00+00:00 author: Zanna Meynell canonical_url: "https://www.eauk.org/what-we-do/advocacy/may-2026-elections/local-council-elections-in-england" section: Pages --- #### The Labour government have abandoned plans to postpone local council elections that would have impacted 4.6 million people. Steve Reed, secretary of state for communities, housing and local government [wrote ](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/699328da7da91680ad7f44a9/update_on_secretary_of_state_s_decision_regarding_local_elections_of_may_2026_-_letter_to_council_leaders.pdf)to chief executives from the 30 local authorities to say the government have decided to abandon plans to postpone elections due to ​“new legal advice”. This U-turn is a victory for local campaigners that have called on the government to reverse this decision and potentially for Reform UK who are polling well in many of the areas. The latest announcement does not change mayoral elections. Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton, Hampshire and the Solent, and Norfolk and Suffolk mayoral contests remain postponed. ## Key dates for voters - Monday 20 April: Register to vote - Tuesday 21 April: Deadline to vote by postal vote or proxy vote - Tuesday 28 April: If selected, deadline to submit who is your proxy vote - Tuesday 28 April: Deadline to apply for free photo voter ID - Thursday 7 May: Polling day Visit Electoral Commission’s [website](https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections) to confirm registration to vote and apply for photo voter ID. **In the interim, the advocacy team will provide commentary and analysis on the key issues that will dominate local elections. We want to equip Christians to engage in these elections in a biblical and confident way.** ### Resources to help your engagement [ ![Thinking faithfully about politics](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/ugur-akdemir-HbYnglDQmuo-unsplash.png) ![Ugur akdemir Hb Yngl D Qmuo unsplash](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/ugur-akdemir-HbYnglDQmuo-unsplash.png) ](https://www.eauk.org/general-election/thinking-faithfully-about-politics) [#### Thinking faithfully about politics ](https://www.eauk.org/general-election/thinking-faithfully-about-politics) Our latest research offers a snapshot of how evangelicals think and act as they engage in politics [ Read report now ](https://www.eauk.org/general-election/thinking-faithfully-about-politics) [](https://www.eauk.org/general-election/thinking-faithfully-about-politics) [ ![Have your say on a £20 million fund in your community](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Bradford 7428655 1280](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/bradford-7428655_1280.jpg) ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/have-your-say-on-a-20-million-fund-in-your-community) [#### Have your say on a £20 million fund in your community ](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/have-your-say-on-a-20-million-fund-in-your-community) The expanded Pride in Place scheme is an opportunity for Christians and government to work together to develop local communities [ ![Anna Iliescu](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ](/author/anna-lliescu) [ Anna Iliescu ](/author/anna-lliescu) 16 December 2025 [](https://www.eauk.org/news-and-views/have-your-say-on-a-20-million-fund-in-your-community) [ ![Cross Section](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271%27%20height%3D%271%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E) ![Cross Section website card 2025](https://eauk.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,quality=90,width=400,fit=cover/https://cdn.eauk.org/Cross-Section-website-card-2025_2025-06-26-090319_nkjz.png) ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/videos-and-podcasts/cross-section) [#### Cross Section ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/videos-and-podcasts/cross-section) Our latest podcast hosting conversations at the intersection of faith, news and culture [ Watch now ](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/videos-and-podcasts/cross-section) [](https://www.eauk.org/resources/our-resources/videos-and-podcasts/cross-section)