Hackney local and Mayoral elections May 2026: everything you need to know

Polling will take place between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 7 May and the results will be announced on Friday 8 May.

What do the Mayor and local councillors do?

The Mayor leads the Council and is responsible for setting its policies and direction as well as selecting a cabinet and proposing the Council’s budget.

Local councillors represent residents in their area, known as wards, to help make decisions affecting the lives of everyone in the borough. 

You can view all the candidates standing in the elections here 

Key dates

• Monday 20 April - Deadline for registering to vote (12 midnight)

• Tuesday 21 April - Deadline for postal and proxy postal vote applications (5pm)
• Tuesday 28 April - Deadline for Voter Authority Certificates (5pm)
• Tuesday 28 April - Last date for proxy vote applications (5pm)
• Thursday 7 May - Polling Day (7am–10pm)

• Friday 8 May: Votes are counted and the Mayor of Hackney and ward councilors are declared  

Who can vote?

All registered British, Commonwealth, Irish and qualifying European Union citizens (including EU citizens with retained rights) are entitled to vote. British overseas electors are not entitled to vote. 

All voters must be 18 years of age on or before Thursday 7 May 2026.

To take part you must be registered to vote. 

You need to register if you have: 

• turned 18 on or before 7 May 2026 
• never registered before
• recently moved house. If you’re a student, make sure you’re registered at the correct address.
• recently changed your name.

You must register by midnight on Monday 20 April. Register takes just five minutes, so instead of waiting for the deadline do it today.

How do I vote?

Every registered voter receives a poll card, which will be sent in an envelope, explaining where you should vote.

Details of your polling station can also be found here 

Postal votes

• Once you are registered to vote you can apply for a postal vote. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April.
• Due to national legislation changes, requests for postal votes now only last for three years, meaning some requests will have expired on 31 January 2026. All those impacted have been written to and advised to re-register for a postal vote.
• Once registered, you will receive a pack. They are sent out in batches so the sooner you apply the sooner you will receive your postal vote
• Your completed ballot must be received by the Returning Officer before 10pm on 7 May. You should send in your vote in good time to avoid having to take it to a polling station on election day.
• If you need to bring the postal vote to the polling station on 7 May you will need to sign a form to say it has been delivered by hand.

Voter ID

If you vote in person, you will need to bring a photo ID with you. This can be:

• Driving licence (UK or issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man or any of the Channel Islands)
• Passport (UK or issued by an EU country, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or a Commonwealth country)
• Photo part of your Blue Badge 
• Oyster 60+ Pass
• Freedom Pass 
• Veterans Card 

The full list of acceptable ID is here.

If you don’t have an eligible ID you need to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) before 5pm on Tuesday 28 April.

You must be registered to vote first before you can apply for the voter ID. 

If you wear a face covering, election staff will need to double check you are the same person as your photo ID. This will be carried out safely, privately behind a privacy screen, and by a same-sex member of staff where possible.  

How do I vote?

Every registered elector receives a poll card which explains where you should vote.

The poll cards will be sent to you in an envelope .

If voting in person on Thursday 7 May:

• Go to your designated polling station between 7am and 10pm. You can only vote at the polling station listed on your polling card. If you go to another station you will not be able to vote there so please ensure you check which polling station before setting out.
• You must be inside the actual polling station, or have been issued with a wristband indicating you are in the queue for polling, by 10pm in order to still get a ballot paper
• If there's a queue at this time, you'll still be able to vote if you were in the polling station, or queue to get in, before the 10pm deadline.
• Tell the polling staff your name and address so they can check that you are on the electoral register. You don’t need your polling card to vote. 
• Show the polling staff your acceptable form of voter ID to vote. Have this out and ready to show. Be aware that if you wear a face covering, election staff will need to double check you are the same person who appears on the photo ID you have presented. This will be carried out safely, privately behind a privacy screen, and by a same-sex member of staff where possible.  
• Polling staff will give you two ballot papers. Votes for the Mayor will be on a light pink ballot paper, while votes for local ward councillors will be made on light yellow ballot papers.
• Take your ballot paper into a polling booth so that no one can see how you vote
• Read the ballot paper carefully, it will tell you how to cast your vote
• You will have one vote for the Mayor of Hackney and depending on your local area two or three votes for your local ward councillors
• Place an X in the box alongside the person/people you wish to vote for
• Don’t write anything else on the papers or your vote may not be counted.
• When you have marked your vote, fold the ballot papers in half and put it in the secure ballot boxes. There will be one ballot box for the Mayoral ballot papers and one for the local councillor ballot papers.
• Do not let anyone see – or influence – your vote.
• If you are still not sure what to do, ask the polling staff to help you

What to do if you make a mistake on your ballot paper

• Don’t put it in the ballot box, speak to polling staff 
• Your spoilt paper will be taken from you, and will be placed in a secure envelope

Need additional help at the polling station?

All of our polling stations are wheelchair accessible, with temporary ramps provided where necessary.

They also include a low-level polling booth, suitable for most wheelchair users and people of short stature. Special pencil grips are also available for those who have difficulty holding or using a pencil.

If you are unable to mark your ballot paper yourself, you can bring a companion with you who is at least 18 years old or ask the presiding officer at the polling station to help you with your vote.

Tactile devices are also available for visually impaired electors to cast their vote secretly, as well as large print versions of ballot papers and magnifying glasses.

Anyone needing additional support at the polling station should email electoralservices@hackney.gov.uk or call 020 8356 3232 as soon as possible.

Proxy voters

You can appoint someone else to cast your vote on your behalf. Proxy voter applications must be received by 5pm on Tuesday 28 April. Apply online or call 020 8356 3232.

Emergency proxy voters

If you cannot vote in person due to work or illness you can appoint an emergency proxy to vote for you. 

You need to provide a reason why you cannot vote in person and your application must be supported by a doctor or your employer. Apply for an emergency proxy vote online or by calling 020 8356 3232 by 5pm on Thursday 7 May. 

Voter fraud 

Whether you vote at a polling station, by post, or via a proxy it’s illegal for anyone to influence you to vote against your will. Electoral fraud is a serious crime and those who commit it can be sentenced to time in prison.

If someone tries to take your vote, or the vote of anyone you know, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org