The way we vote in a polling station has changed little since the Ballot Act 1872. As part of our commitment to encouraging participation in our democracy, this Government will explore how we can modernise the way in which polling stations operate, to make voting in person more efficient, more convenient and better aligned with the expectations of today’s electors.
As part of this drive towards modernisation, the Government are partnering with four local authorities at the scheduled elections in May 2026 to test innovative approaches to voting. I have made the pilot orders necessary to enable this testing. Cambridge city council, North Hertfordshire district council, and Tunbridge Wells borough council will be piloting early or advance voting, with electors being given the opportunity to cast their vote in person in the days leading up to polling day on 7 May. In Milton Keynes city council, the impact of providing a centrally located voting hub on polling day, in addition to the usual polling stations, will be tested.
These flexible voting pilot schemes are designed to explore how we can modernise the voting experience by introducing greater flexibility, improving accessibility and enhancing voter satisfaction while safeguarding the integrity, security, and transparency of the democratic process. They will also allow for exploration of how flexible voting methods can better support electors who may face barriers to participation, such as disabled voters, those in remote areas, and communities that are less likely to engage.
Comprehensive evaluation will be vital to our understanding of the impact of these new approaches on voter convenience and satisfaction, accessibility and inclusive participation, and their feasibility and cost-effectiveness when delivering resilient and secure voting. Evaluations will be developed and undertaken with the participating authorities and the Electoral Commission.
By working in partnership with local authorities, the Government aim to build a stronger evidence base for future reforms and ensure any changes to the voting process are grounded in real-world experience and robust evaluation.
We remain committed to strengthening our democracy and encouraging full participation in our elections. The flexible voting pilots will help to modernise our centuries-old and storied democracy, aligning it with contemporary expectations of voters, while continuing to ensure the security of our electoral system.
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