Guide to the 2026 Local Elections

· by · in Councillors and democracy, Elections. ·
A Polling Station sign with the Merton Civic Centre in the background.

When can you vote? 

Polling day is this Thursday 7 May, and polling stations will be open from 7am-10pm. 

Where do you vote? 

If you’re registered to vote in person, the location of your polling station will be printed on your polling card, or you can find out where your local polling station is on our website. You can only vote at your allocated polling station. 

Photo ID requirement  

You will be required to show photo ID when you vote in person at a polling station. If you do not show photo ID, you will not receive a ballot paper. You can find a full list of accepted IDs on our website. 

You may show an expired ID if the photo still looks like you.  If you do not have suitable ID: 

You do not need ID to hand in a postal vote.  

Postal Votes 

If you have a completed but unposted postal vote, you can hand it in: 

  • At any polling station (7am–10pm), or  
  • At the Civic Centre (9am–5pm)  

When handing in a postal vote, you must complete a postal vote return form. 
If this form is not completed, your vote cannot be accepted. 

The Civic Centre is open from 9am-5pm. Please see our reception to complete the form that needs to be completed with your postal vote. Please note: 

  • Do not put postal votes in the Civic Centre external post box — they will not be accepted 

Support for disabled voters 

We are committed to making voting as accessible as possible. 

At polling stations, you can expect: 

  • Step-free access at all locations (temporary ramps will be in use at some polling stations)  
  • An accessible polling booth suitable for wheelchair users  
  • Large print sample ballot papers for reference  
  • Tactile voting devices to assist blind or partially sighted voters  
  • Magnifiers and other support materials  
  • Seating if required   

We also have McGonagle readers available to support blind and partially sighted voters. These can be provided at your polling station by appointment—please contact us in advance to arrange this.  

If you need assistance to vote, you can: 

  • Ask a member of polling station staff for help, or  
  • Bring a companion to assist you  

Your companion must be: 

  • A close relative aged 18 or over, or  
  • A registered voter  

The Presiding Officer can also assist you if needed. 

All assistance is provided in line with strict rules to ensure your vote remains secret and independent. 

If you have specific accessibility requirements, we encourage you to contact us in advance so we can support you. 

What are we voting for? 

These elections are to fill all 57 seats on Merton Council. 

Your vote will help to decide who represents your local area on the council, as well as who has overall control of the council. Shortly after the election, all elected councillors will meet at the council’s Annual General Meeting to select the Leader of the Council. This is usually the leader of the party with the most seats, but if no party holds a majority of the seats, then it will be the person who gets the most votes when put to all councillors. 

Whoever is elected as the Leader of the Council will be able to appoint other councillors to form a Cabinet, and together the Leader and Cabinet will have administrative control of the council – making day-to-day decisions on things like schools, bins, social care, parks, roads, libraries, playgrounds, high streets, transport and much more. 

How to vote 

Depending on your ward, you can vote for two or three councillors. 

This will be clearly shown on your ballot paper. 

To vote: 

  • Put a clear mark (such as an X) in the box next to your chosen candidate(s)  
  • You can vote for up to the number of councillors being elected, but no more  

Votes are counted using the First Past the Post system: 

  • The candidates with the highest number of votes are elected 

The candidates 

For these elections we have a record breaking 271 candidates standing across Merton’s 20 wards. 

You can see the full list of candidates standing in your ward on our website. 

When will we find out the results? 

Counting for all 57 seats will begin as soon as polls close at 10pm on Thursday, with results for each ward expected between 2–5am on Friday morning. 

You can follow the results on X, Facebook or our website.