All 57 council seats up for election as Swindon prepares for all-out local elections

All 57 council seats on Swindon Borough Council will be contested at the same time, alongside all parish council seats. This is the first time since 2012 that all seats have been decided in a single election, and the results will determine the political composition of the Council for the next four years.

Following a public consultation, councillors voted unanimously at an extraordinary meeting on 12 October 2023 to change the election cycle to a ‘whole council’ election model. This means that on 7 May 2026, and every fourth year afterwards, electors in Swindon will vote to elect all Borough Councillors simultaneously.

It will also be the first election to reflect new electoral arrangements for Swindon introduced following a review by the Local Government Boundary Commission in 2023-25 informed by several rounds of public consultation. There are now 25 electoral wards in Swindon, consisting of 10 three-councillor wards, 12 two-councillor wards and three single-councillor wards. The boundaries of 24 wards changed and one stayed the same. Each councillor represents an average of 3,109 electors.

As in previous years, electors voting in person must present an accepted form of photo identification at the polling station. Accepted forms of ID include passports, photographic driving licences, older person’s or disabled person’s bus passes and Blue Badges. A full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission website. Electors who do not have an accepted form of photo ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate.

National changes to election law mean that postal vote applications now last for a maximum of three years. For these elections, this affects electors whose postal vote was set up before 31 October 2023, as these expired on 31 January 2026. The Council’s Electoral Services team has contacted affected electors directly. Anyone wishing to continue voting by post will need to submit a new application. Those who do not renew their postal vote can still vote in person at their polling station.

Electors who are unable to attend a polling station can apply for a proxy vote, allowing someone they trust to vote on their behalf.

Key deadlines for the elections are:

• register to vote: midnight on Monday, 20 April
• apply for or renew a postal vote: 5pm on Tuesday, 21 April
• apply for a proxy vote: 5pm on Tuesday, 28 April
• apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate: 5pm on Tuesday, 28 April

Polling stations will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday, 7 May.

Sam Mowbray, Returning Officer for Swindon, said: “May’s elections will see every council seat across Swindon contested at the same time, making it important that electors look out for their poll cards being delivered in late March and understand what they need to do in advance of polling day.

“Anyone who wishes to vote by post should make sure they renew their application if required and those voting in person must bring an accepted form of photo ID. I would encourage residents to prepare early to ensure they can take part.”

More information on registering to vote, renewing a postal vote, applying for a proxy vote or obtaining free voter ID is available on Swindon Borough Council’s website.