Councillors vote to change election cycle to ‘all-out’ elections in Swindon

Councillors voted unanimously to change the election cycle from the current ‘by thirds’ model to an alternative ‘whole council’ election model, which would see all seats on the Council elected at the same time, once every four years.

The decision to change the election cycle came after a public consultation in the summer where 58.56 per cent of 794 respondents said they would prefer to vote for councillors every four years.

The ‘all-out’ election cycle will take effect from 2026, with a third of councillors being elected for a final time in 2024 followed by a fallow year (when no elections take place) in 2025.

The change will allow the administration in control of the Council to make strategic long-term decisions and save the Council approximately £300,000 every four years.

Alongside this decision, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) is reviewing Swindon’s wards due to electoral inequality in two wards: St Andrews ward, which has too many electors, and Wroughton & Wichelstowe ward, which has too few.

The electoral review is reviewing the number of councillors, number of wards, boundaries between wards, names of each wards and number of councillors elected to each ward. Any changes would be introduced to coincide with the introduction of the new election cycle in 2026.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Jim Robbins, has said: “I am delighted that councillors have voted to move to ‘all-out’ elections following our consultation with residents over the summer.

“This will allow us to work on our long-term missions to reduce inequality, achieve net zero, and build a better Swindon. We hope that this will help to bring positive change to the people of Swindon. It will also have the added benefit of saving the council money.”