Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy (): 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 is
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
aims 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.
