EA Bulletin: 420 England

In advance of the May 2026 polls, we wanted to update you on our plans to provide supporting guidance and resources for ROs and those who want to stand for election.

Guidance for candidates and agents

We have now published our guidance for candidates and agents for the scheduled polls in May 2026.  

Updated guidance is available for each of the following election types: 
•    Local authority mayoral elections 
•    Local government elections 
•    Parish council elections  

We have also published the timetable and nomination packs for candidates for scheduled polls in 2026.  

Based on feedback we have received from administrators and candidates, we have been working to make the nomination papers more accessible.  We have now published the nomination packs for local government and parish council candidates in a new editable pdf format. This means that candidates and agents can complete forms electronically before being printed out for wet-ink signature where appropriate. As we are intending to roll-out nomination packs in this format for other types of election, we welcome any feedback you may have on this format.

Guidance for Returning Officers

We are currently finalising updates to our guidance for Returning Officers for the May polls and will publish this in November.  Updated supporting resources will then be published on a rolling basis throughout the rest of the year and we will keep you updated on progress through the Bulletin as usual.  

We will also be following our usual process for ordering polling station handbooks and quick guides, and a link to the order form will be circulated in December with orders finalised in January, for delivery in March 2026.

If you have any queries or need any further support, please contact your local Commission team on [email protected].

On 8 September we launched a consultation on our new Code of Practice for Accredited Electoral Observers.  

The current Code of Practice, introduced in January 2019, is being updated to ensure it remains fit for purpose, and supports the effective accreditation of observers in the future.  

The Accredited Electoral Observer Scheme is an essential element of our democracy. The ability to independently scrutinise legitimate democratic procedures and to provide accessibility for all voters must be supported and protected. It is equally important that the activities of observers do not bring into question the integrity of the electoral process.  
 
The new code will provide observers with agreed standards on what is acceptable throughout their entire accreditation and not only on polling day.  

Through this consultation, we aim to gather the perspectives of stakeholders on the requirements of the scheme. Feedback will help us improve the draft before the final version is laid in the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments and Welsh Senedd, as required by law.  

Once laid in the three Parliaments, the updated Code will replace the existing version, and accredited observers will be expected to adhere to it throughout the duration of their accreditation.  

The Code will be supported by Commission guidance which will be regularly reviewed and updated as the scheme evolves. Accredited observers will also be expected to follow this supporting guidance. 

How to respond

The consultation will run until 2 November 2025. You can respond by filling in our survey. You can also email your views to  [email protected],  or write to us at: Electoral Observers Officer, The Electoral Commission, The Boat, 49 Queen's Square, Belfast, BT1 3FG.  

Once we have considered the responses to this consultation, we expect to lay the revised Code in December. 

EROs will have recently received an email from your regional or national electoral commission contacts, with a link to our annual canvass survey.  

As in previous years, we have been looking for your feedback to inform how we might better engage and support EROs and their teams. Your responses also help us build a picture of your administration framework, how the canvass is progressing the challenges being faced, as well as highlighting new developments or practices.

As always, we appreciate your responses to our survey. The survey closes for responses on Wednesday 24 September. If you have not received an email with a link to the survey or have any questions regarding the survey, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].