Residents in Poole, Dorset, will go to the polls on May 7, 2026, to elect councillors for the first Poole Town Council since the area was merged into a larger regional authority seven years ago. According to BCP Council, this election will allow the local community to choose 21 councillors who will have a direct say in how the town is run.
The Poole Town Council will officially come into existence on April 1, 2026, following a transition period led by a temporary shadow authority that has been hiring staff and preparing a budget. This new council will be made up of councillors representing 15 different wards across the community, bringing town-level decision-making and control of local assets back to the area.
To take part in the vote, residents must ensure they are registered by the deadline of midnight on April 20, 2026. The Electoral Commission provides tools to check registration status, and officials are also reminding voters that postal vote rules have changed. Anyone who chooses to vote by post is now required to renew their application every three years to remain eligible.
This project follows a community review aimed at giving residents more direct control over local services and community halls that were previously managed by the wider authority.
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