BCP Council has begun sending out postal voting packs to residents across Bournemouth, Broadstone, and Poole ahead of the inaugural town council elections on 7 May 2026.
For those who applied by midday on 8 April, the packs have already been dispatched. Residents who submitted their applications between that date and the final deadline of 5pm on 21 April can expect their voting materials to be sent out on 24 April.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm on election day. Residents who miss the postal deadline can hand-deliver their completed voting packs to the council customer contact centre on St Stephens Road in Bournemouth or to any polling station before 10pm on 7 May.
The council has advised that some familiar polling venues may not be available for this election. Residents are encouraged to check their poll cards to confirm the specific location of their assigned polling station.
All residents voting in person must provide a valid photo identification to cast their ballot. Those who do not have an accepted form of identification can apply for a free voter authority certificate, but must do so by 5pm on 28 April.
These inaugural elections follow a community governance review conducted by the council. The new town councils will be funded through a council tax precept, with first-year costs for a Band D property set at £29.47 in Bournemouth, £60.34 in Broadstone, and £32.56 in Poole.
For any electoral enquiries, residents can contact the electoral services team at the council on 01202 123400.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
