Residents in Bournemouth, Broadstone, and Poole can now view the list of candidates standing for election to the newly formed town councils. These elections, which are set to take place on Thursday 7 May 2026, mark the first time these areas will vote for their own town-level representatives following the official legal establishment of the councils on 1 April 2026.
The BCP Council has published the full list of candidates for all 26 wards across the three town council areas. Residents are encouraged to visit the council website to review the information. As part of the preparations, local voters are currently receiving their poll cards in the post. The council has advised residents to check these cards carefully, as some polling station locations have changed since previous elections.
There are several key dates for those planning to participate in the vote. The deadline to register to vote is midnight on Monday 20 April 2026. For those who prefer not to vote in person, the deadline to apply for a postal vote is 5pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026, while the deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April 2026. On election day, polling stations will be open to the public from 7am until 10pm, with no lunch closures.
Voters are reminded that they will need to present a valid photo ID to cast their vote in person or by proxy at a polling station. The Electoral Commission provides further guidance on acceptable forms of identification for those who may need it.
The formation of these town councils has been a point of significant local debate. While the councils are now established, public consultations conducted prior to the decision showed that a majority of residents who responded were opposed to the move, with 78% against the proposal in the Bournemouth area and 59% in the Broadstone area. Additionally, the first-year costs to run the new councils exceed £4.175 million, which will be collected through council tax precepts. This has led to varying approaches from political parties; for example, the BCP Conservative Group has announced it will not stand candidates in Poole or Broadstone, while Reform BCP has confirmed it is fielding candidates across all three council areas.
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