Residents across the Tunbridge Wells borough in Kent, will have more ways to cast their ballots this year as the borough trials a new flexible voting system for the May 2026 local elections. The Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is one of only four areas in the country chosen by the UK Government to test these changes.
Special voting hubs will open in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook, and Paddock Wood on Saturday 02 May and Sunday 03 May 2026. Residents can visit any of these three hubs to cast their ballots in person ahead of the main polling day on Thursday 07 May 2026.
The trial is part of a national effort to modernise the voting process and reduce barriers for residents who have busy schedules. While the voting locations and times are more flexible, residents must still bring a valid photo ID to the hubs to be allowed to vote, and they may also use the sites to hand in postal ballots.
Tunbridge Wells is joined in the trial by Cambridge and North Hertfordshire, while Milton Keynes will test a voting hub in a shopping centre. This pilot arrives as a wider consultation asks residents for their views on reorganising the 14 existing councils in Kent into a smaller number of larger authorities by 2028.
