This year on Thursday 7 May 2026, voters across the UK are expected to vote to elect councillors to their local government.
Some local elections have been temporarily postponed due to local government reorganisation. However, in areas where they are still taking place, each vote carries extra significance. Many see this year’s local elections as an important opportunity to make their voices heard on issues shaping both local and national policy: from climate change and policing to immigration.
But, historically in the UK, it has been easier for some than others to have their say when it comes to elections. Many eligible voters continue to face significant barriers to participation. Black, Asian and minority ethnic people are some of the communities currently under-registered to vote in elections, and more than twice as likely to be prevented from voting due to lacking the necessary identification (Electoral Commission, 2024 Report on the 2024 UK Parliamentary general election and the May 2024 elections; Electoral Commission, 2023 Voter ID at the May 2023 local elections in England: interim analysis).
To address this, we co-produced resources with a range of Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic voluntary organisations and individuals across England to raise awareness of :
- Their democratic right to vote
- The importance of voting and how to register
- Voter ID requirements
If you wish to access these free resources to support local action to empower and help these under-registered communities engage with the democratic process they can be viewed and downloaded on our website:
