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7 May 2026

UK Council Elections · 7 May 2026

Your generation.
Your turn.

The people who most need decent housing, reliable buses and properly funded local services are the ones least likely to vote for them. That can change on 7 May.

People committed to vote & share
0
and counting
Goal: 10,000

The representation gap

Same two groups. Two very different outcomes at the ballot box.
2024 UK General Election data (Ipsos)

Eligible voters
Under-40s 29%
Over-65s 24%
Votes actually cast
Under-40s 22%
Over-65s 33%

Under-40s (black) are a bigger share of eligible voters than over-65s — but at the ballot box that flips. Over-65s go from 24% to 33% of votes cast. Under-40s shrink from 29% to 22%.

Make the pledge

Commit to vote on 7 May — and forward this to 3 friends under 40.

You're in. Thank you.

Tap the green button to open WhatsApp with your message ready. Just pick 3 contacts and send.

No email needed · No party affiliation · Just a public commitment to show up

Age 18–24 · lowest turnout group
37%
turnout
Age 65+ · highest turnout group
73%
turnout

Turnout figures from the 2024 UK General Election (Ipsos). Local election turnout is typically lower across all age groups.

Most people have a rough sense of what Parliament does. Fewer realise how much of daily life is decided locally — by the council you elect on 7 May.

Housing
Councils run housing waiting lists and decide who qualifies for social housing. They vote on planning applications — whether new homes get built or blocked.
Transport
Bus route cuts are council decisions. So are cycle lanes, road maintenance and parking policy. If your area feels cut off, your council had a say in that.
Mental health & social care
Councils fund local mental health drop-in services, drug and alcohol support, and care for adults with disabilities — none of which are NHS responsibilities.
Children & families
SEND support for children with additional needs, children's social care and early years provision are all council-run — and all under severe financial pressure.
Parks & public space
Whether your area has maintained parks, libraries, leisure centres and youth clubs — or whether they've been closed or sold off — is a council budget decision.
Scotland & Wales
On 7 May, Scotland and Wales also elect their Parliaments — which control the NHS, schools, universities and much more for those nations directly.

Local elections typically have much lower turnout than general elections — which means each individual vote carries more weight. A few hundred votes can decide who controls a council ward.

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Takes 5 minutes · deadline 20 April
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This isn't about the next 30 years. It's about the next bus, the next planning application, the next round of cuts.