Post poll statement - May 2026

8 May 2026 11:05 AM

Post poll statement given yesterday 07 May 2026.

As polls close across Great Britain, Vijay Rangarajan, Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission, yesterday said: 

"Today, voters across England, Scotland and Wales went to the polls in the biggest set of elections since the 2024 general election. Voting took place at more than 17,000 polling places, and more than 25,000 candidates stood for election.

"Running elections on this scale takes exceptional commitment. I want to thank electoral administrators and returning officers across Great Britain for their dedication and professionalism, police officers for helping ensure voter and candidate safety, and Royal Mail for delivering millions of poll cards, postal ballots and campaign leaflets. I also pay tribute to the thousands of candidates who put themselves forward for election.  

"These collective efforts have helped ensure these elections were secure and accessible. Our initial assessment is that polling day ran smoothly. Polling station staff dealt with any issues swiftly without disrupting the poll. Millions of people were able to cast their votes, and people had access to clear, reliable information about how to take part. We have been alert to the spread of false information, including AI-generated content. Where false or misleading information emerged, we worked quickly with partners to address and remove it. We have not seen significant deepfakes affecting these elections.

"Election teams across England will count the votes and declare results in their area over the coming days. In Scotland and Wales, counting will begin in the morning.  Candidates, party agents and independent observers will be present at counts across Great Britain at every stage.

"We will now gather evidence from voters, candidates, administrators and campaigners to inform our assessment of these elections. We will look at voter satisfaction, the integrity of the polls, and the prevalence and impact of mis and disinformation.

“We will also look at the safety of those who stood for and ran in these elections. As in previous elections, we know some candidates have faced abuse and intimidation during their campaign. This comes at a great personal cost and damages our democracy. We will publish our findings in the autumn.”

For more information contact the Electoral Commission press office on 020 7271 0704, out of office hours 07789 920 414 or press@electoralcommission.org.uk.

Background

• The Commission will publish an analysis of these elections in the autumn, drawing on evidence from surveys of voters, candidates, administrators and campaigners.  
• The 2026 Senedd election is the first to be conducted under the closed proportional list voting system. Wales now has 16 constituencies, each electing six Members, increasing the total size of the Senedd from 60 to 96 Members. Voters cast a single vote for a party or an independent candidate. The franchise for the Senedd election includes 16 and 17-year-olds and qualifying foreign nationals living in Wales — these groups are not eligible to vote in the English local elections.
• The Scottish Parliament election uses the Additional Member System, in which voters receive two ballot papers — one for a constituency candidate and one for a regional independent candidate or party. The franchise for the Scottish Parliament election includes 16 and 17-year-olds and qualifying foreign nationals living in Scotland.  
• The UK Government ran flexible voting pilots at a number of local authorities in England at these elections, testing approaches to modernising in-person voting. The Commission will independently evaluate the pilots to understand their impact on voter convenience, satisfaction and accessibility, and will publish its findings.
• There is currently no legal duty for Returning Officers to collect and report data from polling stations on the impact of voter ID at the elections in England. Some local authorities may choose to share data voluntarily. We will publish our findings based on the available evidence.
• Voter ID applies in England only. Voters in Scotland and Wales were not required to show photo ID to vote. 

Notes to Editors

• The Electoral Commission is the independent body which oversees elections and regulates political finance in the UK. We work to promote public confidence in the democratic process and ensure its integrity by:
  • enabling the delivery of free and fair elections and referendums, focusing on the needs of electors and addressing the changing environment to ensure every vote remains secure and accessible
  • regulating political finance – taking proactive steps to increase transparency, ensure compliance and pursue breaches
  • using our expertise to make and advocate for changes to our democracy, aiming to improve fairness, transparency and efficienc
•  The Commission was set up in 2000 and reports to the UK, Welsh and Scottish Parliaments.