Candidates for Leeds City Council election announced

The lists of candidates standing for election to Leeds City Council on May 7 has been announced. 

The list of those standing to become councillors can seen by ward at https://www.leeds.gov.uk/elections/leeds-city-council-elections, with voting taking place on Thursday 7 May with counting and results being declared the following day, Friday 8 May.

With one councillor being chosen at all 33 ward areas of the city, additional vacancies in three wards – Adel and Wharfedale, Morley North and Temple Newsam - means overall 36 seats on the council will be contested. In those three wards the winner and the second-placed candidate will secure places on the council.  

Voters are reminded that those wishing to vote in the election in person at a polling station on election day will need to show a valid form of Voter ID.

This is especially important for all those in Leeds who have had their postal vote option cancelled after not reapplying to vote that way before the January deadline, and now intend to vote in person at a polling station.

Guidance on what forms of identification will be accepted and how to apply for a new free Voter ID can be seen at https://www.leeds.gov.uk/elections/voter-id. As with last year, all community hubs and libraries in Leeds will be able to help voters complete the application form including having a photo taken. The deadline to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate (free voter ID) is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April.

If anyone who intends to vote in Leeds is not yet registered to do so, this needs to be carried out before the deadline of midnight on Monday 20 April. This includes anyone who has moved home and needs to register at their new address. Registration takes just five minutes and can be completed online at https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. 

The next step is choosing which method to use to vote, either in person, by post, or by appointing someone trusted to vote on your behalf, which is known as a proxy vote.

Anyone wanting to vote by post who is not currently registered to vote by that method, including previous postal voters who missed the January deadline, can apply to do so via https://www.leeds.gov.uk/elections/postal-voting before 5pm on Tuesday 21 April.

Regardless of the voting method chosen, a key element of the electoral process is to follow the national guidance around ‘Your vote is yours alone’, with help and support available for anyone by calling or 0800 555 111 or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Poll cards for everyone currently registered to vote in Leeds are now being posted out. Residents are being asked to check the details on their poll cards to ensure they are correct, and also to note the location of their polling station which may have changed.

Postal poll cards will also be sent to anyone currently registered to vote by post, followed by postal ballot packs which will be issued from around 21 April.  All postal voters are encouraged to send their completed postal vote back as early as possible to help manage demand.

Another option available is to vote by proxy, which can be applied for via https://www.leeds.gov.uk/elections. The deadline for applications to vote by proxy is 5pm on Tuesday 28 April.

All voters are advised to read the information sent through to them carefully when it arrives, and the Leeds elections team can be contacted to address any issues using the helpline at 0113 222 4411 or by emailing electors@leeds.gov.uk.

Notes to editors: 

Timeline of key remaining dates ahead of Leeds City Council election 2026:

• - Midnight on Monday 20 April: Deadline for registering to vote
• - Tuesday 21 April: Postal vote packs start being delivered to voters
• - 5pm on Tuesday 21 April: Deadline for new applications for postal voting or change to existing voting arrangements
• - 5pm on Tuesday 28 April: Deadline for applications for Voter Authority Certificate (the photo ID to be able to vote in person at a polling station)
• - 5pm on Tuesday 28 April: Deadline for applications to vote by proxy
• - Thursday 7 May (7am-10pm): Election day
• - From 10am on Friday 8 May: Votes counted and results declared 

It will be a requirement at polling stations on election day to establish the identity of all voters using one of the accepted forms of photo ID. It may be necessary for polling officials to ask voters to remove face coverings in order to verify their identity. Privacy booths will be available at all polling stations, with a choice of a male or female official to carry out the check.

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Leeds City Council communications and marketing,

Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk

Tel: 0113 378 6007