Your guide to the 2026 Portsmouth local elections
With local elections coming up in Portsmouth this May, here’s a clear guide to the key dates, candidates and how to cast your vote.
The Portsmouth City Council local elections are due to be held on Thursday, 7 May.
One third of the council’s seats will be contested, accounting for one seat in each of the city’s 14 wards.
A full list of candidates standing in each ward will be available from 4pm on 10 April.
Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm.
Mayoral elections for the new authority for Hampshire and the Solent were also planned to take place in May 2026; however, they have been postponed until May 2028.
Political balance
Currently, the city council is made up of 18 Liberal Democrat members, who lead a minority administration.
The second-largest political group is Reform UK with 10 councillors, followed by Labour with nine, the Conservatives with four, and one independent.
The Liberal Democrats are defending four seats, Labour five, Reform three, and the Conservatives two.
After the 2024 elections, the political make-up was 19 Liberal Democrats, four Conservatives, eight Labour, nine Portsmouth Independents Party, one non-aligned independent and one Labour-aligned independent.
Registering to vote
You must be on the electoral register to vote. If you are not registered, you can apply online at Register to vote – GOV.UK.
The deadline to register for these elections is Monday, 20 April.
If you are unable to vote in person, you can apply for a postal vote. Applications must be received by 5pm on Tuesday, 21 April. You can apply online via the council’s website or download and return a form.
Alternatively, you can appoint someone to vote on your behalf as a proxy. The deadline for proxy applications is 5pm on Tuesday, 28 April. You can find out more on the council’s website
Voting at the polling station
If you are registered, you should receive a poll card by post showing your nearest polling station.
Alternatively, you can find your polling station at wheredoivote.co.uk.
You will need to bring a valid form of photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence. A full list of accepted identification can be found on your poll card or online.
Once your details have been verified, you will be given a ballot paper. Take it into a polling booth and mark a cross next to your chosen candidate.
You may see political campaigners outside the polling station, known as tellers. They may ask for your name and address to track who has voted, but you are not obliged to give them any information.
Why does it matter?
Local elections directly affect day-to-day life in Portsmouth. Councillors make decisions on bin collections, street cleaning, planning applications, local schools, roads, taxi and premises licensing, transport, and child and adult social care.
Your vote helps decide how these services are run – and who is responsible for them.
Hampshire County Council, Fareham Borough Council, Havant Borough Council and Gosport Borough Council are also holding elections in May.