Agenda item

The Electoral Services Manager presented the Electoral Pilot for May 2026 Elections report for Members’ consideration. In doing so, Members were informed that in August 2025 the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) published a prospectus on Flexible Voting Pilots 2026 under the Government’s Electoral Modernisation banner. It noted that little had changed in the way that voting was carried out since the Ballot Act 1872 and that it was necessary to explore ways to make voting in person more efficient, convenient and better aligned with the electorate of today.

The MHCLG invited local authorities due to hold elections in May 2026 to make formal applications to pilot flexible voting options. The deadline for applications was 15^th September 2025 which was later amended to 22^nd September 2025.

There were several areas that MHCLG wished to pilot. These were:

a.     Voting at any polling station;

b.     Voting Hubs;

c.     Mobile polling stations; and

d.     Early in-person voting.

Local authorities were allowed to consider a mixture of the above approaches or suggest their own, however MHCLG would not consider proposals for online or electronic voting. Following discussions with the Chief Executive and Group Leaders it was agreed that Redditch Borough Council would apply for early voting and the use of voting hubs. These proposals were explained to Members, and it was noted that the early voting period was proposed from Saturday 2^nd May 2026 through to Wednesday 6^th May 2026. Hours of poll were still to be determined but early considerations were 8am-7pm, with an earlier finish of 5pm on the day before actual polling day. In terms of Voting Hubs, it was noted that the proposals were that one hub be situated in a location of high footfall (e.g. the Kingfisher Shopping Centre or Abbey Stadium Leisure Centre), supplemented by up to four further hubs in other parts of the Borough. There would be real time electronic registers available during this process that provided real time accuracy.

Officers proposed that should the pilot scheme proceed then a Working Group be established, with Members of the Electoral Matters Committee, along with other Elected Members that expressed an interest and relevant officers. The main purpose of the Working Group would be the decision on where voting hubs were to be located.

Members were informed that there was no cost to the Council, and that the pilot scheme would be funded by the MHCLG.

Following the presentation of the report, Members expressed that this was an exciting pilot which would encourage voting and greater engagement in the democratic process for the residents of Redditch.

The number of voting hubs across the Borough was raised by Members. Officers explained that there was no limit to the number of voting hubs by MCHLG. However, it was important to ensure that the correct number be established for this pilot. The Working Group would be key in ascertaining the correct number and locations along with looking at any risks, such as suppliers for the hubs and ICT stability throughout the voting period. This would include the availability of manual registers and ballot boxes alongside the proposed electronic systems. It was further explained that these voting hubs were not designed to replace usual polling stations and that the communications of the pilot would ensure that there would be no confusion in terms of both the voting hubs and the usual polling stations.

RESOLVED that:-

1)    A letter be sent to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to endorse the proposal for the Council to take part in the pilot of early voting at designated hubs; and

2)    Subject to the success of the application detailed at recommendation 1 above, a Working Group be established to consider and recommend locations to use for the voting hubs.