Purpose

The Government is exploring ways to make voting in person more efficient, convenient and better aligned with electors’ expectations in accordance with its manifesto commitment of encouraging greater participation in democracy.  As such, four pilots were undertaken in May 2026 and formal applications are now being invited from local authorities in England to undertake a pilot at local elections in May 2027.

The Elections Team were approached by the Head of Elections Strategy at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on 21 July 2026 who advised that they were particularly keen to hear from authorities with a range of demographic, geographic and electoral characteristics, as they consider that this will help them to build a robust and representative evidence base.  As such, Knowsley Council has been invited to make a submission for the May 2027 local elections as the Government believes that this would provide valuable insights into how flexible voting options work for different electors and communities.

Following consideration of background information in relation to such pilots, the prospectus for the 2027 pilots and conversations with election officers in Cambridge City Council and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in respect of their experience (as they undertook pilots in May 2026), it is recoMommended that Knowsley Borough Council submit a proposal for a flexible voting pilot to take place in relation to the elections to be held in May 2027.  Although the Electoral Commission’s evaluation of the 2026 pilots noted limited impact, it is considered that participation in the 2027 pilots would still be a beneficial exercise to undertake in order to ascertain the impact this may or may not have locally in respect of turnout.

If agreed by MHCLG, the proposal would mean that there would be additional opportunity for voting in advance of the elections on 6 May 2027, with electors from anywhere in the Borough able to vote in any one of the four libraries located across the Borough in Kirkby, Prescot, Huyton and Halewood on the following dates/times:

• Friday 30 April (9am – 6pm);

• Saturday 1 May (9am–4pm); and

• Sunday 2 May (9am – 4pm).

The Government has confirmed that full funding for agreed pilots would be provided.

Formal agreement of such a pilot scheme proposal is ordinarily reserved to Full Council; however, due to the timescales involved (the deadline for submission is 15 September 2026), this decision is being taken as a “matter of urgency” in accordance with Part 3 – Section 4 of the Constitution.  As required by that provision, this matter will subsequently be reported to Full Council on 21 October 2026.

In the meantime, the pilot proposal at Appendix A has been endorsed by the Council’s Polling District Review Working Group and shared with all Elected Members prior to submission. 

Decision

That the Flexible Voting Pilot proposal attached at Appendix A be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in relation to the elections to be held on 6 May 2027.

Alternative options considered

The Council could decide not to make a submission; however, it is considered that this option should be rejected given the potential for the provision of additional voting opportunities in advance of the elections on 6 May 2027 to increase turnout and democratic engagement.